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.
Time flies! It’s quite hard for me to believe, but I launched this blog exactly one year ago today. What a journey it has been, creating a total of 60 unique photo albums with over 2000 individual Adolf Hitler photographs successfully identified, labeled, grouped and catalogued. On the outside, as far as blog statistics go, this one would not appear to be a success, having garnered less than a dozen followers and only a couple hundred visitors. Admittedly the initial lack of interest had plunged me into a very deep state of discouragement, and even worse, I recently experienced the most painful level of rejection I could ever fathom due to this enterprise. Yet I found the will to carry on. I realized what really matters is that this hobby brings me great joy and renewed purpose into my life. Hopefully my handful of cherished subscribers will also enjoy seeing more of my most favorite photographs in my collection, which include Hitler in his summer white uniform! So in addition to the original first set, here is another album of over 30 more of them to discover.
On 26 July 1939 Hitler attended the opera “Tristan and Isolde” starring French soprano Germaine Lubin (center) in Bayreuth at the Wagner Music Festival. Hitler loved her in the role and wanted to meet her, claiming he had never heard such an Isolde. Lubin became one of Hitler’s favorite artists.Adolf Hitler attends an artist’s reception on 26 July 1939 at Haus Wahnfried in Bayreuth during the Wagner Music Festival.Adolf Hitler welcomes all German medal winners of the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin to the Reich Chancellery on 31 July 1936. I just LOVE the way all these gentlemen are huddled around Hitler like they are caught up in the gravitational pull of the sun. Rare image from an official 1936 Olympic commemorative programme. The German Olympic medal winners are pictured surrounding Adolf Hitler who is wearing his distinctive white summer uniform. The front cover of the commemorative program shows an eagle atop the Olympic Rings, with the inscription “I call upon the youth of the world”. ‘Adolf Hitler in the circle of active athletes’, (original text); standing in the middle with the female athletes is Reichssportführer Hans von Tschammer und Osten, at the Olympic medal winners reception held at the Reich Chancellery on 31 July 1936.Adolf Hitler with the German Olympic athletic team during a reception of the 1936 German Olympic participants at the Reich Chancellery in Berlin. Adolf Hitler during his speech to the athletes on 31 July 1936.Karl Ritter von Halt presented Adolf Hitler a memory book of the 1936 Olympics. After the Olympic Games in Berlin, Adolf Hitler welcomes the organizers of the Summer Games in the Chancellery of the Reich. Karl Ritter von Halt presents to him a memory book. There are also: Sports leader of the Reich Tschammer and Osten (left), SS-Brigadefuehrer Schaub (2nd from left), Adolf Hitler, the President Theodor Lewald, Ritter von Halt, Major General Busch and the head of the Main Security Office of the Reich, Reinhard Heydrich.Adolf Hitler seated with Heinrich Hoffmann to his right, surrounded by artists during a reception in the Führerbau after the inauguration and opening of the “House of German Art” on 18 July 1937. Third from left, behind those seated, stands renowned pianist Wilhelm Kempff.Adolf Hitler seated with Heinrich Hoffmann to his right, surrounded by artists during a reception in the Führerbau after the inauguration and opening of the “House of German Art” on 18 July 1937. Third from left, behind those seated, stands renowned pianist Wilhelm Kempff.Adolf Hitler with actress Olga Tschechowa at an artist reception in the Reich Chancellery on 18 July 1937. Far right Heinrich Himmler, far left Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop.Adolf Hitler at an evening reception in the Reich Chancellery in honor of the Bulgarian Prime Minister Georgi Kjosseiwanoff and his family; Adolf Hitler in conversation with wife Natalia Kjosseiwanoff (left) and her daughter Liliana on 5 July 1939.Bayreuther Festspiele 1939 – Hitler mit Heß und Speer in einer Vorstellungspause. Bayreuth Festival 1939 – Hitler with Hess and Speer in a performance break during the opera “Götterdämmerung” on 3 August 1939. Bayreuth Festival 1939 – Hitler with Hess in a performance break during the opera “Götterdämmerung” on 3 August 1939. Hitler waves from the window of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus. Hitler also met with his dear friend August Kubizek and paid a joint visit to Wagner’s grave during the festival and stated “I am happy that we can see each other again in this place, which was always the most sacred for both of us.”Adolf Hitler holds a conversation with an actress in the background as Rudolf Hess (center) sits with his guests, the Italian ambassador in Berlin Dino Alfieri (left) and Joseph Goebbels (right), at his reception following the “Day of German Art” on 16 July 1939.Dino Alfieri, Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels at the reception on the “Day of German Art” in Munich in the “Führerbau” (Hitler’s office building on Arcis Street in Munich). Adolf Hitler receives the guest of honor on 16 July 1939. Hitler is speaking with the Italian Minister Dino Alfieri. On the right is Reich Minister Joseph Goebbels, left is the interpreter.Magician Helmut Schreiber, known as the Great Kalanag, performing card tricks for Hitler on 16 July 1939. As the Nazi’s court magician, Kalanag enchanted parties for Goebbels, entertained the masses at Nazi Party events and also produced propaganda films. Here he is performing at the reception for the annual opening of the Great German Art Exhibition in Munich at the Führerbau, just six weeks before the Wehrmacht invaded Poland.Adolf Hitler at his reception following the “Day of German Art” on 16 July 1939.Adolf Hitler wearing his white cap with his white uniform on 24 October 1936 at a reception for the Italian Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano at the Berghof.
Pact of Steel Reception Party
The Pact of Steel (Stahlpakt) was a military and political alliance between Italy and Germany signed in 1939. The pact was initially to be a tripartite military alliance between Japan, Italy and Germany. Japan wanted the focus of the pact to be aimed at the Soviet Union, while Italy and Germany wanted the focus to be aimed at the British Empire and France. Due to this disagreement the pact was signed without Japan and it became an agreement which only existed between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. Apparently after being informed of Hitler’s original name choice, the “Pact of Blood”, Mussolini proposed the name “Pact of Steel” believing that would be much better received in Italy. Signed on 22 May 1939 by foreign ministers Galeazzo Ciano of Italy and Joachim von Ribbentrop of Germany, the Pact of Steel obliged Germany and Italy to aid the other country militarily, economically or otherwise in the event of war and to collaborate in wartime production.
Adolf Hitler arrives at the evening “Stahlpakt” reception held at the home of Reich Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop on Lentzeallee in Dahlem escorting Annelies von Ribbetrop into the festival tent on 22 May 1939.Reception at the house of foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop at Lentzeallee in Berlin Dahlem – (from left) the italian foreign minister Count Galeazzo Ciano, Ribbentrop, Adolf Hitler; in the background: the Hungarian ambassador Doeme Sztojay – 22.05.1939 – Published by: ‘Berliner Volkszeitung’ 23.05.1939 (Photo by Heinrich Hoffmann/ullstein bild via Getty Images)Adolf Hitler shakes hands with General Franz Ritter von Epp, head of the NSDAP Office of Colonial Policy, at the reception of diplomats in Berlin on 22 May 1939. Exchange of information about war plans following the signing of the German-Italian Friendship and Alliance Pact.Adolf Hitler and Hermann Göring at the diplomatic meeting between the foreign ministers of Germany and Italy, during a reception at the house of Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentropp in Dahlem, Berlin on 22 May 1939. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler with German actress Olga Tschechowa during a reception at the house of Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentropp in Dahlem, Berlin on 22 May 1939. Reception at the house of Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop on 22 May 1939. Front row, left to right: Hermann Goering, Annelies von Ribbentrop, Adolf Hitler and Olga Tschechowa. Behind Goering: Japanese ambassador Hiroshi Oshima and Reich Women’s Führer Gertrud Scholtz-Klink. Behind Hitler: Field Marshal General Wilhelm Keitel. Private reception for Nazi leaders and artists at the house of Reich Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop in Berlin – Dahlem, at the very far left is Hitler, appearing to be thoroughly enjoying himself at the party.Abendempfang im Hause von Reichsaussenminister Joachim v. Ribbentrop an der Lentzeallee in Dahlem (v.r.) Sandro Freiherr von Dörnberg, Chef des Protokolls, Adolf Hitler und Annelies von Ribbetrop beim Betreten des Festzeltes.Abendempfang im Hause von Reichsaussenminister Joachim v. Ribbentrop an der Lentzeallee in Dahlem – (v.l.) Adolf Hitler, Ribbentrop, der italienischeAussenminister Galeazzo Graf Ciano.
Hitler gratuliert Reichssportführer Hans von Tschammer und Osten zu dem 50. Geburtstag.
Adolf Hitler with Hans von Tschammer und Osten during the celebration of Osten’s 50th birthday in the Reich Chancellory on 25 October 1937.Adolf Hitler with Hans von Tschammer und Osten during the celebration of Osten’s 50th birthday in the chancellery on 25 October 1937.Adolf Hitler and Hans von Tschammer und Osten at Hans’ 50th birthday celebration on 25 October 1937.Hans von Tschammer und Osten, Sports Leader of the Reich, on his 50th Birthday reception in the Reich Chancellery, from left to right: in conversation with Adolf Hitler and the couple Maxi Herber and Ernst Baier (figure skater) – 25 Oktober 1937 – Photographer: Presse-Illustrationen Heinrich Hoffmann- Published by: ‘Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung’ 44/1937 Adolf Hitler receives on the occasion of the 50th birthday of the Reich Sports Leaders von Tschammer and Osten (left behind Hitler) several German athletes to the Reich Chancellery. from left: Guzzi Lantschner, the siblings Rudi and Christl Cranz and Kaethe Grasegger on 25 October 1937.Chancellor of Germany Adolf Hitler shaking hands with soccer player Fritz Szepan at a reception for athletes at the Reich Chancellery in Berlin on 25 October 1937. On 22 August 1938, Hungarian president Miklós Horthy’s wife, Magdolna Purgly joined Hitler to inaugurate the Prince Eugen in Kiel. The heavy cruiser’s task was to support Nazi Germany’s effort to sink American merchant ships.Horthy’s wife and Horthy (left in white jacket) had friendly relations with Hitler. On 22 August 1938, Hungarian president Miklós Horthy’s wife, Magdolna Purgly joined Adolf Hitler to inaugurate his new heavy cruiser ship the Prince Eugen in Kiel. The heavy cruiser’s task was to support Nazi Germany’s effort to sink American merchant ships.Besuch von Paul v. Jugoslawien in Deutschland – Adolf Hitler empfängt Prinzregent Paul vor der Reichskanzlei 5 June 1939.Adolf Hitler poses with Princess Olga and Prince Regent Paul of the Yugoslavian royal house in Berlin on 5 June 1939.
Adolf Hitler greeting Count Galeazzo Ciano, Mussolini’s son-in-law and Italian Foreign Minister (executed in 1944) at the Kehlsteinhaus on 12 August 1939. Eva Braun had a huge crush on Ciano and frequently mentioned his sharp dress style.Besuch Galeazzo Cianos 12. / 13. August 1939Adolf Hitler at the Kehlsteinhaus (Teehaus Kehlstein) looking at a model of Germania with Julius Schaub, Galeazzo Ciano, Eugen Dollmann, Albert Bormann and Joachim Ribbentrop on 13 August 1939.
On Saturday, 12 August 1939, Adolf Hitler enjoyed a car ride up to the Kehlsteinhaus from the Obersalzberg for a meeting with Count Ciano, the Italian Foreign Minister. At the beginning of the conversation, Hitler stated that a rapid liquidation of Poland could only be an advantage for the inevitable confrontation coming with the Western democracies. Ciano was shocked by Hitler’s determination to go to war, since Mussolini expected the inevitable conflicts with the Western powers to be two to three years away. Ciano’s main purpose and concern in the rest of the conversation was to explain Italy’s lack of readiness for war.
Adolf Hitler with the Italian Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano (right) and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop (left) at the Berghof on Obersalzberg on 13 August 1939.Adolf Hitler chats with the Italian Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop at the Berghof on Obersalzberg on 13 August 1939. From Eva Braun’s private albums.
The following day, on the 13th of August, Hitler continued his conversation with Ciano at his home on the Obersalzberg. He made the statement “I am firmly convinced that neither England nor France will enter into a general war.” Hitler also confidently declared that the conquest of Poland could be done in six to eight weeks. Back on 23 May 1939, just a day after signing the “Pact of Steel,” Hitler had informed his generals that a German invasion of Poland was now inevitable. The conflict over Danzig and the Polish corridor was mere pretext. Germany could simply no longer do without Eastern European “living space” [Lebensraum] and the attendant raw materials.
Italian Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano (left) as a guest of Adolf Hitler at the Berghof on 13 August 1939. On the right is Joachim von Ribbentrop,
The photo taken above is most likely the very last occasion on which Hitler ever donned his summer white uniform. World War Two would break out just a couple of weeks after this diplomatic meeting held at the Berghof, with Hitler’s invasion of Poland. Afterwards he only ever wore his field grey uniform. This double breasted version accented with the white hat and gloves was without a doubt the most SUPERB incarnation of the white uniform. Savor it, and be sure to enjoy Hoffmann’s formal portrait session of Hitler in his White Uniform taken at the Berghof in July 1939. 🤍🤍🤍
UPDATE: I was wrong! Here’s one more photo I found buried deep in my collection of an occasion, the Salzburg Festival on 14 August 1939, where Hitler was wearing his white uniform!
Adolf Hitler at a performance of Mozart’s ‘The Entrapment from the Seraglio’ on the occasion of the Salzburg Festival; next to Hitler is Reichsleiter Martin Bormann (left) and Gauleiter Dr. Friedrich Rainer (right); behind (from left) accompanying doctor Dr. Karl Brandt, his personal adjutant SA Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Brückner, architect Albert Speer; further right: Luftwaffe – Adjutant Nicolaus von Below at the Landestheater on 14 August 1939.
Okay so this one is a total mystery! It looks like Hitler is amidst a large crowd at an outdoor event – perhaps the Day of German Art in July 1939? I hope to add it to the right event soon – I LOVE that he’s wearing the white hat here instead of his standard brown one – VERY rare indeed to capture this!!
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.
Yes I’ve been cancelled everywhere but Tumblr but I don’t post very often on that platform since I also have a lot of haters there too, and I often find really rare photos there and can’t risk getting IP blocked 😭
Congratulations on the first anniversary of this outstanding historical and photographical blog, and may there be many more years to come! It’s obvious that this project is a work of passion, and therefore it should reward and satisfy you personally, but a select few people who appreciate and understand its value are also being rewarded. These latest photos are thoroughly enjoyable, and it’s such a treat to see Hitler in his handsome white uniform in various settings, as well as laughing and having a good time. Keep a positive outlook, and let your passion rise to new and greater heights!!
THANK YOU so very VERY much for your kind and encouraging words and continued support in this endeavor. I’ve had several times that I lost sight of what truly matters, and that it’s not about views and numbers, but if even one person learns something new today and ENJOYS the stories and insights that are continually unfolding here then it is all worthwhile. I have not even covered a fraction of my photo collection or ever been at a loss for new ideas, so be assured that there is still much to be revealed in the coming years with such a vast wealth of material to explore!!
Dare I say you might’ve missed an excellent white suit picture, and that is AH witnessing The Great Kalang perform card tricks at the Chancellory in 1939 (3rd image):
Finally I wanted to ask you if you could decipher what AH had written here in his 1910 self-portrait on a stony bridge, all on his lonesome (second slide if you can’t see it):
I don’t know if you remember but I’d said that I’d followed your Tumblr back in the day (on the Hitler On Board post). I wish it were possible to maintain a regular correspondence; this community meant a lot to me in my teens and still does. I feel that’d be impossible so I might just comment from time to time ^_^
Oh my GOODNESS I simply can’t thank you enough for these FABULOUS photographs – I have honestly never seen either of these before!!! I just tracked down the first one of Hitler taken with the Great, and it goes with the 16 July 1939 set above taken at the Führerbau in Munich with Dino Alfieri on the Day of German Art. The next photo of Hitler with the Great Kalanag in Berchtesgaden was taken in 1943, Helmut Schreiber was apparently a frequent visitor to the Berghof. On another one of his visits in 1944, apparently “the Führer even joked how nice it would be if Schreiber could also conjure away the Russian armies.” I found this and lots of other great information in this article:
We still have a small but very active Reichblr community on Tumblr and a great Discord server too if you’d like to join us, we chat everyday about Adi and share tons of photos and artwork PLEASE JOIN so we can talk more here is the invite!! 😃😃😃
heya, ive been really enjoying your site recently and i was wondering if your discord server is still open? ive learnt a lot from what youve written here and would love to join the community. thanks!
heya, ive been really enjoying your site recently and i was wondering if your discord server is still open? ive learnt a lot from what youve written here and would love to join the community. and if not, no problem. ill continue to read what you produce here. thanks!
YES absolutely! My Discord server is called “All About Adi” and it’s where I share all my photographs now since I’m no longer very active on social media: https://discord.gg/EYkypvXz
I just found another photo of Adi in the jacket seen in the second photo:
Definitely not common, and by this time in the war Hitler was only wearing his field grey uniform with a trench coat or long leather coat, so he probably only wore this particular jacket in more private settings. It’s definitely much more casual than his other coats, and it looks quite comfy and flattering on him 🥹
I haven’t figured out what’s written on his self-portrait yet. I think I see the number 3 and a couple exclamation points but that’s all I can make out 🤷♀️
Thanks for adding it to the page! Can I also make a quick little correction on “Reception of the Italian Diplomats in Berlin on 22 May 1939” I think there are no Italians in that picture? I believe he’s shaking hands with the old Bavarian General Franz Epp.
Thank you!! Thank you!! I just corrected it and also specified that von Epp was the head of the NSDAP Office of Colonial Policy (which would tie well into the impending expansionist policies). I also hadn’t noticed before the unusual handshake between them, oddly it looks very much like the secret Masonic handshake even though Hitler outlawed that fraternity. I’d say it was just a coincidence, but he is very clearly giving the same handshake to von Papen in another photo that I have. So interesting – I really appreciate your help with my website, please let me know any other errors that you notice, sometimes I just copy and paste descriptions straight from Alamy and I forget to double check all the facts, and there are frequently errors in their information. 🙏
blog absolument magnifique classe je comprends tellement votre ressenti tant de travail de temps d’attente pour ci peux de retour mais la passions doit rester plus fortes que tout cela donne un bute à la vie pour ne pas sombrer..
Merci beaucoup, je suis très heureuse que cela vous plaise ! C’est vraiment ce qui me permet de continuer chaque jour, c’est ma plus grande passion dans la vie et m’apporte un bonheur et une joie incroyables ! 🤗
[…] study and on the terrace at the Berghof. I have also published another album of photographs of Hitler in his White Uniform that covers many official functions that occurred in the late […]
Hello! Thank you very much for making your wonderful website! It’s so very much appreciated! I discovered your website a little while ago and in my enthusiasm I have sent you an email to the email you have written on this website. Have you seen it by any chance? I’m sorry if my email was long or stupid. I was just very happy to have discovered your website. Also, is your discord open to join by anyone? I really would like to join if that is okay. Once again, thank you for all the effort you make for this website! Greetings
HELLO thank you so much for reaching out (again 🙏) and letting me know to check my email – your lovely letter went to SPAM 😭 but I was able to recover it and will respond much more later 🤗 … for now PLEASE feel free to join the “All About Adi” server:
Heinrich Hoffmann Photo Gallery 
