Heinrich Himmler Heinrich Himmler, born October 7, 1900, was a leading member of the Nazi Party and influential figure in World War II. Himmler was born in Munich Germany, and grew up the son of a Catholic schoolmaster. As a child, he lived in a mountain village with his mother for some time to recover from a serious lung infection. Himmler gained a vast amount of knowledge of German history, especially the military history, at a young age. He was said to have known just as much, if not more, than the teachers that taught him.
Himmler attended Landshut High School, the school that his dad ran. Himmler joined the Jugendwehr (Youth Defense) in 1916. The Jugendwehr instructed its members on military subjects, something that Himmler was very interested in. Himmler loved war and tried to involve himself in WWI as much as possible. On October 6th, Himmler left school and began work at the War Welfare Office. After just two months of work there, Himmler joined the 11th Bavarian Infantry Regiment. Himmler joined the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) in 1923. Adolf Hitler appointed Himmler a military commander for a short time before making him Commander of the Replacement Army, as well as the General Plenipotentiary for the administration of the entire Third Reich. Himmler was appointed head of the Schutzstaffel (Protection Squadron; SS) in January 1929, and expanded the SS from just 290 members to over 52,000 by the time the Nazi’s seized power in January 1933. Himmler was most known for setting up and controlling the Nazi concentration camps. Himmler set up the first concentration camp in Dachau, and expanded on the qualifications for internment in the camps. Himmler also set up death camps at Hitler’s request, and as the controller of these camps ordered the killing of millions of Jews and others (Simkin). |
Hermann Goering
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Joseph Goebbels Joseph Goebbels was born on October 29, 1897. Goebbels was not a very healthy child, and suffering from pneumonia and osteomyelitis early in his childhood. His parents and him tried very hard to cure his osteomyelitis and keep his foot healthy. Nevertheless, Goebbels was left with a club foot, and walked with a noticeable limp. His limp, and his small size were the butt of many jokes from the other kids at school. His longing to be the same as them, and to not be lonely, made him bitter.
Later in life, the club foot prevented Goebbels from joining the German army during World War I. After being exempted from service, Goebbels attended many German universities, studying philosophy and literature. Goebbels studied many other subjects, and would earn a Ph.D. in philology from Heidelberg University. Goebbels joined the Nazi Party in the early 1920s. He and the Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler, both admired each other for their way with words. Hitler was a very talented public speaker, and could make people think just what he wanted to. Goebbels was talented at writing what he thought, a skill that Hitler would eventually use. At the time, Goebbels had been involved with Gregor Strasser. Strasser was the leader of a different party bloc, one that was more anti-capitalist compared to the more conservative Hitler. Goebbels broke away from Strasser and his bloc to join Hitler. Goebbels did well in the Nazi party, and it didn’t take him long either. By 1926, Goebbels was a party district leader in Berlin. Just one year later, Goebbels was putting his skills to use in Der Angriff (The Attack), a newspaper that supported the Nazi party line. Goebbels was then elected to the Reichstag, or German Parliament, in 1928. His most important position wasn’t in the Parliament however, it came when Hitler appointed him the propaganda director for the Nazi Party. This would be his most important role in the Nazi Party, and what he did was very influential on both German, and world history. Goebbels was responsible for the Hitler’s image. He made him into the great leader that would save the German people. Goebbels did this by arranging enormous gatherings for Hitler to speak at, and by presenting Hitler in a way that only drew support and affection from those watching (History.com Staff). |
Citations
Simkin, John. "Spartacus Educational." Spartacus Educational. N.p., Aug. 2014. Web. 11 May 2016.
<http://spartacus-educational.com/GERhimmler.htm>.
Simkin, John. "Spartacus Educational." Spartacus Educational. N.p., Feb. 2016. Web. 11 May 2016.
<http://spartacus-educational.com/2WWgoring.htm>.
History.com Staff. "Joseph Goebbels." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 01 Jan. 2010. Web. 11 May 2016.
<http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/joseph-goebbels>.
Simkin, John. "Spartacus Educational." Spartacus Educational. N.p., Aug. 2014. Web. 11 May 2016.
<http://spartacus-educational.com/GERhimmler.htm>.
Simkin, John. "Spartacus Educational." Spartacus Educational. N.p., Feb. 2016. Web. 11 May 2016.
<http://spartacus-educational.com/2WWgoring.htm>.
History.com Staff. "Joseph Goebbels." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 01 Jan. 2010. Web. 11 May 2016.
<http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/joseph-goebbels>.