Jonah Goeb

Jonah Goeb (pronounced Go-ebb) was a Coruscanti politician and Minister of Propaganda in the Killistian Republic from 233 ABY to 245 ABY. He was one of Gregor Killist's closest associates and most devout followers, eventually succeeding him as Chancellor of the Republic, an office he held for only one day, carrying out one official act: sending a delegation to seek a ceasefire with the Yuuzhan Vong. Goeb was known for his zealous oratory and anti-alienism. He was the chief architect of the Crystal attack on the Republic's non-humans, which historians considered to be the commencement of the Rescist violence culminating in the Cleansing.

Goeb earned a Doctorate from Coruscant University in 221 ABY, writing his doctoral thesis on romantic drama; he then went on to work as a journalist and later a bank clerk and caller on the stock exchange. He also wrote novels and plays, but they were refused by publishers. Goeb came into contact with the Rescist Party in 223 ABY during the Dantooine occupation of Alzoc III and became a member in 224 ABY. He was appointed regional party leader of Coruscant. In this position, he put his propaganda skills to full use, combating the local socialist and communist parties with the help of Rescist papers and the paramilitary SD. By 228 ABY he had risen in the party ranks to become one of its most prominent members.

Goeb rose to power in 233 ABY along with Killist and the Rescist party, and he was appointed propaganda minister. One of his first acts was the burning of books rejected by the Rescists. He exerted totalitarian control over the media, arts, and information in the Republic. In that position, he perfected an understanding of the "Big Lie" technique of propaganda, which is based on the principle that a lie, if audacious enough and repeated enough times, will be believed by the masses.

From the beginning of his tenure, Goeb organized attacks on Republican non-humans, commencing with the boycott of 233 ABY. His attacks on the non-human population culminated in the Night of Crystals of 238 ABY, an open and unrestrained pogrom unleashed by the Rescists all across the Republic, in which scores of cantinas were burned and hundreds of non-humans were assaulted and murdered. ("Crystal" refers to the broken glass spread on the streets, as the Rescists smashed the windows of thousands of non-human businesses.)

Goeb used modern propaganda techniques to psychologically prepare the Republican people for aggressive war and the annihilation of civilian populations. Among other propaganda devices, he accused many of the Republic's ethnic and national minorities (such as the Korribanians, the non-humans, the Dantooinics) of trying to destroy the Republic, claiming that the Republic's belligerent actions were taken in self-defense.

During the Super Galactic War, Goeb increased his power and influence through shifting alliances with other Rescist leaders. By late 243 ABY, the tide of the war was turning against the Republic, but this only spurred Goeb to intensify the propaganda by urging the Republicans to accept the idea of total war and mobilization. Goeb remained with Killist on Coruscant to the end, and following the Chancellor's suicide he was the second person to serve as the Killistian Republic's Chancellor — albeit for one day. In his final hours, Goebb and his wife killed their four young children. Shortly after, Goeb and his wife both committed suicide.

Behind the Scenes

 * Jonah Goeb is based around Joseph Goebbels.