THE PRE-WAR ARCHIVES OF JOSEPH GOEBBELS
(1897-1945) Nazi Minister of Propaganda with Hitler from the earliest days, a master of manipulation of the masses who took his life and those of his family members in the last days of the war.

The pre-war archives of Joseph Goebbels is the most important cache of World War II autographs to ever become available for sale. This massive historic grouping contains nearly the entire literary legacy of Joseph Goebbels, heretofore unknown to the general public. More importantly, it may prove invaluable in providing historical and psychological insights into the mind of a shy, romantic and easily-swayed college student with Marxist leanings who a few short years later would be transformed into a radical Nazi and rabid anti-Semite, a brilliant propagandist at the right hand of the man who would within a decade conquer - and destroy - most of Europe.

This expansive archive encompasses almost every aspect of the young Joseph Goebbels' life - from report cards, letters from family and friends, and schools essays to desperate love letters and narcissistic scribbling, from maudlin poetry and musings to doctoral theses and socialist-leaning dramas examining the plight of man in a corrupt, capitalist society.

A concise description of the contents of the archive:

Goebbels' college dissertation before the faculty of the Department of Philosophy, Heidelberg University: "Whilhelm v. Schuetz as Dramatist, History of the Romantic Drama", 400pp. octavo, with 10pp. addendum, Rheydt, 1921, signed "Paul Joseph Goebbels" on the title page. Von Schuetz also wrote extensively on political and philosophical topics, earning the young Goebbels' attention.

Three important manuscripts (unsigned), working copies of Goebbels' revolutionary play: Michael Voormann. Ein Menschenschicksal in Tagebuchblättern ("Michael Voormann: A Man's Fate in the Pages of a Diary"). The first is an autograph manuscript "Michael Voorman's Teenage Years", approx. 148pp. octavo, 1919, bound in a black school notebook. Goebbels' first draft of the novel covering the early part of Voorman's life. Accompanied by a later, more complete autograph manuscript: "Michael Voormann. Ein Menschenschicksal in Tagebuchblättern", 168pp. octavo, 1923, which appears to be nearly the complete drama, entirely in Goebbels' hand. The third copy is one of Goebbels' last working copies of the play, also titled Michael Voormann. Ein Menschenschicksal in Tagebuchblättern ("Michael Voormann: A Man's Fate in the Pages of a Diary"), a typed copy of the play bearing several dozen pencil corrections and additions in Goebbels' hand, 158pp. 4to., ca. 1923. This novel, semi-biographical in nature, is a combination of Goebbels' own thoughts melded with the life of his best friend Richard Fliesges. Fliesges, a World War I veteran, anarchist and socialist who deeply influenced Goebbels, would be killed in a mining accident in 1923 and the work was dedicated to him. Goebbels tried to publish his novel for years - it would not be until 1929, once he had attained real power, that it would be edited and amended to suit the Nazis' purposes.

Autograph manuscript, "Judas Iscariot", 2pp. octavo, the end of the second act of Goebbels' first play, contained within an 88pp. octavo college composition book, signed twice "Joseph Goebbels" and multiple times "Anka Stalherm" in Goebbels handwriting, Bonn and Freiburg, 1918, with additional content including notes on Goethe's "Faust", the history of France, psychology, and various other notes.

Autograph manuscript signed on the title page: "Heinrich Kaempfert", a drama in three acts, 140pp., octavo, 1919. Goebbels' critique of a society that destroys those who have been socially wronged.

Autograph manuscript signed on the title page: "Die Saat" ("Sowing Seeds"), a drama in three acts, 84pp. octavo, 1920. Goebbels illustrates that Man has degenerated to beast because of the socio-economic circumstances of capitalism.

Autograph manuscript: "Kampf der Arbeiterklasse" ("Struggle of the Working Class"), 10pp. octavo contained within a 18pp. notebook, the balance containing an essay on Mozart. Unsigned. A study or outline written in preparation for Goebbels composition of "Sowing Seeds" (above).

Autograph manuscript, a novella: "Zigeunerblut" ("Gypsy Blood"), 102pp., octavo, Bonn, ca. 1920, signed "P. J. Goebbels stud. germ. Bonn": "My roof is the sky, My home is the world. And I sleep, then The forest is my tent…"

Autograph manuscript, an essay: "Wilhelm Raabe", 12pp., contained within a college study book, 70pp. octavo, 1916, the balance of the book containing a second essay, possibly an assignment, various musings, a poem, and a few pages covered with a multitude of his signatures with one page signed "Munich, Christmas 1918, Dr. Joseph Goebbels".

Autograph manuscript, an essay: " Der Mutter Gebet - Ein Idyll aus dem Kriege" ("The Mother's Prayer - An Idyll from the War"), approx. 60pp. contained within a 400pp. octavo notebook, ca. 1917-18, signed within multiple times with a few random notes, the balance of the notebook being blank.

Autograph manuscript, a narrative essay: " Die die Sonne lieben" ("Those Who Love the Sun"), 44pp. octavo, 1917. Unsigned. "There are sunny days in life, the lights never go out. Who ever saw such a sunny day, wearing a glimmer of it in his eyes throughout his life. As a silent, subtle longing he lies in his eyes dreaming, and sometimes his eye looks into the distance, as it was looking afar at the lonely island in the sea of happiness. Who such a day calls his own, is a child of the sun..."

Autograph manuscript, an essay: "Theodor Storm the Poet, for his 100th Birthday", 16pp. octavo, Sept. 14, 1917, signed "P. Joseph Goebbels". Disbound. Storm was an outstanding representative of German Poetic Realism.

Diary of political events, ("Politisches Tagebuch"), an autograph manuscript, 36pp., octavo, ca. 1923, a recounting in the form of an essay of the tumultuous events wracking Germany at the time. Goebbels mentions Hitler, Ludendorff, the struggle against capitalism, a "London Agreement", meetings, etc.

Autograph manuscript within a school work book, 16pp. octavo, contains within a three page letter to his teacher regarding the loss of his sister Elisabeth (1901-1915) thanking the teacher for condolences but adding that compared to the losses being suffered by "our Fatherland", his loss is minor in comparison. With a short essay or diary entry, with one of the last pages signed multiple times.

Autograph manuscript within a school work book, 22pp. octavo, Rheydt, June 30, 1916, "Utraque Fortuna", a school essay in Latin concerning "hope", for which Goebbels received the grade "gut".

Autograph manuscript within a school work book, 84pp. octavo, "History of art in the 19th century", the notebook also containing brief diary entries from Sep. 27, 1918 on (10pp.), signed, with additional school work concerning among other subjects, the works of Goethe.

School study book, 1916, 6pp.,octavo. Notes on algebra, signed multiple times.

Autograph documents, 6pp. octavo, a portion of a school work book including shorthand, a poem, various notes, etc. Disbound.

Partial school essay, 2pp. 8vo., ca 1917-18. A partial autograph manuscript discussing the "Fatherland".

School work book, 15pp. octavo, 1915-16, bearing autograph notes and practice work in English, shorthand, and history, signed multiple times.

College work book, Freiburg, 54pp., octavo., 1919. Autograph history notes concerning the history of the Reformation, foreign politics, the English Revolution, also with simple architectural sketches by Goebbels and some of his original poetry.

College study book, Wurzburg, winter semester 1918-19, 88pp., octavo. Includes an 11pp. essay on the poet Max Klinger, holograph notes on the history of the Roman Empire, history of German literature, several original poems at conclusion and signed multiple times.

College study book, Heidelberg, winter semester 1920-21, 102pp., octavo. Holograph notes concerning modern European history including German emperors, Bismarck, evolution of German literature, etc.

College study book, Freiburg, 1919, 74pp., octavo. Autograph notes from an introductory class in philosophy, also on English politics and economy, Goethe, etc.

College study book, 80pp. 8vo. Autograph manuscript, likely a lecture given by Goebbels: "Extracts from German Contemporary Literature".

College study book, Rheydt, 1916, 16pp., octavo. Autograph "love letters" signed by Goebbels and poetry, signed multiple times after each letter.

College study book, 1918, 82pp., octavo. Autograph poems (some signed), Prussian history, Kaisers, archaeological studies, notes on Goethe, school lesson plan.

School study book, 26pp. duodecimo, includes autograph poems, Latin vocabulary, and shorthand practice.

Autograph manuscript, 48pp., octavo. A study on Goethe's involvement in a literary affair. Disbound.

Large grouping of autograph items, almost all original poetry and verse with a few pages of notes included. 70pp. overall.

Autograph observations, poems, notes, and essays, 38pp. total, 1916-17. Includes "Farewell to Bonn, Feb. 2, 1917", autobiographical essay "The Travelling Student", one page signed four times "J Goebbels" and once "Goebbels Joseph stud. germ.", more. Disbound.
Anka Stalherm Grouping:

(Anka Stalherm, a wealthy student also attending college at Freiburg, became the first great love of Goebbels' life. Her influence on his life socially and politically was enormous, and it is believed that he carried on an affair with her beyond his marriage to Magda Quandt)

115 autograph letters signed, 324pp. overall, with two postcards, correspondence between Joseph Goebbels and Anka Stalherm, between Feb. 4, 1918 and Oct. 15, 1920. All of the letters are handwritten and signed, 87 of them from Goebbels to Anka using the familiar "Ulex".
Three small envelopes, two containing locks of hair from Anka Stalherm.
Three letters to Goebbels from Georg Mumme regarding Anka Stalherm.
One letter to Goebbels from Agnes Stalherm regarding Anka.
Two letters to Goebbels from attorney Moecklinghoff regarding Anka. Stalherm's possesions and the return of the letters Goebbels wrote to Anka, Mar. 6 and 14, 1921.
One letter from Joseph Goebbels to Georg Mumme, Heidelberg, Dec. 6, 1920.
One letter to Anka Stalherm from a friend, Munich, 4pp. 4to., 1920.
One envelope "Anka" to "Ulex", containing several small clipped notes, a clipped invoice from a hospice.

Richard Flisges Grouping:

(Richard Flisges (alt. sp. "Fliesges") was Goebbels closest college friend. A veteran of World War I, he was an ardent pacifist and anarchist, and urged the willing Goebbels to read and further explore socialism and the works of Karl Marx. Goebbel's semi-autobiographical play "Michael Voorman" (see above), based on the thoughts of both Goebbels and Flisges, was dedicated to Flisges following his death in a mining accident)

26 letters and postcards from Richard Flisges to Joseph Goebbels, 1917-22, 46pp. overall

Nine autograph letters signed and two postcards from Lene Krage to Goebbels, 1916-22, 42pp. overall. (See additional Krage letters below). Lene Krage was one of Goebbels' early girlfriends with whom he began a three-year affair in 1915.

41 letters from various individuals, including Liesel and Agnes Koelsch (whom Goebbels seduced in Bonn, 1917-18), friends in the military Hubert Hompsch and Willy Zilles, poet and friend Theodor Gutmann, "Agnes", "Voss", and others, 1914-18, 154pp. overall.

Correspondence from Werl from multiple individuals to Goebbels, the majority from Agnes and Liesel Koelsch (see above), also with nine additional letters from Lene Krage, 1917-18, 130pp. overall.

Six letters from Olgi Esenwein to Joseph Goebbels, Jan. 3, 1924 - Jul. 18, 1924, 20pp. Esenwein knew Flisges personally and may have been related to him.

22 Feldpost letters sent to Goebbels, 1915-18, some from brother Hans, friend Willy Zilles, and other associates. 52pp. overall.

24 letters from Goebbels' friend and fellow poet, Theodor Gutmann, 94pp., 1918-20.

20 letters from various individuals to Goebbels, 1915-29, 76pp. overall.

Family correspondence and documents:

Identification book for Fritz Goebbels, 1918.
Identification card for Fritz Goebbels, 1927.
15 account statements for Fritz Goebbels, 1900-1920, 15pp., quarto.
One account note book for Fritz Goebbels, 30pp., 12mo.


18 autograph letters signed from Fritz Goebbels to Joseph, 1918-23, 56pp. overall.
Three autograph letters signed from brother Hans to Joseph, 1920-23, 12pp. overall.
Two autograph letters signed from sister Maria to Joseph, 1918-23, 4pp. overall.
One postcard, signed "D.M." including greetings from father and others, Aug. 20, 1923.
Autograph letter signed from Albertus-Magnus-Verein to Goebbels, 2pp. 8vo., 1923.
Autograph letter signed from Westdeutsche Landeszeitung to Goebbels, 2pp. 4to., 1922.

Diverse documents including baptismal certificate for brother Hans Goebbels, vaccination card for sister Maria, death notice of Hans Prang, Rheydt, Oct. 15, 1918, five telegrams to Joseph Goebbels, one telegram to Hans Goebbels, Annual Report from Albertus-Magnus-Verein, 1922, receipt for 700 marks for Joseph Goebbels, Rheydt, Apr. 6, 1922, legal document regarding a property sale between Mr. Clegg and Mr. Oehmen, Mar. 18, 1884, school essay by Joseph Goebbels, Feb. 6, 1915, 4pp. legal folio [n.d.], publishing contract between Joseph Goebbels and Xenien-Verlag for a collection of poems, "Nemt, Fruwe, disen Kranz", 2pp. legal folio, Leipzig, June 18, 1919.

Education documentation:
College book indicating proof of classes attended, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg 1918-19, 25pp. 8vo. with 2pp. of handwritten entries by Goebbels.
Seven report cards from Gymnasium Rheydt, each signed by Fritz Goebbels. 1913 - 1915.
Two Seminary report cards from Julius-Maximilians-University, Wuerzburg, 1919, ea. 2 pp. legal folio.
Certificate for one year voluntary service 1914, 1p., legal folio.

Newspaper "Koelner Tageblatt" June 23, 1923.
Student information flyer re: war bonds.
Newspaper clipping, "The Cause of the Buehnevolksbund", an article written by Goebbels Rheydt, Nov. 23, no year, 12" x 6".

Booklet of 14 interior photographs the Berghof at Obersalzberg, each 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" b/w, Verlag M. Bauer, Munich, "The Berghof Before It's Destruction".

The condition of this archive is exceptional, with all materials in very good to fine condition. They remain in almost the same state as when written almost one hundred years ago. Most are in pencil, which remains clear and sharp, bindings are largely tight, correspondences are in excellent condition and most are sorted chronologically.

Goebbels' suicide on May 1, 1945, along with the death of his wife and children, resulted in no direct heirs to his estate. When his papers surfaced years later, they were offered for sale to the Bundesarchiv, at which time his sister intervened to halt the transaction. German courts determined that the ownership of the papers and their copyright would be placed in the hands of a third party, Goebbels' "literary executor". The papers in this archive were ordered to be given to our consignor upon the death of that executor, and they are sold with good title guaranteed.

An extraordinary opportunity to obtain a historic and potentially revealing archive emanating from one of the darkest figures of the Second World War.

Available for examination upon request.