Transcript 011 Nazi Propaganda

Starter
 How many examples of Nazi propaganda methods can you remember?
 Which was most significant and why?
How successful were Nazi propaganda policies?
Aim: To explain (B), evaluate (A) the success of Nazi propaganda policies
The use of propaganda to control Germany
Use of propaganda by the Nazis:
 Newspapers: printed only stories that were favourable to the Nazis. Newspapers that did
not support the Nazis were closed down – by 1934, over 1500 were closed.
 Radio: sent Nazi messages to mass audiences. Goebbels took control of all the local radio
stations.
 Cheap radio sets called ‘People’s Receivers’ were produced so that every German could afford a
radio. They were made so that they couldn’t pick up foreign signals. The only view of the world
people received was the Nazi one.
 Loudspeaker pillars were put up in public places so that people could hear the radio everywhere.
 Cinema: films reflected Nazi principles. The German film industry produced over 100 films
a year. Special films for the young were made, carrying Nazi ideas.
 Also used the 1936 Olympic Games to demonstrate the superiority of the Aryan face. But
when the black American athlete Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals, the celebrations were
dampened.
 Rallies: most famous is the Nuremberg rally in August, held for a week – there were army
parades, gymnastic displays, bands, choirs, firework displays, speeches by Hitler.
 ‘love for the Führer’ reached an extreme point in the mid-1930s where Hitler was mobbed by
screaming girls!
Aim: To explain (B), evaluate (A) the success of Nazi propaganda policies
Propaganda
Nazis increased their support through propaganda.
 Josef Goebbels was in charge of propaganda.
- Mass rallies.
- Displaying posters and banners wherever possible.
- 1930 the Nazis owned 120 newspapers.
- Nazi message constantly spread through the radio.
Aim: To explain (B), evaluate (A) the success of Nazi propaganda policies
Propaganda and censorship
 March 1934 Josef Goebbels set up Ministry for Enlightenment and Propaganda to







control the hearts and minds of the German people.
Newspapers: non Nazi newspapers shut down. German people only read what the
Nazis wanted them to know. Editors who didn’t obey were sent to concentration
camps.
Radio: cheap mass produced radios sold which could only get German channels. Radio
sets were put in cafes and factories and loudspeakers were set up on the street so that
everyone could hear regular broadcasts by Goebbels and Hitler.
Film: Goebbels commissioned films with Nazi slants. All films had a 45 minutes
newsreel before hand which showed Nazi achievements.
Rallies: mass rallies were held regularly to show the power of the Nazis e.g. the
Nuremburg rally was held every year and thousands would attend.
Posters: cleverly put across the Nazi message.
Books: controlled heavily. Goebbels encouraged students to burn 20,000 books in
Berlins wrote by Jews and any Nazis in May 1933.
It was illegal to tell an anti Nazi joke.
Aim: To explain (B), evaluate (A) the success of Nazi propaganda policies
Propaganda and censorship
 Goebbels set up the Reich Chamber of Culture and all Musicians, Actors, and




writers had to be a member. Any that were unsuitable were banned
Music: Jazz music banned (associated with black people)
Theatre: cheap theatre tickets made available to see plays with a pro Nazi
slant
Architecture: Hitler liked traditional buildings and grand styles often copies
from Ancient Rome and Greece
Art: Hitler hated modern art. He wanted art to shoe hard work as heroic,
perfect Aryans, women in their preferred role as mothers and wives
Aim: To explain (B), evaluate (A) the success of Nazi propaganda policies
Evaluation technique
 Give examples of Nazi propaganda.
 Explain what do you think was the most effective form of propaganda.
 Why was effective propaganda important?
Aim: To explain (B), evaluate (A) the success of Nazi propaganda policies
Examination technique
 Why was the radio important? (4)
 Why was Josef Gobbels important (4)
 How important was rallies, amongst other factors, in ensuring the people
were listening to Nazi ideology? (12)
Aim: To explain (B), evaluate (A) the success of Nazi propaganda policies
Source work
 How useful are sources A, B and
C in understanding the reasons
why propaganda was so
important to the Nazis?
 Use the sources and your own
knowledge (8)
Source: A Nazi rally
"The essence of propaganda consists in winning people over
to an idea so sincerely, so vitally, that in the end they
succumb to it utterly and can never escape from it."
Source B: Goebbels
"Propaganda is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. If
the means achieves the end then the means is good.........the
new Ministry has no other aim than to unite the nation
behind the ideal of the national revolution."
Source C: Goebbels
Aim: To explain (B), evaluate (A) the success of Nazi propaganda policies