Figure 1.-- Here the Goebbels family is hosting SS men during World War II. The article appeared in the first June, 1943 German propaganda magazine "Signal". It was issued twice monthly. "Sinal" was sold in every occupied country during the war. This is from the Dutch edition. The text under the photograph read "Visit at the home of Reichsminister Dr. Goebbels of a deputation of the SS tank grenadiers division, who distinguished themselves at the recapture of Charkow. [HBC note: The caption probably Karkov in the Ukraine south of Kursk. The Germans did not hold it very long after retaking it.] These soldiers spent an afternoon with the Goebbels family where they gave a good account of the spirit and character of the troops in this 4th year of the war". his was right before the decisive Battle of Kursk.

Goebbels married Magda Friedlander Quandt (December 1931). Magda's maiden name was Behrend, but her mother married a Jewish man named Richard Friedlander and Magda took his name. (Herstepfather was arrested (1938) and died in Buchenwald (1939). She married an industrialist Guenther Quadnt and they had a son Harald. Magda while seeing Giebbels was also seeing a Jewish man Victor Chaim Arlosoroff. The Goebbels had marital difficulties. Goebbels saw himself as a Casanova. He had little succces with women, but after his appointment as Reich Minister for Propaganda his ability to sway women improve. He used his position to virtually force film starlets to acceed to his advances. His wife had her own affairs. Despite their marital problems, the Goebbels had six children, five girls and one boy. The family was presented in NAZI movie newsreels as the ideal German family. The family were frequent visitors to Berchtesgarden and the children referred to Hitler as "Uncle Adolf" and "Uncle Führer". Hitler had to personally interceed to keep Goebbels and his wife together, at Magda's personal request. Hitler was especially appauled by Goebbels affair with Czech film star Lida Baarova, both because she threatened the highly publicized ideal German family, but because she was a Slav. The children of course are best known because The Goebbels brought them to Hitler's Berlin bunker at the end of the War and poisoned them before commiting suiside themselves.

Created: 2:49 AM 9/9/2005
Last updated: 2:49 AM 9/9/2005