Leaders of the Nazi Party

By Josh East

Most people think of the infamous Adolf Hitler when they hear the word 'Nazi'. This is because he is considered to be one of the most evil men in history. Some historians found evidence that maybe Hitler wan more that a lazy man who led the nazi party with plans, and no firm goals. The running of the Nazi party fell to a group of men trying to out-do each other to please the Fuhrer (leader). This was becasue Hitler's expertice laid in his speeches and inspiring his people. These men were the real power behing the party, "and each of them deserves to be remembered as the criminals they were."

Leaders (Other than Hitler)

Hermann Goring

Hermann Goring is seen by all as the second most powerful Nazi, behind the Fuhrer. He served as the Economic Minister, and the Commander in chief of the Luftwaffe. He was a fighter pilot in the Great War of 1914-1918, and joined the Nazi party in 1922, along with most of the other men who joined the Nazi party. In 1928, he was elected to the Reichstag as one of the three origional Nazi ministers, before becoming its presiding officer in 1932.

Rudolf Hess

Rudolf Hess served as the Deputy Fuhrer or the Nazi Party. He was also Hitler's personal secretary. He and Hitler's lives became closely intertwined. They served together in the same regiment during the first world war. While Hitler tried the Communist party, and then the Nazis, Hess joined the Freikorps. They were reunited shortly before the Munich Putsch, and were imprisoned together where Hitler wrote a book called Mein Kampf. In 1925, Hess was made secretary of the re-organized Nazi party, and in 1933 became Deputy Fuhrer, third in line to Nazi leadership. He was the last surviving Nazi leader, and hung himself in 1987.

Dr. Paul Josef Goebbels

Dr. Paul Josef Goebbels served as Reich Propaganda Minister, President of Nazi Germany Chamber of Culture, Director of Reich Propaganda Central Office of NSDAP (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei), and General Pleniptentiary for the Mobilisation of Total War. He was the personality that deified Hitler. He was crippled in his leg by polio, which left him angry with the world and dangerously cynical. He wanted Hitler to be expelled from the Nazi party. After he was elected into German parliment, he started working on creating a 'cult of the Fuhrer' and establishing his public opinion. He was criticized by many Nazis for being a hypocrite.

 Martin Bormann

Martin Bormann served as Cheif of Staff to Rudolf Hess, and Hitler's Secretary. He was 'the most able administrator of the Nazi party'. While Hitler controlled the war, Bormann was able to take complete control of the Nazis. He gained much power by controlling Hitler's appointments.

Heinrich Himmler

Heinrich Himmler served as the Head of German Police, Reichsfuhrer SS, Interior Minister, Reich Commissioner for Strengthening of German Nationhood, and Commander of the Reserve Army. He was discribed as 'a bizarre combination of a native crank, pedantic school master, and coldly efficient bureaucrat'. His skill in bureaucracy allowed him to rise in power as head of the SS. He had a questionable mental state, and suffered from many psychiatric illnesses caused by overwork and mental trauma.

Karl Donitz

Karl Donitz served as Admiral of German Navy, and Second Fuhrer of the Third Reich. He was a U-boat commander in World War 1. Throughout World War 2, he organized a U-boat campaign against Britain, sinking millions of Allied shipping in an attempt to starve the British Isles.

Albert Speer

He served as an Architect, and Minister for Araments and War Production. He joined the Nazi party in 1931, and was a close friend to Adolf Hitler. He created some of the most famous Nazi landmarks, like the amazing stadiums at Nuremberg. Speer was instructed to work out the logistics for the 'Final Solution' which makes him a key leader in the Holocaust. He was described by Hitler as the 'best of them all' and was one of the first to see the war proceeding badly. Later on, he angered Hitler by refusing to carry out 'Scorched Earth tactics' against the armies of Western Allies and the Soviet Union. At the Nuremberg trials, he was sentenced twenty years in prison for War Crimes.

Sources

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2654778

http://fcit.usf.edu/HOLOCAUST/TIMELINE/nazirise.HTM

http://fcit.usf.edu/HOLOCAUST/Resource/gallery/Nazi.htm

http://www.nizkor.org/hweb/imt/nca/nca-01/nca-01-06-organization.html