Page "Joseph Goebbels" Paragraph 26

When Hitler was appointed Reich Chancellor of Germany on 30 January 1933, Goebbels was initially given no office: the coalition cabinet Hitler headed contained only a minority of Nazis as part of the deal he had negotiated with President Paul von Hindenburg and the conservative parties.

However, as the propaganda head of the ruling party, a party with no great respect for the law, he immediately behaved as though he were in power.

He commandeered the state radio to produce a live broadcast of the torchlight parade that celebrated Hitler ’ s assumption of office.

On 13 March, Goebbels had his reward for his part in bringing the Nazis to power by being appointed Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda ( Volksaufklärung und Propaganda ), with a seat in the Cabinet.