The role of leaders

• Joseph Goebbels joined the Nazi party in 1925 after being moved by Hitler's speech on restoring and uniting Germany
• Goebbels initially focused on promoting socialism and nationalism through newspapers and pamphlets
• Hitler considered socialism a threat and Goebbels shifted his focus to promoting national socialism and fascist ideas
• Goebbels became known as the propaganda mastermind of the Nazi party
• He believed in creating effective propaganda and stated that people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one if repeated frequently enough
• Goebbels orchestrated propaganda photos to promote unity, positivity, and anti-Semitism
• Ernest Röhm was in charge of the SA (Sturmabteilung) and focused on physical assault to promote the Nazi party
• Röhm believed in using violence and brutality to instill fear and gain control
• He was trusted by Hitler to lead the militant forces due to his ruthless nature and effectiveness in recruiting soldiers
• Röhm's use of violence and the SA's brutality was a key factor in promoting the growth of the Nazi party