'He looked at me with hate in his eyes’: Jewish photographer captures moment he revealed his religion to Hitler henchman Goebbels



Nazi Joseph Goebbels was friendly to photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt

He scowled at him after finding out he was a German-born Jew

Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels was cheerful and without a care when he first met photographer Alfed Eisenstaedt.

In a close-up image the Third Reich politician was caught off guard smiling at the League of Nations meeting in Geneva in September 1933.

But when Goebbels found out LIFE magazine photographer Mr Eisenstaedt was Jewish his expression was quite different.



Joseph Goebbels glowering as he sits in the garden of the Carlton Hotel during his first trip abroad to attend the League of Nations

Alfred Eisenstaedt said Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels (centre) looked small next to other men

Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels's eyes were full of hatred when he met photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt

Jewish photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt pictured in 1932 in London

'Later I found him at the same table surrounded by aides and bodyguards.



'Goebbels seemed so small, while his bodyguards were huge.

'I walked up close and photographed Goebbels. It was horrible.



'He looked up at me with an expression full of hate.



'The result, however, was a much stronger photograph.



'There is no substitute for close personal contact and involvement with a subject, no matter how unpleasant it may be.

'He looked at me with hateful eyes and waited for me to wither. But I didn’t wither.

'If I have a camera in my hand, I don’t know fear.'

This striking picture became one of Mr Eisenstaedt’s most well known images.

But he became best known for his V-J Day in Times Square photograph of a sailor kissing a random nurse in New York City to celebrate the victory over Japan on August 14 1945.

