When I checked Reichblr this morning I discovered that today would be Joseph Goebbels’ 126th birthday. So I decided to go through my photo collection and pull out some of my favorite pics of Goebbels with Hitler. Goebbels was born on 29 October 1897 in Rheydt, Germany and died on 1 May 1945, one day after Adolf Hitler. Goebbels had joined the NSDAP on 22 February 1925 and first met Hitler on 11 July 1925 in Weimar, where Hitler had given a speech at an NSDAP leadership meeting in the Recreation Club. Hitler swiftly recognized Goebbels’ talent and greatly admired his abilities as a writer and speaker. They both shared an interest in propaganda and together they planned how the NSDAP would win the support of the German people.

Joseph Goebbels was the mastermind behind Adolf Hitler’s political success. With the help of Goebbels in September 1930, the Nazis made a huge electoral leap from 400,000 votes to 4.5 million, and successfully elected 107 Nazi deputies. Recognizing his role in this victory, Hitler anointed him Chief of Propaganda. Hitler also served as his best man at Goebbels’ wedding with Magda Kant the following year. Joseph had six children with Magda, all of whom he christened with Hitler’s initials. They were named Helga, Hilde, Helmut, Holde, Heda and Heide. When the Nazis took power in 1933, Goebbels immediately brought the German film industry and literature under his control as the Reich Propaganda Minister.

Joseph Goebbels had described one of his earliest encounters with Adolf Hitler in his diary entry on 6 November 1925:

“We drive to Hitler. He is having his meal. He jumps to his feet, there he is. Shakes my hand. Like an old friend. And those big blue eyes. Like stars. He is glad to see me. I am in heaven. That man has got everything to be a king. A born tribune. The coming dictator.”

Goebbels growing admiration and deep infatuation with Hitler is continually expressed in his diary as their relationship begins to develop in late 1925, as can be seen in this 23 November 1925 entry:

“Hitler is there. Great joy. He greets me like an old friend. And looks after me. How I love him! What a fellow! Then he speaks. How small I am! He gives me his photograph. With a greeting to the Rhineland. Heil Hitler! I want Hitler to be my friend. His photograph is on my desk.”

“Adolf Hitler, I love you, because you are both great and simple. A genius” -Joseph Goebbels’ Diary entry for 19 April 1926.

The 3 photographs from the portrait session below shows Adolf Hitler and the Goebbels family posing for press photos at the Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest) on 23 October 1938. Goebbels had just broken off his two year affair with the Czech actress Lída Baarová, which only came to an end when his wife Magda Goebbels persuaded Hitler to personally intervene. Aware the marriage was failing, Hitler was keen to maintain the image of the Goebbels family as the perfect model Nazi family, and called Joseph Goebbels before him and ordered the affair to end. Hitler simply would not allow the scandal of a divorce of one of his top officials, and made a special request to Heinrich Hoffmann to conduct this special photo shoot of the happy and intact Goebbels family in order to dispel any rumors that had already begun to circulate.

A special reception was held at the Reich Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda on the occasion of Joseph Goebbels’ 40th birthday on 29 October 1937. Adolf Hitler congratulates him and presented him with gifts. Hitler’s personal adjutant SS leader Julius Schaub and State Secretary Walther Funk attended as well as Ministerial Councilor Leopold Gutterer.

Joseph Goebbels’ diary entry 3 days after the assassination attempt on Hitler on July 20, 1944:

JULY 23, 1944
“After the failed attack against Hitler. I meet again with the Führer. He leaves his shelter to come to meet me. Our first words upset me. I am thrilled to the core to see him in front of me, safe and sound. The scene is not without solemnity. I have the feeling of being in front of a man who works under the protection of God. However, his appearance is that of a tired person. His forehead shows superficial wounds; He limps slightly, has suffered burns and has bruises on his arm. Apart from this, he has nothing. The only thing that worries me is that the Führer has become very old. It gives the impression of fragility, caused by his injuries. His entire being is characterized by extreme goodness. I had never seen him as endearing as that day. You can’t feel anything but affection for him. He is the greatest living genius of our time. Together with him, we will achieve victory, or we will heroically sink.”