11. The Goebbels’ Brood Were Hitler’s Favorite Children
The Fuhrer’s efforts to save the Goebbels’ marriage did not stem solely from his fears of public scandal tarnishing his regime. The Nazi leader saw the Goebbels’ as personal friends, and he was quite fond of their kids. Although one of history’s most horrible figures, Hitler had some soft spots, and one of them was for children. Or at least for the type of blond and blue-eyed children featured on Nazi posters as ideal Aryan offspring. Children who did not meet those criterion, Hitler had no trouble condemning their deaths by the millions.
The Goebbels’ children met Hitler’s criterion of the Germanic ideal, and their eldest, Helga, was said to be the Fuhrer’s favorite girl. Hitler often visited the Goebbels home, where he played with and showed marked affection towards their children, or had them visit him in his office and residence. Helga Goebbels was regularly seen and photographed with the Fuhrer, and he often sat her on his lap while conducting meetings late into the night.
