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.
The Braunes Haus (Brown House) was the name given to the Munich mansion located between the Karolinenplatz and Königsplatz, which was purchased in 1930 and converted into the headquarters of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. Its namesake was the result of the brown color of the early Nazi Party uniforms. Many leading Nazis, including Hitler, maintained an office in the Brown House, as did Hans Frank, Heinrich Himmler, Hermann Göring, Rudolf Hess, Philipp Bouhler, and Franz Xaver Schwarz. An especially lavish office was constructed for Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. All maintained offices there throughout the Party’s existence, until the Brown House was destroyed by an Allied air raid bombing during the Second World War in January 1945.
Adolf Hitler reading a book at his desk in the “Brown House” in Munich. Hitler’s office was on the southwest corner of the second floor and overlooked the Brienner Straße and up towards the Königsplatz.Adolf Hitler sitting at his office desk at Munich’s Braunes Haus soon after the opening of the building on 13 January 1931.Adolf Hitler in his office at Munich’s Braunes Haus just a few days after the opening of the building on 13 January 1931.Adolf Hitler sitting at his office desk at Munich’s Braunes Haus soon after the opening of the building on 13 January 1931.A photograph of Adolf Hitler in 1932 in his private study at the Brown House, the Nazi party headquarters.Adolf Hitler reviewing documents at his desk at the Brown House with SA (Sturmabteilung) chief of staff Ernst Roehm on 2 January 1933.German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler with SA (Sturmabteilung) chief of staff Ernst Roehm on 2 January 1933. This is ‘Picture 47’ of a series of collectable images published in Germany during the Nazi period, entitled ‘Deutschland Erwacht’ (Germany Awakes). (Photo by Heinrich Hoffmann)Adolf Hitler reads a book at his desk in the ‘Brown House’ in Munich, 1934. Notice the paperweight of a swastika with a snake wrapped around it.Adolf Hitler and architect Paul Ludwig Troost among the workers during the topping out ceremony in the ‘Brown House’ in Munich. Left, next to Hitler is the architect of the renovation Paul Ludwig Troost, right, next to Hitler is the Reich Treasurer, the Nazi Party Leader Franz Xaver Schwarz, 1930.Group photo for the inauguration of the Braunes Haus, the new headquarters of the NSDAP, on 13 January 1931. Adolf Hitler and NSDAP treasurer Franz Xaver Schwarz at the dedication of the renovation of the old Palais Barlow mansion on Brienner Straße into the Brown House.Group photograph taken in the Brown House with Adolf Hitler in 1933 including Hanns Bunge, Josef Berthold (on Hitler’s right), Julius Schaub, Karl Fiehler, Ulrich Graf (on Hitler’s left), and Emil Maurice.Group shot in the Brown House basement casino with Adolf Hitler on 8 November 1933 by Heinrich Hoffmann, Adolf Hitler’s official photographer, and a Nazi politician and publisher, who was a member of Hitler’s intimate circle.Adolf Hitler with former members of the “Stosstrupp Hitler” in the basement tavern of the Brown House celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Beer Hall Putsch. Among the participants are Emil Maurice (right next to Hitler) and Karl Fiehler (second to the left and Mayor of Munich from 1933-1945) on 8 November 1933. The restaurant consisted of several narrow low vaulted rooms. The sign reading “Ananas-Bowle” above Hitler’s head is for a special German pineapple punch drink.Adolf Hitler with former members of the “Stosstrupp Hitler” in the tavern of the Brown House celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Putsch. Among the participants are Emil Maurice (right next to Hitler) on 8 November 1933.. It appears Hitler is signing an autograph for one of the waitresses or customers at the restaurant.
This is a postcard showing the interior view of the restaurant in the Braunes Haus. “Hitler’s Room” is through the low doorway on the right. The windows faced west looking out over the sidewalk of Brienner Straße.
Adolf Hitler in a posed propaganda image taken in January 1932 during a political meeting with SA men and other admirers in the basement restaurant casino of the Braunes Haus, headquarters of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, Munich Germany (from ‘Deutschland erwacht – Werden Kampf und Sieg der NSDAP’)Munich, Germany: Adolf Hitler, before he came to power, with old elite brown-shirts in the Munich “Brown House.” Photograph, ca. 1931.
A man with a ‘Hitler’ mustache sells postcards of Adolf Hitler to tourists and customers in the restaurant at the Brown House in Munich. The clock in the background has a swastika motif with the slogan ‘The Hour Strikes For Us’.
Putsch commemoration at Braunes Haus, Munich, Germany, 9 November 1935. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler consoles a woman widowed by the Munich Beer Hall Putsch of 1923, the Nazis’ failed attempt to seize power in Germany that led to Hitler and other senior members of the party being imprisoned. Hitler wears his Blood Order medal here, a recognition he created in 1934 to commemorate the 9 November 1923 coup attempt of the Nazi Party and awarded to 1500 participants in the Putsch.Adolf Hitler receives the honorary citizenship of the city Munich in his office at the Brown House on 9 November 1933, the 10th anniversary commemoration day of the Beer Hall Putsch.Adolf Hitler emerges at the port of the ‘Brown House’ in Munich, beside him a man of the ‘SS-Bodyguard Regiment’ stands guard presenting his rifle. Guards were posted both day and night at the entrance, above which hung a huge bronze plaque with the words “Germany, awaken!”Adolf Hitler leaving the Braunes Haus in 1931, with his dog whip in tow. Note the ornamental iron swastikas on the door. This photograph was featured in Heinrich Hoffmann’s book, “Hitler wie ihn keiner kennt” (Hitler as No-one Knows Him), published in 1935.
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.
[…] When winter makes roads impassible for automobiles, the Führer travels by train. Otherwise, Hitler always travels in his own car, a large Mercedes, which brings him safetly to his destination and saves time. Adolf Hitler relaxing with his German Shepherd Muckl in Berchtesgaden in 1931. Hitler owned ‘Muck’ from 1928 until January of 1935 when 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. Hitler drinking tea and water at Winifred Wagner’s home. As a consequence of his mother’s early death from cancer at age 47, Hitler developed a great fear of getting cancer himself. Believing that eating meat, drinking alcohol, and smoking were all major contributors to developing cancer, he abstained from all of these indulgences. As chancellor of Germany he led one of the largest anti-smoking campaigns of that time and always encouraged those around him to quit. Smoking was even expressly forbidden in Hitler’s office at the Brown House. This is an incredible bonus photo that can definitely be paired as taken at the same time and place as the one above, at Winifred Wagner’s ‘Haus Wahnfried’ in Bayreuth in 1931. Adolf Hitler walking out on the pier in the seaside resort of Heiligendamm during a family outing to the Baltic Sea. He was accompanied by his half-sister Angela and niece Geli Raubal on this day. Adolf Hitler with his German Shepherd Blonda in Berchtesgaden in 1931. Hitler adored the loyalty and obedience of this particular breed and later had two more German Shepards named Bella that he acquired in 1942 and the famous Blondi that he got as a puppy in 1941. Adolf Hitler reading a newspaper during his imprisonment in the Landsberg Prison in 1924. Hoffmann actually smuggled his camera in during one of his many visits to the prison. Adolf Hitler, who is a guest of Winifred Wagner in Bayreuth on the evening of June 6, 1931, sits for portrait photos with her two sons, Wolfgang and Wieland Wagner. Not only did the Wagner home in Bayreuth became Hitler’s favorite retreat, he even had his own separate accommodation in the grounds known as the Führerbau. This appealing 1931 photograph was also later reproduced on postcards after Hitler became Chancellor. Hoffmann often showed Hitler in settings that readers could relate to, like this common looking middle class home. Adolf Hitler relaxing at his mountain retreat Haus Wachenfeld reading a newspaper. Another 1931 photograph later reproduced on postcards. I believe that is Adolf Hitler’s niece/lover Geli Raubal in the background. The postcard read “Chancellor Adolf Hitler in his beloved mountains”. This photograph was also featured in the collectible picture album ‘Deutschland erwacht. Werden, kampf und sieg der NSDAP’ with the caption “Two workers for Germany shake hands.” Hitler loved to travel by car around Germany to have intimate meet and greet encounters with the German public. Every eye is on Hitler as he meets with SA men and many other admirers in late December 1931 in the basement casino and restaurant at the Braunes Haus in Munich. […]
Heinrich Hoffmann Photo Gallery 