Adolf Hitler’s inner circle were the most powerful men in the Third Reich. It was a finely balanced team of military commanders, administrative leaders and Ministers of the Nazi Party (NSDAP).
This is a list of Hitler’s top 10 henchmen, who they were and a brief explanation of their roles.
10. Walther Funk – Reich Minister of Economics
Also: President of the Reichsbank and State Secretary at the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda
Funk was an economist, a lawyer, and a philosopher. He was the editor of the Berliner Börsenzeitung, a financial newspaper. He was on the board of the Band for International Settlements, based in Switzerland. In September of 1943, he was appointed to the Central Planning Board.
9. Joachim von Ribbentrop – Foreign Minister of Nazi Germany
Ribbentrop was an expert on world affairs and a close confidant to Hitler. He helped broker the Pact of Steel between Germany and Italy (also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact). In 1936, he served as ambassador to the Court of St. James for London and the UK.
8. Albert Speer – Chief Architect
Also Minister of Armaments and War Production
Speer designed and constructed the Reich Chancellery and the Party Rally stadium in Nuremberg. He designed the wide streets of Berlin and redid the transportation system.
7. Karl Donitz
Commander of the German Navy’s U-boats until 1943 when he took over as Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy. He was eventually promoted to Grand-Admiral
6. Erich Raeder
Grand Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of the Kriegsmarine (Germany’s Naval force) and the Reichsmarine until 1943
5. Wilhelm Keitel – Field Marshal of the German Army
Chief of the Supreme High Command of the German Armed Forces, Chief of Defense for Germany, and Hitler’s Chief of Staff
4. Joseph Goebbels – Reichsminister for Propaganda
Goebbels had control over all news media, art, and public information in Germany. He delivered emotional speeches to motivate and mobilize the German population. He was named in Hitler’s final will as the successor to the Fuhrer.
3. Martin Bormann – Head of the Nazi Party Chancellery
(previously known as Deputy Fuhrer until Hess defected and Bormann replaced him), Hitler’s private secretary.
Bormann controlled all access to the Fuhrer and all information going to and from Hitler. He had final approval over all legislation and control over all domestic matters.
2. Hermann Göring – Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe
Founder of the Gestapo in 1933, Minister of the Economic Four-Year Plan, Reichsmarschall (senior to all other Wehrmacht commanders), named Hitler’s successor in 1941, deputy to Hitler in all of his offices.
A former ace fighter pilot in World War I, he received the Blue Max and was commander of the fighter wing that included Richthofen, also known as the Red Baron.
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1. Heinrich Himmler – ReichsFührer of the entire SS
Military Commander of the Waffen-SS, Commander of the Gestapo, Minister of the Interior, Commander of the Home Army and supreme leader of the administration of the entire Third Reich.