Heinrich Hoffmann (photographer)

Heinrich Hoffmann
Hoffmann in 1945 during the Nuremberg trials
Born	(1885-09-12)12 September 1885 Fürth, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Died	16 December 1957(1957-12-16) (aged 72) Munich, Free State of Bavaria, 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

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,^[1] as both art dealer and collector and his art collection, which contained many artworks looted from Jews, was ordered confiscated by the Allies.

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.^[2]