Magda Goebbels: The First Lady of the Third Reich

by Hans-Otto Meissner

Biography of Johanna Maria Magdalena "Magda" Goebbels, wife of Nazi Germany's Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Nazi Party, Holocaust, Germany, World War II

291 pages, Hardcover

First published May 22, 1980

Reviews

[Steven Godin]

First half of the book, covering her early years, party membership, and then marriage to Joseph Goebbels, was more interesting that the latter half leading up to WW2. The second from last chapter, Death in the Bunker, pretty much covered a lot of what I already knew from other books about the final days of the Reich, but it made for a more interesting read overall than the disappointing Eva Braun: Life With Hitler that's for sure. The research that went into the book I can't fault, which includes contributions from Magda's mother and other friends and relatives, and seeing as Hans-Otto's father was Dr Otto Meissner - Head of the Reich Presidential Secretariat/Chancery (March 1920 - May 1945) - it obviously helped.

[Jennifer Nelson]

Overall I enjoyed this book, although I felt it skimmed over many of the difficult contradictions that surround this woman. The author seemed to take at face value anything he was told.

[Fiona]

I enjoyed,if enjoyed is the right word this biography of the leading lady of the Third Reich
The history is well known, this is a very approachable biography and reads like a novel so very approachable

[Mac]

Surprisingly interesting.