Nazi Propaganda

Read Nazi Propaganda - Aims and Methods - Part 1

Using the information and the primary sources describe: (Pgs. 245-247)

a. The chief aims of Nazi propaganda

• the finest kind of propaganda does not reveal itself
• to simplify complicated ways of thinking that even the smallest man in the street may understand
• the nazi state tried to get control over the media and all cultural activities
• to make people believe that they were truely a "peoples government"
• the new ministry has no other aim than to unite the nation behind the ideal of the national revolution
• simultaneously with this political purification of our public life, the government of the reich will under stake  thorough moral purging of the body corporate of the nation

b. The means used to achieve those aims

• penetrating into every cell of life in such a way that the public has no idea of the aims of the propagandaists
• the propagandist must unterstand how to speak not only to the people in their totality, but also to individual sections of the population
• goebbels was the propaganda ministry who supervised a vast machinery for control of all aspects of the media
• nazis exercised this through directing ownership of some forms, by controlling those working in the media, by derecting edia hat to produce, and by prosecuting non-conformist activities
• the entire educational system, the theater, the cinema, the literature, the press and the wireless. they must all serve for the maintenance of the eternal values presented in the essential character of our people

c. Explain how the Nazis used the press, radio, and film as forms of propaganda. (Pgs. 247-253)

• it rigorously controled all those involved- journalists, editors, publishers- through compulsory members of co-ordinating bodies
• in october 1933 a law was made editors responsible for infringements of government directives
• clause 14 obliged editors to exclude from their paper everything 'calculated to weaken the strength of the reich abroad or at home, the resolution of the community, the german defence, culture or the economy, or to injure the religous sensibilities of others, as well as everything offensive to the honor or dignity of a german'
• it was treason to spread false news and rumors
• the RMVP held daily press conferences and issued detailed directives on content, including the length and position of articles
• control was exercised by extending nazi ownership of the press
• radio became on eof the most powerful tools for indoctrination
• goebbels described it as the 'spirtitual weapon of the totalitarian state'
• although mainly used for light entertainment, radio also transmitted hilters key speeches (hitler speaking alone in a radio studio was found not to be effective after october 1933 he did not use one)
• key speeches were announced by sirens and work stopped so all could listen to public loudsoeajers
• radio wardens organised these importnant ' national moments'
• film was seen more as a means of relaxation than directly for explicit propaganda purposes
• in 1933 the four major film companies were allowed to remain as private companies, partly because the government didnt want to harm export sales
• the reich film chamber regulated the content of both german made and imported films
• goebbels made himself responisble for approving every film made in germany
• during the regime over one thousand feature films were produced, with only about 1/6 being overtly propaganists
• the most famous producer was leni riefestahl who was commissioned to make detailed recordings of rallies and festivales, to tell people what was happening and to encourgae inolvement
• films were probably more effective in keeping support for the regime than in indoctrinating people with nazism

d. Explain Goebbels' contribution to the creation and development of the Third Reich

• goebbels contribution to the creation and development of the third reich are very important
• although not the leader of the reich himself goebbels exstremely essential to the rise of the reich
• he sells hitler to the german people as the perfect leader for the time, a man who would be able to leade them out of the current declining situation, being himself extremely faithful
• goebbel was able to rally most of the 1933 support for the NSDAP

Read Nazi Propaganda - other Methods - Part 2

e. Explain how the Nazis used the activities described on pages 254-259 as a form of propaganda.

• mass rallies, most of the participants were likely to be nazi supporters, but their commitment would probably be strengthened through attending such rallies
• they also attracted bystanders who might be won over
• might make even non-partcipants feel they wanted to become part of such an impressive movement
• would use special lighting to make an effect of a concert, 
• the combination of uniforms, disciplined mass movements, stirrinf music, striking flags and symbols, often at night, create a powerful feeling of wishing to belong
• then came the adress by hitler, the master at manipulating mass emotion
• the calendar in nazi german was peppered with new festivals, celebrating key dates in nazi year
• failure to support this might be reported to gestapo
• the government made great efforts so ensure that the 1936 olympics games were a propaganda success
• the new olympic stages existing steel skeleton was clad in stone
• memorials to dead german soldiers were included thus linking sport and militarism
• hitler saw the olympics as an opportunity to display the physical superiority of germans as the master race

Read Nazi Propaganda - Culture - Part 3 and Part 4

f. Explain how the Third Reich used painting, sculpture and architecture for propaganda purposes
(Pgs. 260-270).

• in the new nazi art people were drawn not as REAL indivisuals but just as heroic idealisations: the healthy peasants, the brave warrior, the supreme athlete, the productive women
• hitler was portrayed as the wise, imperious leader,
• they could take away any of the licenses that were given to people in education or arts
• new public building show be embellished by sculputres conveying the nazi message
• portraying stereortyped nazi virtues in perfect but lifeless body shapes
• the individual was dwarfed in front of the building, which represented absolute authority