Doctor Goebbels: His Life & Death

dem Äther’ (unpubl. JG diary, Jun 11, 1938).5 Handwritten letter from H O[skar] Ritschel, director of the Magno Works, Duisburg,Dec 3 (Magda Goebbels papers, ZStA Potsdam, Rep.90, Go 2, vol.3); he mentions a majorNorwegian industrialist who has invited him and Magda as guests. JG’s diary talks on Dec 3,1938 of ‘many personal agonies. But I’m almost inured to them.’6 Diary, Dec 8–9, 12; the newspapers reported he was suffering from acute intestinalinfluenza. NYT, Dec 23, 1938.7 On Dec 30, 1938 he wrote it up in retrospect. He noted (Ibid., Dec 20, 1939) that thewedding anniversary then was somewhat nicer than in 1938: ‘That was awful. This time wecan all celebrate together again.’ The NYT reported on Dec 31, 1938 that he had recoveredenough to make his New Year’s address.8 Diary, Jan 1, 4, 1939.9 Ibid., Jan 8, 1939.10 Ibid., Jan 11, 1939.11 Ibid., Jan 17, 1939.12 Ibid., Feb 6, 8, 1939.13 Ibid., Jan 17, 1939.14 Ibid., Jan 18–20, 1939.15 See Ebermayer and Meissner, Revue, No.24, Jun 14, 1952.16 Diary, Feb 4, 1937.17 Ibid., Jan 23, 1939.18 Ibid., Jan 25, 1939; the letter has not survived.19 Letter from a Mr Flood, Mar 15, 1939 (PRO file FO.371/23007).20 Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant published on Jan 22 in an article ‘De Positie van Goebbels’rumours that the party court under Major Buch had considered JG’s future; NYT, Jan 1, 21,26, 1939.21 Diary, Jan 27, 28, 1939.22 The official was Gotthard Urban, Rosenberg’s most senior political adviser. Rosenbergdiary, Feb 6, 1939.23 Ibid. ‘Hitler won’t let him publish it,’ predicted Himmler. On Jun 14, 1939 JG noted(unpubl. diary), ‘Amann now wants at last to publish my book about the Führer. But only theFührer himself can decide. I’d be happy to.’24 Interview between Home Office ARP department and Major Otto Schwink, Feb 23,1939 (PRO file FO.371/22965)25 JG writes in his diary, ‘Let’s not mention it.’ The photo, published inter alia in NYT Jan30 and Westfälische Landeszeitung Jan 31, 1939, shows Magda next to JG in a box, with Hankeand Capt Wilhelm Weiss (editor of the VB).26 British consul in Dresden, political report, Feb 28, 1939 (PRO file FO.371/22965)27 Führer’s adjutant to RMVP, Jun 2, 1938 (BA file NS.10/44).GOEBBELS. MASTERMIND OF THE THIRD REICH 52528 See interrogation of Fritzsche, Nov 1, 1946. In May 1939 RMVP complained that Stürmerhad mentioned the Czechs despite official policy to ignore them (Yivo: G-41; G-42, G-43).29 Diary, Nov 11, 1938; Hassell diary, Jan 17, 1939.30 Diary, Feb 1, Mar 22, 1939.31 On Oct 22, 1939 he wrote that he could laugh himself sick about the ‘wonderful’ Britishcaricatures of himself. On Nov 17, 1939 however he furiously noted that the Daily Sketch hadpublished a cartoon depicting himself,Göring and Hitler [on the gallows]: ‘But it won’t belong before we’re paying them back.’32 Diary, Jan 31, Feb 1, 3; NYT, Feb 4, 5, 1939.33 JG’s article in VB, Feb 4, was called: ’Do we still have a sense of humour?’—NYT, editorialFeb 7; contest ends, Mar 9, 1939.34 Unpubl. diary, Mar 18, 1939.35 JG’s office to Dep.Ib of RMVP, Apr 1, 1939 (BA file R.55/945).36 Diary, Jan 26, 29, 1939; Rosenberg diary.37 Diary, Jan 29, 1939.38 Bartels to JG, Aug 1 (ZStA Potsdam, Rep.50.01, RMVP, vol.759); diary, Feb 3, 4, 7,1939. The refrigeration company warned that JG would have to permit them to downgradevital military contracts if he was to get these items on time.39 Unpubl. diary, Mar 18; on Jun 20, 1939 (ibid.) he records further money worries aboutLanke, and Amann, faced by tax problems, is refusing to bail him out. ‘But I’ll find a way out.’40 Phone book, Haus am Bogensee (BA file R.55/1402); and author’s visit to the site. Thewindow still operates.41 Angriff, Nov 30; diary, Dec 17, 1938.42 Diary, Nov 24, 1938.43 Ogilvie-Forbes to FO, Nov 23, 1938 (PRO file FO.371/21665); diary, Nov 18, Dec 8,1938.44 Dr Paul Schmidt, chief of German FO press section, to Woermann, undated minute,endorsed: Morgenbespr. (morning conf.) Mar 20 [1939?], on NA film T120, roll 1434,D578256f.45 Heinrich Hansen (Dietrich’s press officer) affidavit, Jul 10, 1948 (StA Nuremberg, G15).46 Diary, Dec 8, 1938.47 Ibid., Feb 5, 1939; author’s interview, Jul 1989.48 Behrend, loc. cit., No.19, May 10, 1952; diary, Jan 26, Feb 5, 11, 1939.49 Ibid., Dec 22, 1937.50 Darges to Wünsche Jun 27, 1939 (BA file NS.10/49).51 Bahls to RMVP, Apr 24, 1939 (ibid.)52 Diary, Jan 25, 27, 1939.53 Ibid., Jan 11, 28, Feb 8, 9, 14, 1939.54 Ibid., Jan 22; JG’s article, ‘What does America really want?’ was also featured in HamburgerTageblatt, Berliner Tageblatt, Frankfurter Zeitung and several other newspapers. On Feb 28,1939 the British consul in Dresden confirmed that by identifying Roosevelt with the influentialJews around him JG had scored quite a propaganda hit.55 Diary, Jan 3, Feb 6, 1939.56 Ibid., Nov 5, 12, 1938, Mar 23, 1939.526 GOEBBELS. MASTERMIND OF THE THIRD REICH57 Ibid., Mar 4, 1939.58 Ibid., Mar 20, 1939.59 JG article on VB, Mar 25, 1939.60 British embassy Berlin to FO, Nov 25 (PRO file FO.371/21665); diary, Nov 20, 1938.61 Ibid., Dec 14, 15, 1938.62 VB, Jan 31, 1939.63 Diary, Feb 1, 1939.64 Ibid., Feb 3, 1939.65 VB, Feb 25; reproduced by other newspapers, e.g. Frankfurter Zeitung, Feb 26. Writing tothe FO, Feb 28, 1939, Henderson urged that Downing Street exercise a moderating influenceon newspapers like the News Chronicle ‘in the interests of appeasement generally’ (PRO fileFO.371/22966).66 Rosenberg diary, Mar 1, 1939, quoting wives of Darré and Kerrl; the reference to’1924’is probably misquoted.67 Ebermayer and Meissner, Revue, No.24, Jun 14, 1952.68 Diary, Mar 4; unpubl. diary, Mar 5, 10, 1939 (Moscow archives, Goebbels diarymicrofiches, box 1).69 Unpubl. diary, Mar 11, 1939.70 Ibid., Mar 12, 1939.71 CSDIC interrogation of Baarova’s manager, ‘Mar 15, 1944,’ in MI.14 dossier on JG(PRO file WO.208/4462). He had smuggled her back to Germany.72 Unpubl. diary, Mar 13, 1939.73 Ibid.74 Ibid., Mar 14, 1939.75 Ibid., Mar 15, 1939.76 Ibid., Mar 16, 1939.77 Ibid., Mar 17, 1939.78 Diary, Mar 19, 25, 28, 1939.79 Unpubl. diary, Mar 18, 1939.80 Diary, Mar 20, 1939.81 Ibid., Mar 20, 23, 1939.82 Ibid., Mar 23, 1939.83