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NAZI PHOTO BOOKS BY HEINRICH HOFFMANN
RARE HEINRICH HOFFMANN PHOTO BOOKS
DOCUMENTING THE LIFE AND CAREER OF
GERMANY'S 23rd CHANCELLOR ADOLF HITLER
DOCUMENTING THE LIFE AND CAREER OF
GERMANY'S 23rd CHANCELLOR ADOLF HITLER
Heinrich Hoffmann was born 12 September 1885 in the town of Fürth, just outside of Nürnberg. He was trained in photography by his father and his uncle who were both well known photographers in the highest circles of German royal society. He worked under Hugo Thiele, the court photographer of the Grand Duke of Hesse in Darmstadt, for Langbein in Heidelberg and Theobald in Frankfurt aM. After moving to London he published art books in addition to his work as a photographer.
In 1910 Hoffmann returned to Germany and opened his own studio in München (Munich). He was very successful, and during the First World War he served as a photographer in the Bavarian Army. In 1919 he published his first photo book in Germany; the same year he met Hitler. Hoffmann joined the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (National Socialist German Worker Party, NSDAP or Nazi Party) in 1920, was quickly admitted to the inner circle and became a confidant of Adolf Hitler.
Upon Hitler’s release from incarceration in Landsberg Prison in 1924 Hoffmann became his personal photographer. He alone was franchised to make and sell pictures of the Führer. By 1929 Hoffmann had opened branch offices in Berlin, Wien (Vienna), Frankfurt aM, Paris and Den Haag (The Hague), and hired a new shop assistant, a woman who was to dramatically effect his future. She was Eva Anna Paula Braun, the 17 year old daughter of a München school teacher.
When Hitler succeeded to the office of Reichschancellor in January 1933, Hoffmann’s fortunes took another positive turn. He then published his most successful book, Hitler, wie ihn keiner kennt (The Hitler Nobody Knows) which made him very wealthy. It was followed over the next few years by many other books including the two from which this book was produced.
Hoffmann was a close friend of Wilhelm Ohnesorge who became Minister of the Post (Postmaster) under Hitler. With his knowledge of book and photographic royalties, Hoffmann worked with Ohnesorge to establish the system by which Hitler was paid a royalty for each time his likeness was used on a German stamp. Hoffmann’s daughter Henny (Henriëtte) married Hitler Youth Leader Baldur von Schirach, which further served to weave the Hoffmann family into the fabric of upper-class Nazi society.
Hoffmann was a close friend of Wilhelm Ohnesorge who became Minister of the Post (Postmaster) under Hitler. With his knowledge of book and photographic royalties, Hoffmann worked with Ohnesorge to establish the system by which Hitler was paid a royalty for each time his likeness was used on a German stamp. Hoffmann’s daughter Henny (Henriëtte) married Hitler Youth Leader Baldur von Schirach, which further served to weave the Hoffmann family into the fabric of upper-class Nazi society.
In 1938 Hitler appointed Hoffmann “Professor” out of respect for his craft and his artistic sense.
It was Hoffmann who preselected works of art which were to be displayed at annual exhibitions at the Haus der Deutschen Kunst (House of German Art) in München. In 1940 Hoffmann was elected to the Reichstag from the district of Düsseldorf-East. The series of photographs and books which Heinrich Hoffmann produced and sold while he was Hitler’s official photographer had made him wealthy, and the most sought-after photographer of the Third Reich.
Hoffmann was jailed by the Allies at the end of World War II and tried as a Nazi “profiteer” in 1947. The court sentenced him to 10 years in prison (later reduced to 3 years, then increased to 5 years) and confiscated nearly all of his personal fortune. He died in München on 16 December 1957.
Hoffmann was jailed by the Allies at the end of World War II and tried as a Nazi “profiteer” in 1947. The court sentenced him to 10 years in prison (later reduced to 3 years, then increased to 5 years) and confiscated nearly all of his personal fortune. He died in München on 16 December 1957.
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The extremely rare Heinrich Hoffmann photo book Der Triumph des Willens
- battles and the rise to power of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Movement. |
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Superb First Edition of the book Parteitag Großdeutschland
documenting the Nazi Party Days held in Nürnberg in September 1938. |
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100 Documentary Photos of the Life, Battles and Victory of the SA and SS.
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A superb photo book on the organizational genius of the NSDAP -
Reichsleiter Dr. Robert Ley. |
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The creation of the Greater Germany of Adolf Hitler. |
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Rare original 1939 Nazi catalog for Heinrich Hoffmann Hitler books.
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A heavily illustrated Nazi guidebook for the German Postal Museum.
Captions in four languages including English. |
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Heinrich Hoffmann book with photos of Hitler, Mussolini, Göring,
Himmler, Ribbentrop, Count Ciano, Chamberlain, Daladier, etc. |
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**SOLD**
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An early Hoffmann photo book showing Hitler surrounded by aryan children.
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The story of the German demand and the
Allied return of the Saarland portion of Germany. |
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A nice example of Hitler in seinen Bergen, Hitler photographed around the
Berghof near Berchtesgaden, with Göring, Goebbels, children, etc. |
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**SOLD**
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1940 Victory in the West! Nazi paratroopers at Eben Emael, Nazi generals,
French surrender at Compiègne, Hitler in Paris, etc. |
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Hitler in seiner Heimat follows Hitler on his triumphant visit his old homeland in
Austria immediately after the reunification of Austria with Germany in 1938. |
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**SOLD**
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TWO examples of Mit Hitler in Polen book follows Hitler on his
battlefield tour during the German assault in Poland in 1939. |
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**SOLD**
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The German military campaign to subdue the British Occupation Force
in Norway and to crush the remaining anti-German Norwegian resistance. |
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