Figure 1.-- This is the cover of Heinrich Hoffmann's 1934 photography book "Jugend um Hitler" which contained images of Adolf Hitler and German children. Hoofman took 2.5 million photographs of Hitler, including many with children. Baldur von Schirach, the head of the Hitler Youth is wearing Lederhosen in the background. The SS men in the baxkground were Hitler's bodyguards. Hoffman was from Bavaria and this photograph was oibviously taken in Bavaria.

Heinrich Hoffmann was born in Fürth (1885). The family business was ophotograohy and was known for portraits of royaly. We know nothing about his childhood. Hoffman open a studio in Munich before the World war I (1910). During the War he was a photograher with the Bavarian Army. He was an early recruit to the NAZI Party (1920). Hitler chose him to be the Party's official photographer. Hoffman took an estimated 2.5 million photographs of Hitler. Propaganda Minister Josef Goebbels is most associated with propagating the public image of Hitler and the NAZIs. Hoffman may have played an even more important role in creating Hitler's public image. He was more than a photographer, but became a personal friend of Hitler. Once Hitler seized control of Germany (1933), Hoffman's photographs became wideky distributed. They were used for postage stamps, postcards, posters and picture books, like the image here (figure 1). Hoffmann's suggested to Hitler that they both hould receive royalties. As the images were used for postage stamps as well as widely dustributed publications, the royalty payments were substantial. Hoffmann married Therese "Nelly" Baumann (1911). They had two children. Henriette ("Henny") was born (1913). Heinrich ("Heini") was born (1916). Henriette married Reichsjugendführer (Hitler Youth Leader) Baldur von Schirach. Hoffman photographed many HJ events and activities. Von Schirach wrote the introductions to many of Hoffmann's photographic books. Therese Hoffmann died suddenly (1932). Hoffman during the Third Reich wrote several richly illustrted books on Hitler. Two of the best known are: The Hitler Nobody Knows (1933) and Jugend um Hitler (1934). He was especially productive in 1938: Hitler in Italy, Hitler befreit Sudetenland, and Hitler in seiner Heimat. He wrote his last book in 1939, shortly before World War II broke out: Das Antlitz des Führers. I am not sure why he did not continue his works on Hitler during the War. He married Erna. It was he abnd Erna who introduced Eva Braun to Hitler. She was working in his Munich studio. The Allies arrested Hoffman after the War. He was tried and found guilty for NAZI profiteering. He was senteced to a 4 year prison term. He was released and returned to Munich (1950). He died at the age of 72 (1957). The United States seized an archive of his photographs which are now in the collection of the National Archives.

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Created: 6:52 AM 8/7/2008
Last updated: 6:52 AM 8/7/2008