Hitler’s Henchmen
Goebbels, Hess, Himmler, Roehm
and Goering
Aims of the lesson
By the end of this lesson you will
• Understand the characters of Rudolf Hess,
Hermann Goering, Josef Goebbels,
Heinrich Himmler and Ernst Roehm.
• Evaluate the importance of each in the
Nazi Party.
• Understand how Hitler was able to control
his henchmen.
Josef Goebbels
• Hitler’s Chief of
Propaganda
• Originally opposed
Hitler’s leadership of
the party.
• By 1933 he was one
of his most devoted
followers and played
a vital role in getting
the Nazis into power
Hermann Goering
• A former WW1 fighter
pilot – a war hero
• Joined the Nazi Party
in its early days
• Became a confidante
of Hitler
• A drug taker – led a
hedonistic lifestyle
Heinrich Himmler
• A former school
teacher
• Was the leader of the
SS – originally formed
as Hitler’s
bodyguards
• Hitler’s most devoted
follower – carried out
his orders without
question
Ernst Roehm
• Had been a leader of
the Freikorps at the
end of WW1
• One of the first
members of the Nazi
Party
• Became leader of the
SA – the brown
shirted strongmen of
the party
Rudolf Hess
• Hitler’s deputy
• Devoted to Hitler.
• Was his secretary in
Prison
• Hard working and
quiet – the opposite of
Hitler.
• Fled to England
during WW2
Your task
• To read the appropriate pages in the text
book on each of Hitler’s henchmen
• To make notes on each of Hitler’s
henchmen
• You must include information on their
background, what role they played in the
Nazi Party and how they got on with Hitler.
Aims of the lesson
By the end of this lesson you will
• Understand the characters of Rudolf Hess,
Hermann Goering, Josef Goebbels,
Heinrich Himmler and Ernst Roehm.
• Evaluate the importance of each in the
Nazi Party.
• Understand how Hitler was able to control
his henchmen.