may 1, 1945 - Joseph Goebbels murder suicide
Description:
Nazi politicianchief propagandist for the Nazi Party, and then Reich Minister of Propaganda from 1933 to 1945.
He was one of Adolf Hitler's closest and most devoted acolytes, known for his skills in public speaking and his deeply virulent antisemitism, which was evident in his publicly voiced views.
He advocated progressively harsher discrimination, including the extermination of the Jews in the Holocaust.
He was particularly adept at using the relatively new media of radio and film for propaganda purposes.
In 1943, Goebbels began to pressure Hitler to introduce measures that would produce "total war", including closing businesses not essential to the war effort, conscripting women into the labour force, and enlisting men in previously exempt occupations into the Wehrmacht.
Hitler committed suicide on 30 April. In accordance with Hitler's will, Goebbels succeeded him as Chancellor of Germany; he served one day in this post. The following day, Goebbels and his wife committed suicide, after poisoning their six children with cyanide.
Added to timeline:
Date:
may 1, 1945
Now
~ 80 years ago