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 Nazis wanted to spread their views and persuade everyone in Germany to support them. They wanted to make the people as a whole believe that the Nazis would make Germany a safe and successful country, and to do this they had to recognize the beliefs of groups of the German population. For instance, the same idea that the workers would support, the upper class might not support it also. To gain support of everyone, the Nazis had to have general aims that would appeal to everyone. In a way, they had to used propaganda to trick the people into supporting them since they couldn't please all the groups of people.
As Goebbels says in source 13.2, the Nazis were trying to surround the people with their ideas without them even realizing it. This means that it just became a day to day thing and the German people didn't even think about how they were being influenced in any way.

b. The means used to achieve those aims
The Nazis used every aspect of the German peoples life to influence their thoughts and to support them. They used sports, schools, youth movements, social policies, literature, architecture, sculpture, painting, posters, film, press, radio, parades and rallies to do this. They had the schools teach the policies of National Socialism. Radio and film were very important as Nazi propaganda because it enabled the ideas of the Nazis to be more readily available to the masses.

Literature:
In May 1933, there was a burning of books ceremony in Berlin where 20,000 books were burnt in order to cleanse the new Germany. There were similar ceremonies in other cities. Novelists had to promote Nazi ideas or at least be neutral.

Theater:
Weimar experimentation in drama was ended. Officially approved drama concentrated on historical drama, light entertainment and "blood and soil" stories.

Music:
As with many other things, the Weimar diverse music was ended by the Nazis. The Reich Chamber of Music controlled production.

c. Explain how the Nazis used the press, radio, and film as forms of propaganda. (Pgs. 247-253)
The Nazis controlled everyone who was involved with the press: journalists, editors and publishers. The Nazis did this through the groups they created to control the propaganda and media. They made laws about what they were allowed to say in the media, so no one could say bad things about the Nazis. It was treason to spread false news and rumors. The Nazis kept extending their ownership of the press, increasing for 3% in 1933 to 69% in 1939 and to 82% in 1944.
In 1933 the radio posts which controlled the content of the radio, were taken over by Reich governors. In 1934 the Nazis established a unified radio system. In 1939, 70% of households in German owned a radio, which meant that the Nazis could spread their ideas very efficiently. Hitler's important speeches were broadcasted. Sirens announced them and work stopped so everyone could listen on their own radios or on public loudspeakers.
In 1942 all of the film companies were nationalized. The Reich Film Chamber regulated the content of German and imported films. There were only a few films that were overtly propagandist. Leni Riefenstahl was a producer who made detailed recordings of rallies and festivals to show the people what was happening and to encourage them to join in. Some of these films were "Triumph of the Will" and "Olympia." There were a few anti-semitic films to spread the view that the Jews needed to be removed from Germany. The more subtle films were more effective. The films portrayed Hitler as a man who sacrificed himself for the good of the nation, and they were used to show the key Nazi ideas.

d. Explain Goebbels' contribution to the creation and development of the Third Reich
Goebbels was the Reich Propaganda Minister, the President of the Reich Chamber of Culture and the Director of the Reich Propaganda Central Office of the NSDAP. These positions gave him a lot of power of the media and effectively spread the Nazi propaganda. As the Reich propaganda minister, Goebbels had control over propaganda coordination, broadcasting, German press, film, theater, literature, fine arts, music, and folk culture. As the president of the Reich chamber of culture and the director of the central office of propaganda, he controlled all the media in Germany.
He was an influential adviser to hitler, and he was anti-semitic and issued orders for Kristallnacht. He also played a major role in organizing Germany's domestic war effort after the defeat of Stalingrad in 1943. He was a powerful public speaker and his mission was to sell Hitler to the German people and organizing the Fuhrer cult, with himself as Hitler's faithful servant.


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.
Meetings and Rallies:
Mass Rallies strengthened support for the Nazis, and attracted the attention of bystanders and won over their support. Films of rallies made people who hadn't been at the rally want to attend one to be a part of the movement. Goebbels commented that rallies transformed a person "from a little worm into part of a large dragon," showing that people felt like an important part of a community. Source 13 C shows how the Nazis put on a show with lights and coordinated marches/dances before Hitler would make a speech. Everyone would get excited about being part of such a dedicated community, and they would support the Nazis even more.

Festivals:
Nazi Germany had many new festivals. On these days there were rallies in many cities and the streets were flooded with people celebrating. People who didn't participate may have been reported to the Gestapo. Among the holidays were "Day of the Seizing of Power" (January 30), Hitler's birthday (April 20), and Day of German Culture (2nd Sunday in July).

Sports:
The Hitler Youth and DAF organized sporting activities for the masses. These helped the German people to be fit. The Nazis' aim was to make them healthy to be soldiers and to have children. The Nazis used the 1936 Olympics as propaganda. The stadium in which the games were held included memorials to dead German soldiers, linking sports and militarism. Hitler used the Olympics as an opportunity to display the physical superiority of Germans as the master race. While visitors where in Berlin, anti-semitic propaganda was reduced.

The autobahns:
The autobahns showed how Germany was literally united. They did also have an economic and military role. The success was more propagandist than real. They symbolized the political strength, willpower and achievement of Hitler's Germany.

Social policy:
Much of Nazi social policy was aimed at changing peoples thoughts more than their social position.


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).
Painting:
Hitler was very interested in painting. Hitler removed what he thought was corrupt art and supported "healthy" Aryan art. Hitler's taste replaced the modern, reflective, abstract art that was popular in Weimar Germany. He favored clear visual images that everyone could understand and be inspired by. Nazi art was clear and direct. People were not portrayed as real individuals but heroic idealizations, like the healthy peasant, the brave warrior and the productive woman. Hitler was portrayed as the wise, strong leader. The painting reflected Nazi ideology and myth. Art, like all other propaganda, had to reflect the popular taste to reach the masses. All artists had to become members of the Reich Culture Chamber, which monitored all art.

Sculpture:
In 1934 there was a decree that all new public buildings should be embellished by sculptures conveying the Nazi message. The sculptures that were artistic and expressive were replaced by perfectly molded strong people.

Architecture:
Hitler was fascinated with architecture. This was the most permanent form of propaganda. Many new public buildings were created. Hitler used a monumental style with symmetry from the Greeks but on a large scale. When people visited, they were swallowed up by how big the building was and how small they were, showing how powerful and authoritative the Nazis were. Hitler wanted to build huge city centers. Hit initial interest in workers' housing disappeared.
The Nazis used a more traditional and local Germanic style for homes and youth hostels. This reflected the backward looking, pro countryside aspect of Nazi ideology.
Albert Speer was Hitler's personal architect. He was Head of the Beauty of Work section of the DAF and was General Architectural Inspector of the Reich.