Joseph Goebbels

Joseph Goebbels was born to Karl and Maria Goebbels in Rheydt, a town in the Rhineland. He had a clubfoot from birth.

World War I begins, but Goebbels is exempted from military service due to his clubfoot, which leaves him feeling frustrated and isolated.

Goebbels enrolls at the University of Bonn to study history and literature, where he becomes interested in politics and nationalistic ideas.

Goebbels completes his doctorate in literature from the University of Heidelberg, focusing on 19th-century romantic drama.

Goebbels joins the German Workers' Party (DAP), which later becomes the Nazi Party (NSDAP), and quickly rises through the ranks due to his oratory skills.

Goebbels is elected to the Reichstag (German Parliament) as a member of the Nazi Party, representing the Rhineland region.

Goebbels is appointed Gauleiter (regional leader) of the Nazi Party in Berlin, where he becomes a leading figure in the party's propaganda efforts.

Goebbels marries Magda Quandt, a socialite and former wife of Günther Quandt, in a lavish ceremony, solidifying his social and political status.

Goebbels is appointed Reich Minister of Propaganda by Adolf Hitler, becoming one of the most influential figures in the Nazi regime.

Goebbels survives the Night of the Long Knives, a purge of the SA leadership, further solidifying his position within the Nazi Party.

Goebbels organizes the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, using the event to promote Nazi ideology and propaganda on a global stage.

Goebbels orchestrates Kristallnacht, a series of coordinated attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany, leading to widespread destruction and violence.

World War II begins with Germany's invasion of Poland. Goebbels intensifies his propaganda efforts to support the war effort and maintain public morale.

Goebbels delivers the Total War Speech at the Sportpalast in Berlin, calling for an all-out war effort and increased support from the German population.

As Soviet forces advance into Berlin, Goebbels and his wife Magda commit suicide in the Führerbunker, along with their six children, to avoid capture.