Nazi propaganda and mass indoctrination

Where did power lie in the Third Reich?

Despite the power of the Nazi police apparatus, it would be too simple to suggest that the regime maintained itself in power simply by the use of terror and repression. From the very start both Hitler and Goebbels recognised how vital propaganda could be as a cog in the Nazi state. As a result, considerable resources were directed towards the development of the propaganda machine in order to achieve the following aims:

1.To glorify the regime2.To spread the Nazi ideology and values (and by implication to censor the unacceptable)3.To win over the people and to integrate the nation’s diverse elements

Under the Nazis all means of public communication were brought under state control. The Hitler myth was a powerful cult of personality that Goebbels nurtured through propaganda

 

Key terms

• Culture

• Propaganda

• Indoctrination

• Censorship

• A policy or programme of censoring

• Development or improvement of the mind by education or training

• Organised spreading of information to promote the views of the government or movement with the intention of persuading people to think or behave in a certain way

• The act of teaching a doctrine, principle, or ideology, especially one with a specific point of view

Why did Hitler and Goebbels prefer to talk about ‘Nazi culture’ as opposed to ‘Nazi propaganda’? Think about the connotations

What is the Influence of the media today?

Propaganda

• ‘organised spreading of information to promote the views of the government or movement with the intention of persuading people to think or behave in a certain way.’

• Why was it so important to Hitler

and the Nazis?

March 1933• 13th March 1933 – New

ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda.

• Dr Joseph Goebbels in charge – ‘master of propaganda’. Since 1927 was party propaganda chief, was well educated and fiercely anti-Semitic.

• What were his aims?

• ‘It is the task of state propaganda to simplify complicated ways of thinking that even the smallest man in the street may understand.’

• ‘The finest kind of propaganda does not reveal itself, the best propaganda is that which works invisibly.’

• ‘The Nazi gained 52% of the vote in the March 1933 election. This government will not be content with 52% behind it and with terrorising the remaining 48%, but will see its most immediate task as winning over that remaining 48%.’

• ‘The propagandist must understand how to speak not only to the people in their totality, but also to individual sections…to the worker, the peasant, the middle class.’

Summarise his aims in 4 bullet points

The propaganda machine – THE MEANS

• ‘The Reich Ministry of Popular Enlightenment is responsible for the entire area of spiritually influencing the nation…’

What does this diagram suggest about how the Nazi regime viewed propaganda?

Presentations!• You are going to work in

groups of 2 or 3 • Pick a topic out of the hat• 5 minute presentation

(use clips, PPT slides, handouts)

• One side of A4 lecture notes for the class

• Include:1. What were the features

of your area of propaganda?

2. What was the purpose of this type of propaganda?

3. How effective was it – merits and deficiencies?

• Presentations on 24/10

topicsYou will be presenting on one of the following: •Parades and public spectacles e.g. The Day of Potsdam, meetings and rallies (Nuremburg), the Berlin Olympics •Press – newspapers/posters/photographs/radio•Popular culture – music, literature, theatre and film (The Triumph of Will)•Fine Arts – painting and sculpture, architecture •Education and youth movements •Social policies – include Nazi rituals such as the Heil Hitler greeting and folk culture (Volksgemeinschaft)