Propaganda in Nazi Germany

What is Propaganda?

Propaganda is a form of psychological manipulation for the benefit of someone’s personal agenda. It involves spreading of specific views and ideas (ideology) to persuade others that ‘your side’ is correct.

Why was propaganda so crucial for the Nazis?

• Propaganda was an essential tool for getting the Nazi message out to the public. Hitler wanted the people to understand his ideas.

• Message was made simple and clear

• Perfect tool for anti-democratic Nazis + people who were againsto Democracyo Weimar's governmento Rational debate

Joseph Goebbels

• Minister of Propaganda and National Enlightenment

• One of Hitler's three lieutenants

• Fiercely anti-Semitic with views similar to those of Hitler

• 1922: became member of the Nazi party

• 1925: first meets and gets fascinated by Hitler

• 1927: made Gauleiter of Berlin

• 1928: made party propaganda chief

• 1930: elected to the Reichstag

• 1933: made Minister of Propaganda and National Enlightenment

• Supported Hitler until the very end of the war, when he committed suicide

Goebbels as Minister of Propaganda

• Had complete control over all forms of communication

• Made use of mob emotions

• Spread the belief that Hitler was a god-like figure and that the German race was the superior race

• Most virulent propaganda targeted at Jews

• Hypnotic orator, almost as good as Hitler

• Established the Reich Chamber of Commerce

• Organised the "book burnings"

• Best remembered for his nighttime rallies

Goebbels 5 Propaganda Principles

• Must be interesting to the audience

• Must be used at the right time and must include a repetitive theme

• Must be specific

• Must be easily learnt and

boomerang-proof

• Must give hope,

but should not create

false hopes.

What types of Propaganda were used?

Propaganda was an essential tool for getting the Nazi message out to the public. Hitler wanted the people to understand his ideas.

he used the following:• Posters

• Film

• Rallies

• Anti-Semitic Exhibitions

• Radio

• Books

• Magazines

Posters

• Basis of Propaganda

• Cheap and easy to distribute

• Placed in public areas

• Constant reminder of Nazi Ideology

Film

• Good tool to promote ideas

• 'The Führer Over Germany'

• Used to promoteo How Horrible the Jews wereo Hitler's Greatnesso True life of Germans in East Europe

Rallies

• Used to celebrate Nazism

• Albert Speer and Joseph Goebbels organised rallies to showcase the might of the Nazi Nation.

• Arenas were built (claimed to hold 400,000 people)

• Nuremberg Rallies: o Held from 1927 onward. o Reached up to 500,000 people

Anti-Semitic Exhibition

• ‘The Eternal Jew’o From November 1937 to January 31st, 1938o Over 412,000 people visited in total

• Showcase typical features of a Jew

• Promote anti-Semitic feelings towards Jews

Radio

• Goebbels sold cheap radios known as 'The People's receiver'.

• Hitler's speeches broadcast over Germany

• Loudspeakers put in streets, so people had to listen to his speeches.

Books

• Focused on anti-Semitism, Nazism and German nationalism

• Most notable book was Mein Kampf

• Children’s book were also produced like Der Giftpilz (the poisonous mushroom)o “The following tales tell the truth about the

Jewish poison mushroom. They show the many shapes the Jew assumes. They show the depravity and baseness of the Jewish race. They show the Jew for what he really is: The Devil in human form.”

Magazines

• Signal was a propaganda magazine manufactured by the Wehrmacht (the German Unified Forces).

• It was distributed in Occupied Europe and Neutral countries (but not Germany proper).o Signal was a propaganda magazine

manufactured by the Wehrmacht (the German Unified Forces). It was distributed in Occupied Europe and Neutral countries (but not Germany proper)

• Der Stümer: another propaganda magazineo Dedicated to anti-Semitism, especially hatred

of the Jews. Motto: "The Jews are our misfortune".

Propaganda in Art

• Against modern art - Militant League for German Culture

• Featured a "true to life" hero and heroine

• Glorified strong and healthy heroes

• Hitler was shown as a wise, imperious leader

• Clear, direct, and heroic

• 1937: House of German Art

• Sculptures were very important

• Malverbot

Propaganda in Architecture

• Hitler admired Roman Architecture and believed that Ancient Germans had been part of its social fabric and influenced it. He thought of the Romans as an early Aryan Empire and he began emulating their style of neoclassicism and art deco.

• 3 styles of architecture: Stage, Symbolic and Didactic

Stage

• Large spaces made to incorporate masses of people

• Buildings were immense, which was meant to deliver the Nazi message (how great they were)

• Mainly inspired by Greco-Roman architecture

• Link to 'Blood and Soil' belief of the Nazis.

Symbolic

• These German buildings were built for both form and function

• Nazis preferred traditional housing/buildings

• Nazis forbade modern style buildings

• Meant to house paintings and large numbers of people

Didactic

• Hitler referred to architecture as "The Word in Stone

• Buildings were meant to represent a new birth for Germany

• Designed to showcase importance of the community over the individual

• Not overly sized or magnificent

How Successful was Propaganda?

• Efficiently developed and reinforced popular prejudices

• Ensured that Nazi ideologies and policies were clearly understood and fostered a sense of nationalism

• Served as a constant reminder to the people of the Nazis

• The people only knew what the Nazis told them and nothing else, so they were very easy to control

• Crude or oppressive propaganda was not popular