HITLER’S HENCHMEN

Who were they? n Herman Göering n Rudolph Hess n Joseph Goebbels n Heinrich Himmler n Ernst Röhm n Aim: to evaluate the following –Personalities –Careers –Fate

Herman Göering: The Marshal n PERSONALITY n Spent childhood in his Jewish Godfather’s castle. n Emotionally neglected. n Decorated for bravery as a fighter pilot in WWI. n Betrayed by Tr. of Vers. n Fat, glamorous & extravagant. n Resented Röhm. n Drug addict?

Career n 1922, became commander of the SA n 2nd in command n Commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe n President of the Reichstag n 1936, put in charge of the 4-year plan n Organised the terror in 1933 & the Night of the Long Knives. n Involved in Holocaust, but as an ‘armchair assassin’ n Not great influence; Göering wanted transaction, Hitler wanted action. n Saw Jews as an economic problem.

Rudolph Hess: The Flatterer n PERSONALITY n Served in same regiment as Hitler during WWI n Few political skills n Little intelligence n Little oratorical ability n Weak, submissive and dependent figure n Had a religious fervour for Hitler. n Mentally unstable? n Believed: “Hitler is Germany! Germany is Hitler!”

Career n Imprisoned with Hitler, influenced writing of ‘Mein Kampf’ n Became Hitler’s secretary. n By 1932 he was head of the Nazi Central Political Commission. n His main significance was in dealing with administration. n 1939 – His power declined as Hitler became more absorbed in war. n June He felt increasingly cut off & fled to Scotland. –Why? n Kept in the tower of London until Nuremberg trials.

JOSEPH GOEBBELS n PERSONALITY n Born into poor family n leg crippled by Polio n Most educated & intelligent of the Nazi leaders. n Journalist n Bitter cynic n Powerful public speaker. n He visited nightclubs and had mistresses. n Bitter rivalry with Göering & Riibentrop.

Career n became party propaganda chief. n Found his mission in selling Hitler to the public & organising the Führer cult. n Controlled the radio, movies, theatre & press. n “Propaganda was our sharpest weapon in conquering the state, & remains our sharpest weapon in maintaining and building up the state.” n V. anti-Semitic n “The mission of women is to be beautiful & bring children into the world.”

HEINRICH HIMMLER: The Executioner n PERSONALITY n A conscientious, popular schoolboy n Bitter at Germany’s defeat. n A coldly efficient bureaucrat. n His devotion to Hitler seemed unconditional n Remembered by contemporaries, as an inconspicuous, amiable person. n “I can’t betray the Führer..Everything I am I owe to him.”

Career n Role n became head of the SS n Reich commissioner for Strengthening German Nationhood. n He aimed to purify the German nation. –Removing alien elements –Selective breeding n Had overall control of the Holocaust n As German fortunes in the war turned, so did Himmler’s loyalty –Recruited sub-humans to the SS –Tried to negotiate a secret armistice with the West n Dismissed by Hitler for treachery. n Flees, but captured by Allies. n V. anti - Semitic/ Homosexuals/Gypsies n “With bigamy, each wife would act as a stimulus to the others so that both would try to be their husband’s dream woman.” n “We must be honest, decent, loyal & comradely to members of our own blood, but to nobody else.”

ERNST RÖHM n PERSONALITY n A radical & a socialist. n He favoured radical change. n Not a sophisticated thinker n “Since I am an immature & wicked man, war & unrest appeal to me more than good bourgeois order.” n Reached rank of Captain in WWI, found it difficult to adjust to the post-war world. n Heavy drinker n Homosexual

Career n He built up a tough committed leadership of the SA, & got them under tight control. n 1933-appointed to the cabinet. n Tensions grew over the role of the SA. n Röhm wanted the SA to be a major force for radical revolution. n Hitler believed he was planning a 2nd revolution. n Hitler eliminated Röhm as part of the ‘Night of the Long Knives’ n “All revolutions devour their own children.”

The Nuremberg Trials Crimes against peace. 2. Crimes against humanity. 3. War Crimes 4. Conspiracy to commit the crimes alleged in the first three counts.

Guilty Men n GöERING n Guilty on all 4 charges –Sentenced to death –committed suicide n GOEBBELS –Committed suicide May n HIMMLER –Committed suicide May n HESS n Guilty on charges 1 & 4 –Sentenced to life imprisonment.