Joseph Goebbels
...e still unsure why became so Anti-Semitic. During the 20’s through the 40’s Germany was in a depression as a result of World War One. Many people blamed this on the Jewish people. He could of even blamed his disability on Jewish doctors. He was also a devout Roman Catholic. The Catholic Church was known to be very Anti-Semitic. For much of its history, the church officially blamed Jews for the death of Jesus Christ. The German Philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, influenced Dr. Joseph Goebbels. Nietzsche believed that the human race was searching for a higher goal. Nietzsche invented the myth of the “superman” to express this idea. His philosophy is very complex, but the idea of the superman was used to rationalize the idea that the Germans were a superior race with a great destiny. He could also have used this to rationalize that the Jews were an inferior race. In 1924, Joseph Goebbels joined the National Socialist German Worker’s Party or the Nazis. He strongly believed in the party’s ideals. He gave many speeches that won many converts to the party. He also began attracting attention from Nazi leaders, such as Adolph Hitler. The Nazi party was slowly gaining a majority in the Reichstag, or German Parliement. In 1926, Hitler appointed Dr. Joseph Goebbels as district leader in Berlin. Hitler was deeply impressed by Goebbels success in turning the small Berlin section of the party into a powerful organization. The Communist parties in the Reichstag feared the Nazi’s growing popularity. Communist Party members were talking about open revolt against the new Nazi-dominated government. It was around this time that the Reichstag Building burned down on February 27th, 1933. The Nazis immediately charged that the fire was part of the communist plot against the government and fatherland. Some historians believe that the fire was part of a Nazi plot to take over the Reichstag. In fact, Joseph Goebbels had previously planned a major rally for a few days after the fire. Hitler used the fire to ask for emergency powers that made him dictator. Goebbels helped justify the power grab, by making sure people knew of the communists’ plans. After Hitler Seized Power in 1933, Goebbels was named Minister of Propaganda and Public Enlightenment for the Third Reich. Goebbels set up seven divisions of the Ministry of Propaganda: Division One: Legislation and Legal problems; Budget, Finances, and Accounting; Personnel Administration; Ministerial Library; National Chamber of Culture; Council of Commercial Advertising; Fairs and Exhibitions. Division Two: Co-Ordination of Propaganda and Public Enlightenment; Regional Agencies of the Ministry; German Academy of Politics; Official Ceremonies and Demonstrations; National Emblems; Racial Questions; Treaty of Versailles; Youth Organization; Business and Social Politics; Public Health and Athletics; Eastern and Border Questions; National Travel Committee. Division Three: Radio; National Broadcasting Company. Division Four: National and Foreign Press; Journalism; Press Archives; News Service; National Association of the German Press. Division Five: Cinema; Motion Picture Industry; Cinema Censorship; Youth Literature Censorship. Division Six: Theater, Music, and Art; Theater Management; Stage Direction; Design; Folk Art. Division Seven: Protection against Cou...