335. Uncaptioned.

Yet another image from the same photographic session. This time Hitler’s devoted Propaganda Minister, Joseph Goebbels joins Magda and their children in an image where some of the children are finding it rather difficult to contain their restlessness; typical of all children on such occasions.

Goebbels’ oratory, left the meeting a convert to the Nazi cause. They were to meet a short time later at one of the Party’s offices where Magda had then found employment. Goebbels immediately showed an interest in the attractive young blonde, as time passed he realized that Magda would be a very good catch, her background and contacts would bring an air of respectability to the Party. Magda offered access to areas of the upper classes where the Nazis still struggled to make a favourable impression.

Magda Quandt and Joseph Goebbels were married on 19 December 1931. Adolf Hitler acted as witness. The Führer was actually very fond of Magda; she was intelligent, confident, charming, and showed an interest in the Party. Hitler realized these valuable attributes could be of great use. Magda represented the perfect Nazi image of German womanhood, as such she supported Hitler acting as hostess at parties and official functions. In time her role became that of unofficial first lady. The six children from her marriage to Goebbels were filmed and photographed in and around their home at Schwanenwerder; these images were used in a promotional way to impart the Party’s idea of the model Nazi family, with Magda representing the ideal mother and homemaker.

In 1938 the continuing womanising of her husband finally brought Magda to breaking point. Goebbels had declared his love for Lida Baarova, a twenty-two-year-old Czech actress, his latest conquest. On hearing that he planned to leave her and the children Magda threatened divorce and went straight to Hitler. The Führer would not hear of his Propaganda Minister getting divorced thus shattering the perfect image of Nazi family life. Hitler fully realized the value of Goebbels devotion to him and the abilities he possessed. Goebbels finally bowed to the Führer’s wishes and the scandal was averted.

Madga Goebbels also remained totally loyal to Hitler; in the end neither she nor her husband could see any point in a life without their Führer, or the Party. Magda feared for her children; if captured they might be the victims of a terrible revenge, and given that it was the Russians who were surrounding Berlin, this fear may not have been unjustified. With the end fast approaching, Magda penned a letter to her son Harald, then serving in the Luftwaffe. In the hope that somehow Harald would receive the letter, Magda wrote, My dear son I’ve stayed with Papa against his will. Last Sunday the Führer wanted to help me leave. You know your mother well. We have the same blood. I had no second thoughts. Our magnificent idea has died along with every beautiful, noble, good thing I’ve ever known. The world after the Führer’s death and after National Socialism is no longer worth living in. That’s why the children are here. They are too good for what will come. A merciful God will understand me for giving them redemption.

On 1 May 1945, the day after Hitler’s suicide, Magda and the children were in the bunker. Having discussed this point with former SS-Oberscharführer Rochus Misch, a witness to these events, Herr Misch told me how he saw one of Hitler’s physicians, Dr Ludwig Stumpfegger give the Goebbels’ children something to drink; some kind of sugary drink. It is now clear that this drink contained a strong sedative. Magda stayed with the children as they fell into a deep sleep. Then, with Dr Stumpfegger’s assistance, Magda proceeded to go around the room to carefully place a cyanide capsule into the mouth of every child. Each child died as Magda carefully and deliberately forced their mouths closed to break the small glass capsule to release the cyanide. A truly desperate decision taken in desperate circumstances; one cannot begin to imagine the anguish, the sense of total loss of a mother driven to such an act. More than an hour passed before Magda came out of the room where the children lay. Herr Misch could see she was crying. Then, perhaps as a form of distraction, Magda, sitting at a table, got out some cards and began playing patience. Both Magda and Joseph Goebbels committed suicide later that same day.