Ralf Georg Reuth

Rather lacking in the sense of a central thesis that takes a specific approach to Goebbels' life, despite, at the time, Reuth getting access to heretofore restricted archival material from the DDR. Instead, Reuth gives us an unending timeline, where one even never seems to outweigh another in terms of historical importance or personal development of the subject. What insight the biography gives is through implication. For example, the hesitation, paranoia, and fear that comes through Goebbels' writing--even though it was composed with an eye to future generations reading it as a "great man's" thoughts--actually works to distance the propaganda minister from the responsibility (and guilt) traditionally ascribed to him. At least until 1943-44, when his role as an architect of the Holocaust becomes predominant. But for earlier years, Reuth's narrative makes it seem as if Goebbels is somewhat fearful of being out of the loop and thus always on the second or even third rung of Nazi decision making. Bormann, Goering, Himmler, Hess, and even Ribbentrop, Rosenberg, and Lammers are depicted often as more powerful and influential than Goebbels. But none of this is actually stated as such by Reuth. As I say, it is done more through the implication of what the reader is made to feel and understand through the narrative Reuth constructs out of Goebbels' journals and diaries.

Another thing implied is a picture of Goebbels as a complete non-entity without Hitler. The early part of his life is undistinguished and, in fact, boring. Only when he attaches himself to the NSDAP, first through Gregor Strasser and, later, Hitler, does he become a more animated being. I am willing to buy into this notion more firmly than the relatively power dependent figure discussed above. For without Hitler, it is clear that Goebbels was nothing. The "poison dwarf" only found purpose through anger and revenge at the bourgeois representatives of capital or the reactionary aristocratic class all of whom he felt conspired against people such as himself to keep them from their proper place in society. Only the arrival of Hitler into his life allowed Goebbels to focus his disappointments and anger in a way that gave value to the Nazis.

Lastly, there is an emphasis on Goebbels' commitment to socialism and a volkisch socialist revolution. He never let that notion go. It was the mechanism through which he wanted to overthrow the old aristocratic order when he was younger. And towards the end of the war it fed his fantasies about making a separate peace with the Soviets in order to fight the Allies on one front.

The tone of this biography, meanwhile, tends towards reflecting an objective attitude. On that score Reuth is much more akin to earlier biographers of the Nazis, such as Alan Bullock, although even Bullock was much more eager to assess and place blame on the likes of Goebbels for their actions than is Reuth.… (more)