Josef Goebbels, Hermann Goering, Rudolf Hess, Heinrich Himmler, and Ernst Rohm were early leaders of the Nazi party. Goebbels was an intelligent, well-educated public speaker who joined the Nazis in 1922 and edited their newspaper. Goering fought bravely in WWI and joined the Nazis in 1922, later leading the SA. Hess worshipped Hitler and served loyally as his private secretary. Himmler joined in 1923 and became a regional party chief. Rohm was a tough, brutal captain who helped found the German Worker's Party in 1919 and led the SA for Hitler.

1. HITLER AND HIS
HENCHMEN
The Early Nazi Leaders

2. Josef Goebbels
• Did not fight in the WW I due to crippled foot
• Intelligent, well educated and a brilliant public speaker
• Joined the Nazis in 1922
• Editor of the Nazi newspaper Volkische Freiheit
(People’s Freedom)

4. Hermann Goering
• Fought in the airforce in the WW I
• Won the highest medal for bravery under fire
• Loud, swaggering character. Intelligent, witty and charming but
also vain and greedy
• Joined the Nazis in 1922
• In charge of the SA

6. Rudolf Hess
• Soldier and a pilot in the WW I
• Joined the Nazis in 1920
• Worshipped Hitler.
• Not ambitious
• Initially Hitler’s private secretary and later responsible for party
administration

8. Heinrich Himmler
• Brief stint into the WW I
• Frail and timid youth but hard-working and precise.
• Joined the Nazis in 1923
• Early post- Gauleiter (regional party chief)

10. Ernst Rohm
• Captain in the Germany army during the WW I
• Tough, brutal and efficient leader with a violent temper
• Joined the Freikorps and helped in crushing the Sparticist Rising
• Founder member of the German Worker’s Party in 1919
• Supported Hitler and ran the SA for Hitler in 1921