Book Reviews

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BOOK REVIEWS GOEBBELS '

REIIEIIED 81 H NAIVE ELLIOIT-*

The Saviet artillery sheik could be heard deep inside the Berlin bunker 41 any moment Soviet troops would make their way into the last sanctum of the Kazi elite. Few af the elite remamed in the bunker Mast. realizing the hopelessness of the situation. had left to make their way to the American lines to surrender or attempt to escape capture.

Inside the bunker. a Nazi doctor administered morphine shots to SIX children Once sedated, their mother broke a cyanide capsule made each child's mouth A11 died quickly Her husband chain smoking cigarettes. limped around the room Finally, with no hope for escape, he and his wife also took cyanide. At his direction his adjutant poured gasoline an the bodies and set them on fire The next dag the Soviets found rhe charred remains. The official autopq described the man as "smaii, the foot of the right leg was haif-bent (clubfoot) in a blackened metal prosthesis." Thus ended the life of Hitler's Minister of Propaganda

Paul Joseph Goehhels IS an enigma to most historians. How did this man of small stature, crippled by osteomylitis early in his childhood. possessing none of the mythic Aryan qualities that the Nazi Party sought, rise to the highest echelons of the Kazi Party7 How could B man who heid a doctorate from the University of Heidelberg, a would-be poet. novelist, and playwright become the chief spokesman for an ideology built on hate?

Ralf Georg Reuth's hook. Goebbels, provides some answers The first biography of Goebbels in over twenty years, iris set apart from other biographies because the author gamed access to the diaries and personal papers of Goebbels and, with the collapse of East Ger-many, the once secret archival flies of the Communist reame As a result, the reader gains insight into the mind of a true Nazi fanatic Originally published in German, the translation. by Knshna Winston, is excellent and avoids the sometimes stilted prose found in most translations

'R.AL~ GEmC RLLTH. GoEBBEu (New York Harcourt Brace &Go) (Eng "ran31993) 471 pager 527 85 (hBrdCOveT)

*'Lieutenant Calanel. United Staler Arms (Ret I Farmer Chlef, lnternatlonal Lar Divismn, Ihe Judge AdboCBfe General's School Uruled Stares Army Currenth anS.J D candidate. L'nlrersifyof VirgnlaLaw School

Perhaps Goebbels's story is explained by the circumstances of his birth. He was born into a close-knit German family in 1897 in Rheydt. Ha deformed foot limited his ability to play with other chil. dren and he focused on his academic studies, eventually rising to the top of his classes. He had a special flair far the theatre where his abihty to emote might have led to a stage career but for his physical problems.

When World War I began, Goebbels remained on the sidelines ashis friends left for the war. He first attended the University of Bonn, then Freiberg, then Wunberg, then Munich, and, finally, Heidelberg. His diaries reveal a dreamy student, in love with a succemon of attractive women students. When Germany unexpectedly surrendered in November 1918, h a dreams turned to despair. The collapsing economy made life difficult for Joseph Goebbels. His current love interest, a rather wealthy student, terminated their relatian-ship. Goebbels began to wnte that the blame for Germany's troubles lay with the aristocrats who had been responsible far the war and its loss After receiving his degree in 1921, the new "Herr Doktor" Goebbels turned to writing articles for newspapers.

At about the time Goebbeis began to believe Jews to be engaged in an international conspiracy to subjugate the German economy, Germany was tqing Adolph Hitler for treason in Munich. The trial provided a soapbox for the future Fuhrer and Goebbels gradually began to see the newly formed Nazi Party as the best expression of the "German soul " Goebbeis fell under Hitler's spell and later wrote that Hitler "formulated our torment in redemptive wards, formed statements of confidence in the corning miracle." Shortly thereafter, Goebbeis formally would join the "coming miracle

Goebbels became the editor of various newspapers, each touting the Nazi line. After a succession of Nazi Party posts of increasing importance, he was appointed Nazi Oauleiter (area leader) of Berlin. He became the editor of Berlin's major Party newspaper, DerAqp-fl (The Attack) and was elected to the Reichstag in 1928.

Contrary to the usual image of the Yazi Party as one of iron discipline with every member obedient to the Fuhrer, the book portrays a splintered organization with members engaged in frantic-and often violent-competition far the attention of Hitler. Goebbels and his wife fell completely under the spell of Hitler: "[TJhose big blue eyes. Like stars . . . , This man has everything it takes to become king." Hitler would become much more powerful than a mere kmg

When the Nazis consolidated their power, Goebbels enhanced his position in the Nazi Party and m the government. As Reich Minis-

ter of Propaganda he had the power to inject the Nazi ideology into every facet of German life. He was fascinated with the use of film to convey the Party's message and had every Party rally filmed to impress the masses. He also used popular films to more subtly mfluence public opinion He required that scripts be screened for comphance with the Party's idea of an Aryan nation Production studios either followed his ''guidance'' or were closed. A box vivant,he had

love affam with several of the leading ladies of German film. When his wife informed Hitler about Goebbels's extramarital acuwties, the Fuhrer was incensed and directed that Goebbels terminate the affairs. The Fuhrer denied permission for a divorce. Like the Fuhrer, the top echelon of the Party had to be seen by the public as cansumed only by what was good for Germany. The Reich Propaganda Minister could not possibly have tme for trysts with starlets.

The war brought Goebbels his greatest propaganda challenges. At first, German successes made it easy to report positive news. As the war dragged on and German defeat became likely, however, Goebbels found it harder to report positive events His focus changed. The embattled German soldier was still the proper Aryan, but Goebbels presented the enemy-especially the Russian soldier-as something less than human. After the assassination attempt on the Fuhrer's life in July 1944, Hitler became increasingly withdrawn from the public eye. Goebbels readily took his place, continuing to make speeches, organize rallies, and urge the people to fight to the death. As the end approached, Goebbels still xentured out among the people even though the shrinking defenses of Berlin made any trip above ground dangerous. Goebbels vainly attempted to bolster the morale of the people and the newly formed defense units It was too late Mere devotion to the Fuhrer could not stall the advancing allied armies

World War 11 forms the historical backdrop for the modern law of war. The top leaders of the Nan regime were tried for their war crimes at Nuremberg. Every judge advocate must have a sound foundation m the law of war and its development as a result of the Nuremberg trials Goebbels provides the reader with an insight into the workings of the regime. As the Allies closed in on the Reich, Goebbels pressed Hitler to adopt a "total war" strategy. Goebbels advocated destroying every bridge and road, razing every factory, and asking every German to die for the Fuhrer. For him total war also included the renunciation of the Geneva Conventions and the use of poison gas. In response to the bombing of Dresden. he demanded permission to shoot 10,000 Amencan and British pns- one^ of war. Goebbels even began work on a book entitled, nieLaw of War, which set out ha views Others persuaded Hitler that these policies would be a mistake that would only result in even greater

destruction of the remaining miiitary farces. Hitler, while always pushing the German soldier to die in place, did not adopt Goebbels's proposals for total war.

The law in Nazi Germany was just another tool to promote the Nazi Party's Ideology. Before the war, Goebbels's ministry would claim that every infringement on the rights of the people was completely legal. If the law was questioned, it simply could be changed. Goebbeis realized that the law can be a powerful propaganda weapon in war. Consequently, during the war, he radicalized the propaganda. Alleged enemy atrocities took center stage. He coined a propaganda slogan, "Hatred our duty-revenge our virtue." Thispowerful slogan, while perhaps helpful at home, was not likely to make the inhabitants of territory occupied by the German forces feel secure in their treatment at the hands of the occupiers. Instilling hate in one's own people also a n result in mcreased hatred by the enemy population.

However, the law remains a powerful psychologxal weapon inwar. No country will freely admit to a mihtary policy that violates the law Every warring country will proclaim its respect for, and compiiance with, the law of war and, at the same time, will accuse the enemy of ignoring its legal obligations. The law is the only weapon in the commander's arsenal that essentially is controlled by the judge advocate. This book provides a glimpse of how the Nazi ieadenhip made use of that weapon.

Those who seek an in-depth psychoanalysis of Joseph Goebbels will not find it here Reutht biog~aphical style 1s straightfornard. The author's prrmary sources are Goebbels's personal diaries and everyday nates. As a result, the book 1s a chronological review of his rise to power, The author spares us any psychological commentary blaming outside influences for Goebbels's actions-the reader can draw his or her awn conclusions. In the final analysis, perhaps Some people amply are evil. If so, Joseph Goebbels surely must be in their front ranks

Because Goebbels originally was published in German, the endnotes cite to reference materials that are...