History's Biggest Monster: The Tragic Story

Joseph Goebbels met Johanna Maria Magdalena Ritschel, Magda, in 1930. They started a relationship in February 1931 and got engaged by April.Goebbels felt intense jealousy regarding Magda.Goebbels described Magda as "like a mother and a lover," but he worried when Hitler showed interest in her. Magda had been married before meeting Goebbels, and she had a son from that marriage named Harald Quandt. Joseph's insecurities strained their relationship, so the wedding date shifted to December 1931. He saw her as both a mother and a lover. Joseph worried when Hitler took a liking to her too. Magda married before meeting Goebbels. This made his jealousy worse. He had a son from that marriage named Harald Quandt. Joseph's insecurities strained their relationship. Thus, they moved the wedding date to December 1931.

Since Hitler remained unmarried and planned to stay single, Magda became the "first lady of the Third Reich." when she married a top official. Goebbels, the Reich Minister of Propaganda, was close to Hitler. Being near the Führer helped the Goebbels greatly. They lived a lavish life and built a perfect German family.Goebbels had six children.He had one boy and five girls between 1932 and 1940.

The Goebbels's first child, Helga, was born in 1932. People called her a "daddy's girl", a child who never cried with "sparkling blue eyes.""Sparkling blue eyes," described a child who never cried. Hildegard was born in 1934. Her father called her "little mouse." Helmut, the only boy of the Goebbels clan, arrived in 1935, one year later. Holdine, Hedwig, and Heidrun, the other three daughters, were born in 1937, 1938, and 1940, respectively.

Helmut was called a "clown". Holdine seemed quiet and reserved. Hedwig liked Nazi official Günther Schwägemann's fake eye and wanted to marry him from age six. Heidrun, however, was the "little flirt."

The children were happy and healthy; they fit the dream of a Third Reich propaganda minister. In 1944, Goebbels approved a propaganda film featuring his children..

One reason for the Goebbels's children's names starts with H. This honored Hitler. The doctor who delivered Holdine gave her the name right after birth. He saw her and said, "Das ist eine Holde!" which meant "that's a pretty one!" That is how Holdine got her name."Das ist eine Holde!" which means "that's a pretty one!" This gave Holdine her name."Das ist eine Holde!" meant "that's a pretty one!" This is why Holdine got that name.

Another name explanation points to Magda's first husband. Their child together was named Harald, starting that trend.

Hitler visited the Goebbels family often. In 1935, they moved to Schwanenwerder, a small island on the Wannasee River.Hitler spent much time at the Goebbels's villa.Hitler grew fond of Helga, joking that if their ages were closer, they would make a good match.

By 1945, Germany was losing the war. In January, Hitler moved into the Führerbunker, located beneath the Reich Chancellery in Berlin. He took many government officials with him, hoping to continue state matters from the safe spot. On April 22, 1945, Hitler sent forJoseph Goebbels and his family went into Hitler's bunker in early 1945.Goebbels received a room in his private quarters.The room was next to the Führer's.Magda and the six children occupied the other end of the complex. Harald, Magda's eldest son from a prior marriage, did not join the family.

Hitler committed suicide in the bunker on April 30, 1945, with his new wife, Eva Braun.Eva Braun.Hitler took cyanide and then shot himself in the head. Joseph Goebbels became Chancellor of the Third Reich, but he knew Hitler's death meant his own end. Two days before, he and Magda decided they would kill the children and then themselves if Hitler took his life. They wrote goodbye letters to Harald.They wrote goodbye letters to Harald.They wrote letters explaining their decision.They called death the "only possible and honorable conclusion." Magda finalized the plan to end their lives, convinced she was saving her children from humiliation.Magda finalized the plan to end their lives.

People question who helped the Goebbels poison their children. The plan involved sedating them, but it is unclear who gave the drugs that put the children to sleep. Helmut Kunz is one possible candidate.Helmut Kunz.Kunz served as one of the Nazis' chief medical officers. Magda supposedly asked him to help kill the children, but he refused, saying he was "incapable." She then told him it was Hitler's order, and he agreed.

Kunz gave the children morphine, but the source of the cyanide is unclear. Magda could not do it and allegedly called Dr. Ludwig Stumpfegger, an SS doctor, to give the "candy" to the children. He gave them cyanide in chocolate.

Hitler's secretary, Traudl Junge, stated that she watched the children in the bunker.She watched the children in the bunker.The children were happy and cheerful.

They knew nothing of their fate. The adults did everything to keep them unaware. Only the oldest, Helga, sometimes showed a sad knowing look in her big, brown eyes. Sometimes, the child saw through the adults' pretense in her heart.

Helga, aged 12, along with Hildegard (age 11), Helmut (age nine), Holdine (age eight), Hedwig (age six), and Heidrun (age four), received morphine first to sleep. Then, they were given cyanide with their mother nearby.They were given cyanide.They were given cyanide with their mother nearby.

The Russians found the Goebbels family bodies in the bunker. They arrived in Berlin on May 4, 1945.May 4, 1945.1945.When they found the children's bodies, they were undisturbed.They found the children's bodies.They were undisturbed.They were undisturbed.12-year-old Helga struggled during her final moments.

Autopsy findings showed trouble regarding the administration of the poison.Helga the poison.She either woke from sleep and fought the poison, or the dose was too low. Russian doctors found bruises on Helga's body during the autopsy, showing a struggle. Her jaw may have broken.Her jaw may have broken.Her jaw may have broken.

On the night their children died, Magda and Joseph Goebbels entered the Führerbunker study. Lore suggests the couple stood where Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun died to perform the same act. Another theory suggestsGünther Schwägemann.This Nazi officer, object of their daughter Hedwig's affection, shot them. They burned their bodies after they died.

After the Goebbels children died, Dr. Kunz ran from the bunker. Soviet forces arrested him when he tried to escape. They moved him to Moscow, where he stayedHe served six-and-a-half years as a prisoner of war in Russia. In 1952, a court tried and convicted him of being a member of the SS and the Nazi party. Russia released him from custody in 1955.Harry Mengershausen.

A Bavarian court looked into Hitler's suicide that year. Authorities started asking about the final days in the bunker. Kunz's name appeared as someone involved in the Goebbels children's deaths. One witness, a former SS officialHe followed orders.Dr. Kunz refused to poison the children three times. Then, Goebbels showed him he still had the power to give orders, and Dr. Kunz could face punishment for disobeying. Afterward, he gave the injections

In 1959, investigators tried Dr. Kunz for helping the Goebbels children die. Judges found him immune to the crimes. The judges stopped the prosecution because he was..