Heinrich Hoffmann (photographer)
Heinrich Hoffmann (12 September 1885 – 16 December 1957) was Adolf Hitler's official photographer, and a Nazi politician and publisher, who was a member of Hitler's intimate circle. Hoffmann's photographs were a significant part of Hitler's propaganda campaign to present himself and the Nazi Party as a significant mass phenomenon. He received royalties from all uses of Hitler's image, which made him a millionaire over the course of Hitler's rule. After the Second World War he was tried and sentenced to 10 years in prison for war profiteering. He was classified by the Allies' Art Looting Investigators to be a "major offender" in Nazi art plundering of Jews, as both art dealer and collector and his art collection, which contained many artworks looted from Jews, was ordered confiscated by the Allies.
Heinrich Hoffmann | |
|---|---|
Hoffmann in 1945 during the Nuremberg trials | |
| Born | 12 September 1885 |
| Died | 16 December 1957 (aged 72) Munich, West Germany |
| Resting place | Nordfriedhof |
| Alma mater | Heidelberg University |
| Occupation | Photographer |
| Years active | 1903–1945 |
| Known for | Hitler's personal photographer |
| Political party | Nazi Party |
| Criminal status | Deceased |
| Spouses | Therese Baumann
(m. 1911; died 1928)Erna Gröbke (m. 1929) |
| Children | 2, including Henriette von Schirach |
| Conviction(s) | War profiteering |
| Criminal penalty | 10 years imprisonment; commuted to 4 years imprisonment |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | German Empire |
| Branch | Imperial German Army |
| Years of service | 1917–1918 |
| Unit | Fliegerersatz-Abteilung I |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Hoffmann's sentence was reduced to 4 years on appeal, and he was released from prison in 1950. In 1956, the Bavarian State ordered all art under its control and formerly possessed by Hoffmann to be returned to him.