The Nazis’ Leading Men (after Hitler) Germany: 1919-1939

Main men of the Nazi Party Herman G öring Joseph Goebbels Rudolf Hess Heinrich Himmler Ernst Röhm Martin Bormann

Herman G öring

Joseph Goebbels

Rudolf Hess

Heinrich Himmler

Ernst Röhm

Martin Bormann

Herman G öring Decorated flyer in WWI Joined the Nazi Party in 1922 Wounded in Munich Beerhall Putsch Held a number of key positions when Nazis came to power: one being Commander in Chief of the German Air Force Was sentenced to death in the Nuremburg War Crimes Trial, but committed suicide just hours before he was due to be hanged http://www.uncp.edu/home/rwb/goring2.jpg

Decorated flyer in WWI

Joined the Nazi Party in 1922

Wounded in Munich Beerhall Putsch

Held a number of key positions when Nazis came to power: one being Commander in Chief of the German Air Force

Was sentenced to death in the Nuremburg War Crimes Trial, but committed suicide just hours before he was due to be hanged

Dr Joseph Goebbels Intelligent, ruthless, and a gift for oratory and organisation Joined Nazi Party after unsuccessful in journalism One of the most devoted followers of Hitler Put in charge of the party’s propaganda – genius move! Minister of Propaganda and Public Enlightenment – after Nazis came to power Leader with genuine intelligence – one of few in the party FANATICAL!! – arranged for his children to be killed shortly before he and his wife committed suicide at the end of the war!!! http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111500/ww2/media/images/people/goebbels2.jpg

Intelligent, ruthless, and a gift for oratory and organisation

Joined Nazi Party after unsuccessful in journalism

One of the most devoted followers of Hitler

Put in charge of the party’s propaganda – genius move!

Minister of Propaganda and Public Enlightenment – after Nazis came to power

Leader with genuine intelligence – one of few in the party

FANATICAL!! – arranged for his children to be killed shortly before he and his wife committed suicide at the end of the war!!!

Rudolf Hess Took part in the Munich Beerhall putsch Went to prison as well Helped Hitler with Mein Kampf 1933: appointed Deputy F ührer 1941: flew to Britain on a ‘peace mission’ Spent the rest of the war in prison 1946: sentenced to life imprisonment; committed suicide in 1987, aged 93 at Spandau Prison, Berlin http://www.nazi-lauck-nsdapao.com/griechenland/hess.jpg

Took part in the Munich Beerhall putsch

Went to prison as well

Helped Hitler with Mein Kampf

1933: appointed Deputy F ührer

1941: flew to Britain on a ‘peace mission’

Spent the rest of the war in prison

1946: sentenced to life imprisonment; committed suicide in 1987, aged 93 at Spandau Prison, Berlin

Heinrich Himmler August 1923: joins Nazi Party Took part in the Munich Beerhall Putsch 1929: appointed leader of the SS – Hitler’s personal bodyguard One of the most powerful and feared men: was in charge of Gestapo and SS – the Nazi Police State The SS systematically exterminated the Jews Himmler was captured by the British at the end of the war, but committed suicide http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-Himmler3.png

August 1923: joins Nazi Party

Took part in the Munich Beerhall Putsch

1929: appointed leader of the SS – Hitler’s personal bodyguard

One of the most powerful and feared men: was in charge of Gestapo and SS – the Nazi Police State

The SS systematically exterminated the Jews

Himmler was captured by the British at the end of the war, but committed suicide

Ernst R öhm Former army captain and responsible for getting ex- Freikorps into the SA 1931: became Chief of Staff of the SA SA became major threat to Hitler after the Nazis came to power 30 June, 1934: R öhm and other leaders of the SA are assassinated in ‘Night of the Long Knives’, on Hitler’s orders!! (Don’t threaten Hitler’s leadership, or you die…!) http://dutron.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/enrst-rohm.jpg

Former army captain and responsible for getting ex- Freikorps into the SA

1931: became Chief of Staff of the SA

SA became major threat to Hitler after the Nazis came to power

30 June, 1934: R öhm and other leaders of the SA are assassinated in ‘Night of the Long Knives’, on Hitler’s orders!! (Don’t threaten Hitler’s leadership, or you die…!)

Martin Bormann Joined Nazi Party in 1924 (was 24 yrs old) Efficient administrator – rose quickly in ranks Became head of the Party Chancellery and Hitler’s principal secretary after Hess left Came to control the Gauleiters (district leaders of Germany) and party appointments Controlled access to Hitler and Nazi policy on many issues, including Jewish question Stayed with the F ührer until Hitler committed suicide (April, 1945), then died attempting to break out of Berlin in the last days of the war. http://blogimages.bloggen.be/eef/70-6bcc8990bc6f1b5a4d966988e1ca62e8.jpg

Joined Nazi Party in 1924 (was 24 yrs old)

Efficient administrator – rose quickly in ranks

Became head of the Party Chancellery and Hitler’s principal secretary after Hess left

Came to control the Gauleiters (district leaders of Germany) and party appointments

Controlled access to Hitler and Nazi policy on many issues, including Jewish question

Stayed with the F ührer until Hitler committed suicide (April, 1945), then died attempting to break out of Berlin in the last days of the war.

Bibliography Mason, K., (Fielden, P.), 2007, Republic to Reich: A History of Germany 1918-1939 , 3 rd ed., McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd, North Ryde

Mason, K., (Fielden, P.), 2007, Republic to Reich: A History of Germany 1918-1939 , 3 rd ed., McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd, North Ryde