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 general aims of the Nazis when it came to propaganda was to lure a majority of people within their target areas into their Weltanshauung, or way of viewing life, by means of symbolism that represented greater ideals in simplified depictions for the average person, while ensuring that those of more complex ideals would understand further meanings, and the least educated could still comprehend the basics. They had hoped that with propaganda, that the people would be held contented, and policies that the Nazi party pushed for would gain popularity. In Source 13.4, Goebbels states that the propaganda must appeal to every person, to gain maximum popularity within the people. He lists "the worker, the peasant, the middle class[...] different faiths", and all within a language by which they may understand. It was the ideal goal by propaganda to reach out and appeal to everyone within the target populous.

b. The means used to achieve those aims

To acheive support for radical ideals, the message of propaganda must appeal to the intellectuals, and the average civilian, worker, and farmer. Using pictures instead of words simplifies the understanding of the work, while also, symbols may represent multiple ideals that may not be able to be described fully by words. And in using words, the propagandist must speak on terms by which anyone can understand, that reaches out to all religions, ethnicities, locations and nationalities, not to a estimated common idea. (Goebbels source 13.4). Source 13.5, Hitler expresses his thoughts, explaining further the method of simplifying propaganda, while "paint[ing] your contrasts black and white", all the time exposing the public to the ideals through constant repition until, essentially, it is forced into the lives of people.
First, film and radio were targetted, as being new technology, that had changed dramatically, the people had not committed to their lives the companies or sources the originally provided. Slowly, the Nazis took control of local newspapers by first putting in clips of their propaganda, until they were recognized, and then took control of a more common form of communication within the people. And additional to the new technologies, aeroplanes were used to target anyone who was below for the campaigns of Hitler.

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

By 3 main methods, the Nazis had controlled the press. In taking authority of the journalists, editors and publishers they could indirectly control what was written by directed effecting these persons through intimidation. Any misinformation of falsification of facts, of offense to the ideal German tradition and the government (and all of its ideals) were considered treason against the state, and thus was handled as such. Das Deutsches Nachrichtenburo was controlled by the RMVP, evaluating the content, length and position of each article, with over half the newspapers produced within the country. And by 1943, 4/5 of newspapers were under direct, of indirect Nazi influence, while keeping many of the original names, integrating the nazi ideal into to public opinion in the press.
The Nazis were given a head start when it came to radio, as in 1934, they created a unified radio radio system from the already state controlled radio stations. Goebbels had thought that radio would replace the press and would be the key factor of propaganda for the Nazi party. A major effort by the radio, was the presentation of Hitler's speeches. With 70 percent of housholds owning a radio, along with many factories in 1939, about 80% of the population listened to Hitler's key speeches, after the announcement by siren in the cities. Work was stopped for these.
With film, Goebbels might argue that its potential was never reached. With, ultimately, the dissaproval by Hitler, Goebbel's idea of discreetly adding propaganda into film was not used enough, as with the 1000 films made under the regime, 15% overtly political propaganda. Although television was rare and lacking in obvious potential, the cinema worked well in achieving support from target groups of people and changing racial views through entertainment, despite the lack of consistency in their success. As Goebbels predicted, the discreet propaganda worked much more effectively than Hitler's obvious political attempts. Leni Reifenstahl was the most prominant film producer, creating those of informative news, details accounts of rallies and political events, and that of international competitions (Olympics 1936). For anti Jew propaganda films the overt "Der Ewige Jude" was drastically unsuccessfull, and, as Goebbels ensured, the more hidden propaganda in a very enterprising film "Jud Süss", was totally successful. Simply, "the need for entertainment took priority" in film, and so propaganda needed to be based around story, not the other way around, for a successful message within the people.


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

By Goebbel's ideal that the government is made, elected and run by the people, he quite effectively used, and thoroughly understood, propaganda in rallying the nation into support of the Nazi party. The principle that when a party is supported by the people, acknowledgement for its similarities in the majority populous's views, it is elected into power and stays with the cooperation and of the people. The party must appeal to existing beliefs and its methods must seemingly solve the presented conflicts of the historical situation, where the party appears as the best candidate for logical action. Which would all present a considerable problem to a radical group such as a Nazis when attempting to retain support. In response, Goebbels, as the most educated man in the NSPAD, used propaganda, not for the party to appeal to the people, but to change the views of the population to accept and appeal to the party. From 1926-1945, Goebbels had gained support for Hitler in his presidential campaign, and in acheiving the high standard and wide spread (and enforced belief) for the Fürher, and mainting support in the war. Goebbels was head of the most influencial propaganda organization for the Nazi party, that directly or indirectly controlled the press, radio, film and smaller medias, personaly evaluating, accepting and at times producing the output of the propaganda. For the rise and consolidation of the Nazi's power, Goebbels worked for his goal in creating "One public opinion."

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.

Propaganda in the media may attempt to convince the common person of ideals, but action dictates the back up of the promisses made by the Nazi party. With the combination of Hitler, Speer and Goebbels, the mass collected speeches won people over with the power of the presentation, not the ideaology that was pushed.

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).