Nazi Propaganda

Newspapers, Radio, and Film

Importance of Propaganda

Hitler and the Nazis believed that the use of propaganda was so important that Hitler appointed Joseph Goebbels as his Minister of Propaganda

Dedication to his job

Goebbels was a fanatical Nazi and was completely loyal and devoted to Hitler; in fact, Goebbel’s 5 children had first names that began with the letter H as a tribute to Hitler!

Purpose of Nazi Propaganda?

Create a POSITIVE view of Hitler and the Nazis; create a NEGATIVE view of those considered to be enemies, particularly Jews

Keys to Successful Propaganda

Hitler and Goebbels believed that propaganda should appeal to emotions rather than to intellect

Simple themes would be presented in a repetitive manner

Propaganda should have broad appeal in order to reach the masses (of people)

Propaganda areas of focus for the

NazisPortray Hitler and the Nazis as the saviors of Germany

Connect the Nazis to a positive, idealistic vision of Germany’s future

Portray the Nazis as confident, powerful, and superior!

Newspapers in Nazi Germany

The Nazi party had an official daily newspaper called People’s Observer

The newspaper stressed the superiority of Germany and the Nazis, and attacked enemies such as the Jews and Communists, and attacked the Treaty of Versailles

Der SturmerWas the most vicious anti-Semitic newspaper throughout Germany

It portrayed Jews as inferior, disease-spreading, physically deformed, with motives to control the world, and were Germany’s worst enemy

Radio BroadcastsRadio was used extensively as a propaganda tool in Nazi Germany

Hitler’s speeches were always broadcast on national radio

Restaurants and pubs were expected to have their radios on when Hitler was speaking

Radio’s Everywhere!

The Nazi government manufactured 2 versions of an inexpensive radio (called “People’s Receivers”) in an effort to reach every home in Germany

Use of the Radio in Nazi Germany

Radio broadcasts played up all the Nazi ideals—national pride, patriotism, pride in Hitler, and pride in racial supremacy

The Nazis made it a crime for anyone to listen to a radio broadcast from another country (England for example); anyone caught doing so would be sent to a concentration camp!

Films in Nazi Germany

The Nazis controlled the entire film making industry in Germany, and it was all controlled by Goebbels

Goebbels said that “films constitute one of the most modern and scientific means of influencing the mass…we must not neglect them.”

Movie Topics in Nazi Germany

Film topics included anti-Semitism, such as the movie The Eternal Jew, which showed Jews living in terrible conditions, portraying this as “normal,” and comparing them to rats, which spread disease

Movie Topics in Nazi Germany

Another popular topic was national pride and honor; in the film Hitlerjunge Quex, a young German boy wants to join the Hitler Youth, but his father is angered because he is a Communist; the boy joins against his father’s wishes and embraces the Hitler Youth

Triumph of the Will

Was a 1935 Nazi propaganda film directed by Leni Riefenshahl, a female movie producer

The film was commissioned by Hitler, and he is listed as an executive-producer

The film glorifies SS troops, rallies, marches, and speeches by Nazi leaders