The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Signatories · Hitler's circle
Magda Goebbels (1901–1945): Signature, Documents and Historical Profile
| Born | 11 November 1901, Berlin |
|---|---|
| Died | 1 May 1945, Berlin (suicide) |
| Role | Wife of Joseph Goebbels (married 19 December 1931); first woman to receive the Mother’s Cross (1938) |
| Documents bearing her name | Letters, photographs, inscriptions |
| In the collection | No pieces currently available |
Magda Goebbels presented herself as the model mother of the Third Reich. In May 1945 she and her husband had their six children killed before taking their own lives. Her name is linked in collecting to the Mother’s Cross, which she was the first woman to receive.
Who Was Magda Goebbels?
Magda Goebbels, born Johanna Maria Magdalena Behrend in Berlin in 1901, was first married to the industrialist Günther Quandt. She married Joseph Goebbels on 19 December 1931, with Hitler as a witness, and had six children with him. In 1938 she became the first woman to receive the Mother’s Cross.
What Documents Bear Goebbels’s Signature?
Letters, photographs and inscriptions attributed to her appear on the market. Each needs provenance and comparison with authenticated exemplars. See Mother’s Cross.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- Items connected with her need strong provenance.
- Photographs should be checked for studio stamps and period printing.
- Be cautious with sentimental stories attached to items.
Death
On 1 May 1945 the six Goebbels children were killed in the bunker, probably with prussic acid, after which Magda and Joseph Goebbels took their own lives.
Collector’s Note
The Mother’s Cross is one of the most common decorations of the period. Magda Goebbels’s story is a reminder of the ideology it served.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Was Magda Goebbels the first to receive the Mother’s Cross?
According to the Deutsches Historisches Museum, yes, in 1938.
What happened to her children?
They were killed in the bunker on 1 May 1945.
When did she marry Joseph Goebbels?
On 19 December 1931.
Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the National Socialist period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of the regime.
References & Further Reading
- Deutsches Historisches Museum, LeMO – Lebendiges Museum Online, Magda Goebbels 1901–1945 (S. Laubenstein and K. Wölki; last updated 2014).