Citation

Heit A, Westemeier J, Gross D, Schmidt M. Br. Dent. J. 2019; 227(11): 997-1000.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, British Dental Association)

DOI

10.1038/s41415-019-0992-1

PMID

31844231

Abstract

Joseph Goebbels, Reich Propaganda Minister of National Socialist Germany and one of the most powerful Nazi politicians, committed suicide at the end of the Second World War together with his wife, Magda, thus escaping his political responsibilities. Prior to committing suicide, the Goebbels' conspired to murder their six children, and to this end, enlisted the help of the dentist Helmut Kunz. Not until 1959, however, did Kunz stand trial on six counts of aiding and abetting in a homicide. Using extensive court records, this article examines the life of the dentist Helmut Kunz, his function in the Third Reich, and his role in the murder of the Goebbels children.

Language: en

Keywords

History, 20th Century; Humans; Child; Germany; Dentists; Propaganda; Clergy; National Socialism