joseph goebbels was born as "paul joseph goebbels" in mönchengladbach on 29 october 1897. his father, friedrich goebbels, was a bookkeeper and his mother was maria goebbels (born oldenhausen). he was the third child of the family and grew up with five siblings. due to an illness in his childhood in 1901, goebbels' right foot was malformed and he was . he went to a roman catholic school in rheydt in 1908. in 1914, goebbels went to high school in rheydt. when the first world war started in august 1914, he volunteered to be part of the army. this was refused because of his limp.