Heinrich Hoffmann (1885 – 1957) served as Adolf Hitler’s official photographer from when Hitler took control of the Nazi party in 1921 until his death in 1945. Hoffmann estimates he took over half a million photographs of Hitler over the course of his career. His portraits were the most significant source of Nazi propaganda materials published over the course of close to 25 years, everything from postcards, posters, magazines, postage stamps and picture books. Click on eachtheme below to see a complete photo albumdevoted to that particular event or topic.
“Hitler in Seinen Bergen” is a 96 page book published by Heinrich Hoffmann in 1935 with a foreword by Hitler Youth leader Baldur von Schirach. It contains an incredible compilation of 86 of Hoffmann’s photographs of Hitler “resting” at the Berghof: playing with his dogs, hiking in the snow, and hanging out with locals in his neighborhood. This collection of pictures provided a thorough and excellent overview of Adolf Hitler’s “unofficial” life in the one place he continually found peace and refuge from all the complications and pressures associated with statesmanship. I’ve included 17 of the photographs below, as well as an English translation of von Schirach’s introduction to the book and the blurb that was featured on the back cover of the second printing.
Adolf Hitler on the terrace of Haus Wachenfeld, admiring the view looking down towards Berchtesgaden.
“The Obersalzberg near Berchtesgaden has been the Führer’s favorite place to stay for many years. Long before he had acquired a small country house there, he spent his few hours on long hikes that took him to the uniquely beautiful Viewpoints that signify the richness of this landscape. Here he went, himself still a stranger, with his friend Dietrich Eckart to the Hochlenzer and the Scharitzkehl, or he stayed in the “German House” in Berchtesgaden, where political meetings were often held . . .” -Baldur von Schirach
“With this book, Heinrich Hoffmann, the Führer’s constant companion, has expanded his well-known works on Adolf Hitler with a volume that shows the Führer in the solitude and majesty of his beloved mountains. Again, this book contains a wealth of the most beautiful picture documents, because here, in the simple country house on the Obersalzberg, together with his comrades-in-arms, on difficult days, on hikes and trips through the mountains, conversations with the farmers and herdsmen of the neighboring pastures, the lumberjacks and raftsmen on the white water, the faithful, honorable and sincere people of the mountains: the leader is completely at home here. So these pictures speak a moving language. They show the greatest German in all his humble and kind humanity and are therefore in every German heart resonate as the conscious affirmation of consciousness: for he is ours!”
Adolf Hitler hosted many visiting children to the Berghof, including Rosa Bernile Nienau (1926-1943), who immediately became one of his favorites. Called by her middle name “Bernile” this precious little girl became known as “the Fuhrer’s child” because of her close contact with Adolf Hitler and frequent visits. Soon after their introduction it was discovered that she was one-quarter Jewish, yet Hitler refused to sever his relationship with her until many years later, when her mother was ordered to cease all contact with upper-level Nazis. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler in a relaxed mood having just signed his autograph for a small girl as her mother looks on. This picture was taken at the Berghotel at Predigtstuhl Mountain near Bad Reichenhall.Adolf Hitler relaxes on the terrace of the Gasthaus Seeklause on the Hintersee with Otto Dietrich, the press chief of the Nazi Party from 1931 to 1945, and also Goebbels’s state secretary in the Ministry of Propaganda starting in 1938.Adolf Hitler in a reflective moment during a walk on the Hochlenzer Mountain in the Obersalzberg area. Hitler made numerous visits to the Hochlenzer during the periods he spent on the Obersalzberg.Hitler loved taking daily walks around the Obersalzberg area, one of his favorite trails was the Der Carl von Linde Weg, from the area below the Platterhof Hotel to this picnic area next to the Hochlenzer Gasthaus. Here he has his dog whip looped around his shoulders as he walks.Adolf Hitler reading on a sunny day at the Hochlenzer Gasthaus in the Bavarian Alps. This is a picnic area and garden at an inn close to his mountain retreat near Berchtesgaden. The caption notes he is a teetotaler and does not drink the famous Bavarian beer.Adolf Hitler sitting on a rocky outcrop on the shore of the Obersee.Adolf Hitler in front of the Obersee, a half hour journey from Berchtesgaden.Blick vom Gasthaus Lambach auf dem Chiemsee (View from the Gasthaus Lambach on the Chiemsee). One of Hitler’s favorite inns was the Gasthof Lambach, on the north shore of Chiemsee lake between Gollenshausen and Seebruck. Before the Munich-Salzburg Autobahn was completed, Hitler often traveled the old road past Chiemsee during his trips between Munich and the Obersalzberg, allowing a stop here. This inn is where Eva Braun’s parents first met Hitler in 1933.Adolf Hitler on 23 April 1935 at the entrance to Schloss Linderhof, the smallest of the three palaces built by Ludwig II of Bavaria. Hitler spent his Easter holiday touring sites around Garmisch-Partenkirchen with Eva Braun in late April of 1935.Adolf Hitler standing beneath the Mangfall Bridge. One of the first great bridges to be tackled was the Mangfall Bridge near München, with a length of approximately 300 metres and a height of approximately 60 metres above the base of the valley. From a contest which resulted in about seventy entrants, The Fuhrer decided on the design to be used, and thereby determined the type of major bridge which afterwards was to be built at various other places.Adolf Hitler greets six lovely sisters on a rainy day at the Berghof. Hundreds of people would line the road leading up to Hitler’s home every day in the hope to even just catch a glimpse of him.Adolf Hitler admiring the view out of a window of the Gschwandtnerbauer Alm Inn while on holiday in Garmisch, Bavaria, Germany. This was from a series of photographs taken by Hoffmann the day after Easter on 22 April 1935 near the Zugspitze mountain, Germany’s highest peak.Nazi leader and German chancellor Adolf Hitler reading the ‘Berchtesgadener Anzeiger’ newspaper during his quiet hours at his holiday home in Bavaria.Adolf Hitler playing in the snow with his German Shepherd Muckl at his home in Berchtesgaden. Hitler owned ‘Muck’ from 1928 until January of 1935, when he claimed that he was poisoned by Communists. Muck was very unusual in that he was black with two brown spots over his eyes and had brown feet, and was not a full German Shepherd.Adolf Hitler pictured in his home at the conservatory at Haus Wachenfeld with his dog, Blonda.More playtime for Adolf Hitler and his German Shepherd Blonda at Haus Wachenfeld.Adolf Hitler greeting passers-by while out on a hike in Obersalzberg, Germany.
I love history and have always been infatuated with the design and style of the 1920’s. Unfortunately I can’t time travel back to this era, so I live vicariously through books, movies and photos.
Heinrich Hoffmann Photo Gallery 