How Did Hitler Use Propaganda
During Adolf Hitler’s reign over the Third Reich, a propaganda machine dominated Germany. The Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, infused Nazism into all areas of German life, by corrupting, media, culture, and education. The radio allowed Nazi propaganda to be heard not only in Germany but around the world. The purpose of Nazi propaganda goal to persuade the people to take the prejudice towards Jews based on Christian beliefs that were typical for over 1500 years to an extreme level by using a propaganda technique that worked below the surface of the mind. The Nazis use of propaganda was based on the works of Gustave LeBon, who published several works on the psychology of crowds (Surve). In his works, LeBon contended that when people form groups, it easier for a person to abandon their
…show more content…
own will, for the betterment of the supposed will of the group (Surve). As a group’s size and influence grow, people within the group lose their awareness of the situation; which makes the group easier to control (Surve). In his, autobiography Mein Kampf, Hitler states, "The chief function of propaganda is to convince the masses, who slowness of understanding needs to be given time in order that they may absorb information; and only constant repetition will finally succeed in imprinting an idea on their mind”(128). Hitler also acknowledges, “The slogan must of course be illustrated in many ways and from several angles, but in the end one must always return to the assertion of the same formula. The one will be rewarded by the surprising and almost incredible results that such a personal policy secures"(127). Understanding that what the majority of people believe can be shaped by propaganda, Goebbels Nazified Germany by using the media to lead the Germans into forming certain opinions and to make their decisions based on those opinions. There is also a speculation that historically Germans have usually had a propensity to obey authority (Bailey). Therefore, with the combination of obedience towards authority, Hitler’s charisma, and the repetitive ideological theme represented in the media; together these components altered the Germans moral responsibility and held them in a trance of non-questioning obedience (Bailey). To support the belief the Third Reich subsidized the price of radios so everyone could listen to radio broadcasts; which aired news favoring Nazism and Hitler’s speeches, as he was a great orator (Moore). All media had to conform to Nazi ideas; since The Ministry of Propaganda and Enlightenment censored anything that threatened Nazi ideals (Moore). Goebbels Ministry of Propaganda and Enlightenment decided what was published in newspapers and heard on the radio. It was illegal for citizens of the Third Reich to listen to foreign radio broadcasts. Since many Germans believed what they saw and heard the lack of any alternative message made it hard for people to see through Nazi lies and half-truths. The Third Reich used the same scapegoat tactics that they used to inspire the German masses when they reached across the Atlantic and distorted the beliefs of some Americans. Just as the Nazi propaganda taught Germans to blame the Jews; Hitler planned to use the same technique to divide the United States into two nations, Christian and Jew. His plan was to make a psychological connection between Jews, Bolsheviks and Communists in the American mind. In 1933, Hitler stated his plan for America “We will undermine the morale of the people of America. . . Once there is confusion and after we have succeeded in undermining the faith of the American people in their own government, a new group will take over; this will be the German-American group, and we will help them to assume power”( Historical Context). In the online exhibition, In Our Own Back Yard, it is remarked in the Historical Context that as the United States, still dealing with the impact of The Great Depression and the World Wars; left over 13 million unemployed people and 2 million homeless. Since it's easier to blame someone else for your own problems; and with the help of Nazi propaganda, it was easy to place the blame on the Jews. Fueled with extremist literature from the Ku Klux Klan, the Militant Christian Patriots, William Dudley Pelley's Silvershirts and Father Charles Coughlin's Christian Front; Nazi beliefs were shared throughout the United States( Historical Context). German Americans and Italian Americans formed groups celebrating the regimes of Hitler and Benito Mussolini. At its peak, the German-American Bund, attracted roughly 25,000 members and operated under the radar (Van Ells). The German government actually wanted the Bund to keep a low profile in the United States and not become too involved in European politics, while they also conducted espionage. On the other side of the coin organizations offended by the Nazi propaganda became active and expanded their efforts to combat bigotry and to promote tolerance through speakers and published materials. Given the growing numbers of anti-Semitic and pro-fascist groups and rumors of armed conspiracies against the government, and simple solutions; many liberals became concerned about the potential for fascism in the United States. There was a lack of trust everywhere during this era. Even the Hollywood movie industry was accused of being a Jewish-controlled corrupting influence of American Youth and of depriving deserving white Americans of employment. Hollywood actively responded through Hollywood Anti-Nazi League for the Defense of American Democracy, and through individual actors who used their influence to publicly speak out against Nazism and all forms of intolerance. Nazi propaganda was heard all over the world in eleven languages describing the great strength of the German military and the waste of time even trying to resist. Nazi verbal attacks discredited the targeted country’s leaders, no matter how honest and sincere those leaders were.
Once tension began the Nazis were then ready to strike. Prior to attacking Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Norway, the Netherlands, or, France, the Nazis planted their subversive agents throughout the country in government positions, consulates, and tourist bureaus. Using the Nazi technique of the “invasion from within” and the propaganda attack from without; Hitler would crush a nation, even before the German soldiers entered the streets of invaded cities. The Nazi’s first sought out the “soft spots” in the areas they planned to absorb or attack. Rival economic interests, racial and religious antagonisms, tensions between political groups, cleavages between workers and employers—these were studied in every detail; at the same time the citizens were hearing about the glory of Germany and that because they too were in essence German they could share the destiny. Hitler’s plan was to convince all of the ethnic German people who were living outside of the Third Reich that they should strive to bring these regions "home" into Greater
Germany. Using the power of radio transmitted propaganda Austria was bombarded with messages about how Hitler wanted to offer the same success to his birthplace, Austria that he did for Germany. Constant propaganda along with the rise of the pro-Nazi party allowed the Anschluss to occur. In September 1938, Hitler set his sights on the northwestern area of Czechoslovakia, called the Sudetenland which had three million German-speaking citizens. He addressed a crowd of 15,000 faithful Nazi’s while broadcasting live in dozens of countries, with simultaneous translations and demanded that Czechoslovakia cede the Sudetenland or face invasion. After meeting with the Western powers who Hitler knew would choose appeasement rather than military confrontation. Germany easily occupied the Sudetenland. However, Hitler’s propaganda did not work everywhere. Although Hitler targeted his propaganda to integrate the people of Luxemburg, who he considered German enough, into German; the citizens of Luxemburg voted in a referendum 97% against becoming citizens. The ongoing question is how did the media in the United States ignore what was going on in Nazi Germany while reporting on the War. In his book, The Holocaust in American Life, Novick, explains why the United States showed a lack of response from the media. Since the senior news editors controlled the American news media and they unknowingly spread fake atrocity propaganda about Germany during the First World War; news editors were hesitant to publish information they could not substantiate. Though the news of events such as bombing raids and invasions were reported on relatively little about the ongoing Holocaust was since there was little hard news and because it cannot be second or third hand, it was nearly Experience from World War 1 showed that Americans did not want to hear about the specific atrocities (Novick; Leff 332). During the final days of World War II the Allies were determined to win the war; they did not have their focus on saving Jews. Given that there was a firm policy on the ‘unconditional surrender’ of the Nazis, and “no other thought,” even one as humanitarian as saving a people, was allowed to interfere with the prosecution of the war.” Journalists said that the most devastating experience of the war was the first visit to a concentration camp. “We knew in a general way that Jews were being persecuted, that they were being rounded up ... and that brutality and murder took place in these camps, but few, if any comprehended the appalling magnitude of it. It wasn't sufficiently real to stand out from the general brutality and slaughter which is war. The American people did not want the details as was shown in 1945, Life magazine printed a photo from a concentration camp and the people’s response was “The truth of the atrocity is there and can never be erased from the minds of the American people, but why can't we be spared some of it? The stories are awful enough, but I think the picture should be retained for records and not shown to the public (Novick).” It has been thought said that without Goebbels propaganda skills, the Nazi Party might never have come to power or have been as successful in convincing so many people to follow the Nazi ideology. Most concerning, is the historically proven truth espoused Herman Gohring when he said, “Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers, for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”
own will, for the betterment of the supposed will of the group (Surve). As a group’s size and influence grow, people within the group lose their awareness of the situation; which makes the group easier to control (Surve). In his, autobiography Mein Kampf, Hitler states, "The chief function of propaganda is to convince the masses, who slowness of understanding needs to be given time in order that they may absorb information; and only constant repetition will finally succeed in imprinting an idea on their mind”(128). Hitler also acknowledges, “The slogan must of course be illustrated in many ways and from several angles, but in the end one must always return to the assertion of the same formula. The one will be rewarded by the surprising and almost incredible results that such a personal policy secures"(127). Understanding that what the majority of people believe can be shaped by propaganda, Goebbels Nazified Germany by using the media to lead the Germans into forming certain opinions and to make their decisions based on those opinions. There is also a speculation that historically Germans have usually had a propensity to obey authority (Bailey). Therefore, with the combination of obedience towards authority, Hitler’s charisma, and the repetitive ideological theme represented in the media; together these components altered the Germans moral responsibility and held them in a trance of non-questioning obedience (Bailey). To support the belief the Third Reich subsidized the price of radios so everyone could listen to radio broadcasts; which aired news favoring Nazism and Hitler’s speeches, as he was a great orator (Moore). All media had to conform to Nazi ideas; since The Ministry of Propaganda and Enlightenment censored anything that threatened Nazi ideals (Moore). Goebbels Ministry of Propaganda and Enlightenment decided what was published in newspapers and heard on the radio. It was illegal for citizens of the Third Reich to listen to foreign radio broadcasts. Since many Germans believed what they saw and heard the lack of any alternative message made it hard for people to see through Nazi lies and half-truths. The Third Reich used the same scapegoat tactics that they used to inspire the German masses when they reached across the Atlantic and distorted the beliefs of some Americans. Just as the Nazi propaganda taught Germans to blame the Jews; Hitler planned to use the same technique to divide the United States into two nations, Christian and Jew. His plan was to make a psychological connection between Jews, Bolsheviks and Communists in the American mind. In 1933, Hitler stated his plan for America “We will undermine the morale of the people of America. . . Once there is confusion and after we have succeeded in undermining the faith of the American people in their own government, a new group will take over; this will be the German-American group, and we will help them to assume power”( Historical Context). In the online exhibition, In Our Own Back Yard, it is remarked in the Historical Context that as the United States, still dealing with the impact of The Great Depression and the World Wars; left over 13 million unemployed people and 2 million homeless. Since it's easier to blame someone else for your own problems; and with the help of Nazi propaganda, it was easy to place the blame on the Jews. Fueled with extremist literature from the Ku Klux Klan, the Militant Christian Patriots, William Dudley Pelley's Silvershirts and Father Charles Coughlin's Christian Front; Nazi beliefs were shared throughout the United States( Historical Context). German Americans and Italian Americans formed groups celebrating the regimes of Hitler and Benito Mussolini. At its peak, the German-American Bund, attracted roughly 25,000 members and operated under the radar (Van Ells). The German government actually wanted the Bund to keep a low profile in the United States and not become too involved in European politics, while they also conducted espionage. On the other side of the coin organizations offended by the Nazi propaganda became active and expanded their efforts to combat bigotry and to promote tolerance through speakers and published materials. Given the growing numbers of anti-Semitic and pro-fascist groups and rumors of armed conspiracies against the government, and simple solutions; many liberals became concerned about the potential for fascism in the United States. There was a lack of trust everywhere during this era. Even the Hollywood movie industry was accused of being a Jewish-controlled corrupting influence of American Youth and of depriving deserving white Americans of employment. Hollywood actively responded through Hollywood Anti-Nazi League for the Defense of American Democracy, and through individual actors who used their influence to publicly speak out against Nazism and all forms of intolerance. Nazi propaganda was heard all over the world in eleven languages describing the great strength of the German military and the waste of time even trying to resist. Nazi verbal attacks discredited the targeted country’s leaders, no matter how honest and sincere those leaders were.
Once tension began the Nazis were then ready to strike. Prior to attacking Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Norway, the Netherlands, or, France, the Nazis planted their subversive agents throughout the country in government positions, consulates, and tourist bureaus. Using the Nazi technique of the “invasion from within” and the propaganda attack from without; Hitler would crush a nation, even before the German soldiers entered the streets of invaded cities. The Nazi’s first sought out the “soft spots” in the areas they planned to absorb or attack. Rival economic interests, racial and religious antagonisms, tensions between political groups, cleavages between workers and employers—these were studied in every detail; at the same time the citizens were hearing about the glory of Germany and that because they too were in essence German they could share the destiny. Hitler’s plan was to convince all of the ethnic German people who were living outside of the Third Reich that they should strive to bring these regions "home" into Greater
Germany. Using the power of radio transmitted propaganda Austria was bombarded with messages about how Hitler wanted to offer the same success to his birthplace, Austria that he did for Germany. Constant propaganda along with the rise of the pro-Nazi party allowed the Anschluss to occur. In September 1938, Hitler set his sights on the northwestern area of Czechoslovakia, called the Sudetenland which had three million German-speaking citizens. He addressed a crowd of 15,000 faithful Nazi’s while broadcasting live in dozens of countries, with simultaneous translations and demanded that Czechoslovakia cede the Sudetenland or face invasion. After meeting with the Western powers who Hitler knew would choose appeasement rather than military confrontation. Germany easily occupied the Sudetenland. However, Hitler’s propaganda did not work everywhere. Although Hitler targeted his propaganda to integrate the people of Luxemburg, who he considered German enough, into German; the citizens of Luxemburg voted in a referendum 97% against becoming citizens. The ongoing question is how did the media in the United States ignore what was going on in Nazi Germany while reporting on the War. In his book, The Holocaust in American Life, Novick, explains why the United States showed a lack of response from the media. Since the senior news editors controlled the American news media and they unknowingly spread fake atrocity propaganda about Germany during the First World War; news editors were hesitant to publish information they could not substantiate. Though the news of events such as bombing raids and invasions were reported on relatively little about the ongoing Holocaust was since there was little hard news and because it cannot be second or third hand, it was nearly Experience from World War 1 showed that Americans did not want to hear about the specific atrocities (Novick; Leff 332). During the final days of World War II the Allies were determined to win the war; they did not have their focus on saving Jews. Given that there was a firm policy on the ‘unconditional surrender’ of the Nazis, and “no other thought,” even one as humanitarian as saving a people, was allowed to interfere with the prosecution of the war.” Journalists said that the most devastating experience of the war was the first visit to a concentration camp. “We knew in a general way that Jews were being persecuted, that they were being rounded up ... and that brutality and murder took place in these camps, but few, if any comprehended the appalling magnitude of it. It wasn't sufficiently real to stand out from the general brutality and slaughter which is war. The American people did not want the details as was shown in 1945, Life magazine printed a photo from a concentration camp and the people’s response was “The truth of the atrocity is there and can never be erased from the minds of the American people, but why can't we be spared some of it? The stories are awful enough, but I think the picture should be retained for records and not shown to the public (Novick).” It has been thought said that without Goebbels propaganda skills, the Nazi Party might never have come to power or have been as successful in convincing so many people to follow the Nazi ideology. Most concerning, is the historically proven truth espoused Herman Gohring when he said, “Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers, for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”