Paul Joseph Goebbels was a central figure in the Nazi regime, serving as Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda from 1933 to 1945. After earning a doctorate in philology in 1921, he joined the National Socialist Party, rapidly rising through the ranks thanks to his oratorical skills. He became Gauleiter of Berlin in 1926 and the party's head of propaganda in 1929, orchestrating the campaigns that brought Hitler to power. As minister, he exercised total control over the media, establishing the Reich Chamber of Culture (Reichskulturkammer) to align every form of art with Nazi ideology. His works include writings, his diaries—a key historical source—and famous public speeches, such as the 1943 speech on 'total war.' His honors were linked to his status in the Third Reich: he was awarded the Golden Party Badge, and in his political testament, Hitler named him his successor as Reich Chancellor. He held this office for only one day before committing suicide on May 1, 1945.