WW2 Propaganda
Evaluate the role of Propaganda in World War II
Throughout the ages leaders of nations have needed the support of their countries population to ensure support of conflicts such as war. To increase support for the Nazi party and ideals, Adolf Hitler did not just have to target adults with propaganda, he had to target youth as well. Hitler realised that using the education system was very effective in indoctrinating youth. Outside of school, Hitler created the Hitler Youth, to further emphasize youth loyalty to Nazi Germany and himself. As well as managing the messaging through school and Hitler Youth, Hitler used the media and controlled it to have a firmer grasp on society. During WWII, Nazi Germany used propaganda to target and manipulate youth, as they are the most yielding in terms of creating abiding citizens of the future.
Education played a very important role in garnering support for Hitler and the Nazis. By teaching the ideals of the Nazi Party to young children at a young age, it would ensure a loyal citizen by adulthood. Nazi Propaganda was to be commonly used in school teachings. The Nazi curriculum changed how many things were taught, such as human history and biology. (De Marco, pg96) “Enlightenment was based on German glory, Germanic heroes, and the unfair Treaty of Versailles. Biology was based on Aryan supremacy, and of lesser races. Physical education and sport were highly emphasized as well, as “No boy or girl should leave school without complete knowledge of the necessity and meaning of blood purity.”(Trueman) Hitler knew that the older generations would be against the actions being taken to change education system. “‘When an opponent declares, ‘I will not come over to your side,’ I calmly say ‘your child belongs to us already…What are you? You will pass on. You descendants, however, now stand in the new camp. In short time they will know nothing else but this new community’ ”. (Howarth, pg112) .Enforcing a Nazi curriculum on schools depended
Throughout the ages leaders of nations have needed the support of their countries population to ensure support of conflicts such as war. To increase support for the Nazi party and ideals, Adolf Hitler did not just have to target adults with propaganda, he had to target youth as well. Hitler realised that using the education system was very effective in indoctrinating youth. Outside of school, Hitler created the Hitler Youth, to further emphasize youth loyalty to Nazi Germany and himself. As well as managing the messaging through school and Hitler Youth, Hitler used the media and controlled it to have a firmer grasp on society. During WWII, Nazi Germany used propaganda to target and manipulate youth, as they are the most yielding in terms of creating abiding citizens of the future.
Education played a very important role in garnering support for Hitler and the Nazis. By teaching the ideals of the Nazi Party to young children at a young age, it would ensure a loyal citizen by adulthood. Nazi Propaganda was to be commonly used in school teachings. The Nazi curriculum changed how many things were taught, such as human history and biology. (De Marco, pg96) “Enlightenment was based on German glory, Germanic heroes, and the unfair Treaty of Versailles. Biology was based on Aryan supremacy, and of lesser races. Physical education and sport were highly emphasized as well, as “No boy or girl should leave school without complete knowledge of the necessity and meaning of blood purity.”(Trueman) Hitler knew that the older generations would be against the actions being taken to change education system. “‘When an opponent declares, ‘I will not come over to your side,’ I calmly say ‘your child belongs to us already…What are you? You will pass on. You descendants, however, now stand in the new camp. In short time they will know nothing else but this new community’ ”. (Howarth, pg112) .Enforcing a Nazi curriculum on schools depended
Citations: De Marco, Neil. This World This Century. London: Unwin Hyman Ltd, 1987. Print. Mitchner, Alyn, and Joanne Tufts. Global Forces of the Twentieth Century. N.p.: Canada Thomas Nelson, 2003