History unit 4

• Developments in Nazi control after 1933
• The Wall St Crash led to the breakdown of the democratic system in Germany, creating an environment for National Socialism to thrive
• President Hindenburg had the power to dismiss and appoint the Chancellor, making him a key figure in the formation of the new government
• Hitler was invited into power as a compromise between right-wing political groups, the Nazi party, and Hindenburg
• Franz von Papen and Alfred Hugenberg kept Nazi ministers in a minority in Hitler's first cabinet
• Hitler needed to overcome obstacles such as bypassing presidential authority, gaining full access to legislative powers, and dealing with conflicting interests within the Nazi party
• The Reichstag Fire was used by Hitler to remove the threat posed by the Communist Party and justify the Decree for the Protection of the People and State
• The Enabling Act granted Hitler full power for the next 4 years, legalizing his dictatorship and allowing him to pass laws without Reichstag approval
• The Night of the Long Knives marked the defeat of the radical wing of the Nazi party and the pacification of the army and generals
• Impact of the Night of the Long Knives:

  • Consolidation of Hitler’s Power:
  • By eliminating the SA leadership, including Ernst Röhm, Hitler removed a significant internal threat
  • The SS, led by Heinrich Himmler, gained prominence as the primary paramilitary force
  • Hitler’s authority was further solidified, and he became the sole arbiter of power within the Nazi Party
  • Suppression of Dissent:
  • The purge sent a clear message: opposition would not be tolerated
  • It silenced critics, both within and outside the Nazi Party
  • Fear and intimidation became tools to maintain control
• • Precedent for Future Violence:
  • The Night of the Long Knives set a precedent for extrajudicial killings
  • It foreshadowed the brutality of the Holocaust and other atrocities during World War II
• • Shift in Priorities:
  • The Night of the Long Knives marked a shift away from the socialist aspects of Nazism
  • The SA’s radicalism was replaced by a focus on militarization and anti-Semitic policies
  • The conservative establishment, including the army and big business, supported Hitler’s actions
  • End of the Weimar Republic:
  • The purge weakened the last remnants of the Weimar Republic
  • Hindenburg's death shortly after the events marked the end of the democratic era
  • Hitler combined the roles of president and chancellor, effectively ending the democratic era
• Impact of Hindenburg's Death:

  • Consolidation of Power by Adolf Hitler:
  • With Hindenburg’s passing, Hitler unified the offices of President and Chancellor
  • He combined these roles into a single position known as the Führer and Chancellor
  • Hitler gained complete dictatorial powers over Germany
  • End of the Weimar Republic:
  • Hindenburg's death marked the end of the era of democratic governance
  • Hitler’s consolidation of power signaled a shift toward authoritarian rule
  • Legal Basis for Oppression:
• • The Nazis had already secured emergency powers through the Emergency Decree for the Protection of the German People
  • This decree allowed for the persecution and imprisonment of opponents without due process
  • Basic freedoms were suspended
  • Hitler’s Ascendancy:
  • As the Führer, Hitler became the supreme leader of Germany
  • He controlled the government, military, and all aspects of public life
  • The transition from Hindenburg’s presidency to Hitler’s dictatorship was swift and transformative
• Nazi Propaganda:

  • Controlled by Joseph Goebbels
  • Themes included the Führer cult, Volksgemeinschaft, and scapegoating Jews for Germany’s issues
  • Goebbels' propaganda campaign was effective in garnering support for the Nazis
  • Propaganda was delivered through newspapers, posters, radio, and news films
  • Identified and demonized enemies
  • Indoctrinated German men, women, and children in line with Nazi ideology
  • Promoted the need for Hitler’s policies
  • Maintained morale during the war
• • Ministry for Popular Culture and Enlightenment created in March 1933 with Goebbels as Reich Propaganda Minister
  • Reich Culture Chamber set up in September 1933 to promote German culture and control artistic life
• Nazi Radio Propaganda:

  • Controlled by Joseph Goebbels
  • Radios broadcasted Nazi Party messages and speeches
  • Simple slogans introduced Nazi ideology to the German population
  • Propaganda films, posters, and exhibitions reinforced Nazi ideals
  • Nazis tailored messages to specific groups to garner support
  • Radio propaganda was crucial in maintaining Nazi regime’s power
  • Goebbels harnessed the power of radio propaganda effectively
  • The Volksempfänger made radios accessible to most households
  • Gleichschaltung synchronized broadcasters to adhere to official policy
• • Radio played a significant role during World War II
  • Despite its influence, propaganda had its limits
• Nazi Newspaper Propaganda:

  • After Hitler’s rise to power, the Nazis implemented Gleichschaltung to control the press
  • Völkischer Beobachter served as a mouthpiece for Nazi propaganda
  • Daily briefings guided editors on content
  • Newspapers disseminated anti-Semitic material and racial ideology
  • Der Stürmer was a notorious anti-Semitic newspaper
  • Goebbels authored articles and speeches to reinforce Nazi ideology
  • Nazi newspaper propaganda shaped public perception and reinforced Nazi views
• Nazi Cinema Propaganda:

  • Goebbels realized the popularity of cinema for propaganda
  • Reich Film Chamber regulated film content
  • Goebbels approved all films shown in Germany
  • Some American films were banned for not aligning with Nazi values
  • Interesting films like love stories and thrillers were produced to maintain public interest
  • Nazi cinema propaganda was a powerful tool for control and indoctrination
• • Preparation for War and Aggression:
  • Military Propaganda: Propaganda built support for military expansion
  • Expansionist Goals: Propaganda justified territorial aggression
  • Holocaust and Genocide:
  • Dehumanization: Propaganda dehumanized targeted groups
  • Anti-Semitic Films: Films propagated anti-Semitic stereotypes
  • Legacy and Post-War Impact:
  • Nazi propaganda left a lasting imprint on collective memory
• Impact of Nazi Propaganda:

  • Indoctrination and Ideological Influence:
  • Shaping Beliefs: Nazi propaganda successfully shaped public opinion
  • Dehumanization: Propaganda portrayed targeted groups as subhuman
  • Consolidation of Power:
  • Hitler’s Popularity: Propaganda elevated Hitler to a near-mythical status
  • Controlled Media: Nazis controlled media outlets to suppress dissent
  • Social Division and Discrimination:
  • Segregation and Exclusion: Propaganda fueled discrimination against targeted groups
  • Nuremberg Laws: Propaganda laid the groundwork for discriminatory laws
• Radio in Nazi Germany:

  • State-owned radio under Reich Radio Company
  • Reich Film Chamber regulated film content
  • Goebbels approved all films shown in Germany
  • Nazi cinema propaganda was a powerful tool for control and indoctrination
• Newspapers in Nazi Germany:

  • Over 4500 daily newspapers in 1933
  • Socialist and Communist papers closed
  • Editors Law of 1933 made newspaper content the responsibility of the editor
  • Nazi publishing house controlled a significant portion of the press
  • Nazi newspaper propaganda shaped public perception and reinforced Nazi views
• Nazi filmmaker avoided producing too many political films as they bored people
• Instead, interesting films like love stories and thrillers were produced, incorporating Nazi values
• Each film was followed by a 45-minute newsreel that glorified Hitler and the Reich, publicized Nazi achievements
• Leni Riefenstahl was a famous producer who made recordings of rallies and festivals
• Her most famous works include Triumph of the Will (covered the Nuremberg rally) and Olympia (1936 Berlin Olympics), promoting nationalism
• In 1940, 3 anti-semitic films were released to stress the problems caused by Jews in Germany
• Der Ewige Jude (The Eternal Jew) portrayed Jews as a parasitic race, reworked 12 times at Hitler's request to make it more horrific
• Nazism harnessed the power of cinema to propagate its ideology and manipulate public opinion
• Nazism crafted a sophisticated propaganda system using cinema to sway the masses through slogans and visual storytelling
• Film was considered a powerful tool for disseminating Nazi propaganda
• Hitler and Goebbels recognized the potential of film for promoting Nazi ideology
• Nazi films depicted Jews as "subhuman" infiltrators and enemies as intrinsically evil
• Under Goebbels, propaganda became a central theme in German cinema, consistently favoring the Nazi party
• Theatre in Nazi Germany was under strict control, aiming to use it as a tool for propaganda
• Music was controlled to exclude Jewish composers and promote "Germanic" composers
• Radio played a crucial role in reaching Germans, promoting nationalism and Aryan ideologies