Nazi Propoganda

• How Hitler and the Nazi were constantly present in the lives of German people

  • The infamous Swastika symbol appearing on every government uniform and public building.
  • Pictures of Hitler displayed everywhere.
  • Germans having to greet each other with a ‘Heil Hitler’ raised arm salute.
• Who was responsible for the Nazis being a constant presence in German people's lives

  • The government department responsible for making the Nazis present in the lives of German people were the Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda 
  • They were headed by Dr Joseph Goebbels
  • It aimed to brainwash people into obeying the Nazis and idolising Hitler.
• What the Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda did to brainwash the German people

  • Censorship of press 
  • Control of radio broadcasts 
  • Mass rallies 
  • Use of sports events
• How the Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda used censorship of press to brainwash the German people

  • All newspapers were controlled by the government 
  • They could only print stories favourable to the Nazi regime.
• How the Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda controlled radio broadcasts to brainwash the German people

  • Radios were sold very cheaply so that most Germans could afford one
  • All radio output was controlled by Goebbels’ ministry through the Reich Broadcasting Corporation.
• How the Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda used mass rallies to brainwash the German people

  • These public displays of support for Nazism involved music, speeches and demonstrations of German strength
  • The biggest one was held each year in August at Nuremberg.
• How the Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda used sports events to brainwash the German people

  • Berlin hosted the Olympics of 1936 
  • The Nazis used this as an opportunity to showcase the success of the regime and to demonstrate the superiority of the Aryan race
  • The victories of the African-American athlete Jesse Owens for the USA infuriated the Nazi leadership
• Role of Loudspeakers

  • Loudspeakers in public places also blared out Nazi propaganda
  • Much of the information Germans received reinforced the message of Aryan racial superiority whilst demonising the Jews and other ‘enemies’ of the regime
• Nazi control of Art

  • The Weimar period had seen a flourishing of German art, much of which was abstract
  • Hitler saw this modern art as ‘degenerate’ and over 6500 works of art were removed from display across Germany
  • Hitler encouraged ‘Aryan art’ instead, which showed the physical and military power of Germany and the Aryan race 
• Nazi control of Architecture

  • Hitler was very interested in architecture and believed it could be used to project the power of the Nazi regime
  • The most important architect of the period was Albert Speer, who redesigned Berlin, as well as designing the stadium in Nuremberg where annual rallies were held 
• Nazi control of Literature

  • Nazis ceremonially burned thousands of books in 1933 that were viewed as being subversive or as representing ideologies opposed to Nazism
  • These included books written by Jewish, pacifist, classical, liberal, anarchist, socialist, and communist authors
• Nazi control of Theatre

  • Works by certain playwrights were banned
  • Nazi-produced political plays and musicals were not very popular so the regime allowed classic plays by the likes of Shakespeare to be performed 
• Nazi control of Film

  • To make sure that film served the goals of propaganda, the Nazi Party gradually took over film production and distribution
  • A state-run professional school for politically reliable film-makers was founded 
  • And membership of an official professional organisation (Reichsfilmkammer) was made compulsory for all actors and film-makers
  • The Nazi leaders often used film stars, like Lil Dagover, to help promote the popularity of the party in Germany 
• Nazi control of Music

  • Music - In classical music, works by Jewish composers like Mendelssohn and Mahler were banned
  • The works of the German composer Wagner were promoted, gaining huge popularity
  • The Nazis were strongly opposed to jazz music, which they referred to as 'Negro music' and called it 'degenerate’ 
• What the Nazi control of the arts shows

  The Nazis’ interest in and influence on all of these areas demonstrates the extent to which the party sought to control German life and win over the population to the Nazi cause