3.3.1

Propaganda & Censorship

Test yourself

Propaganda

Propaganda (information designed to influence people) in Nazi Germany was run by Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Enlightenment and Propaganda. Goebbels used a variety of techniques to spread the Nazi ideology (set of beliefs).

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The Nazi message

  • Nazi messages focused on:
    • The glory of war
    • Hitler as a powerful leader
    • The evils of Communism
    • The inferiority of the Jews
    • The glorification (presenting as admirable) of the Aryan race and volk values, such as family
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Film and radio

  • Cinemas showed films that emphasised Nazi messages. They were shown clearly in propaganda films and more subtly in films for entertainment.
  • Hitler used radios in homes and loudspeakers in public spaces to reach everyone in German society.
    • Radio shows would feature Hitler’s speeches, German music or Nazi history.
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Rallies

  • Rallies and military parades were important for showing the strength of Germany.
    • This appealed to the German people’s nationalist pride.
  • One of the most popular events was the annual Nuremberg rally.
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The Berlin Olympics, 1936

  • The Berlin Olympics was a perfect opportunity to display Nazi power.
    • The Nazis hoped the Olympics would showcase (show off) Aryan superiority.
  • An embarrassing moment for Hitler was when the African-American Jesse Owens won gold in the 100 metres.
  • The Nazi Party paused their anti-Semitic policies for the length of the Berlin Olympics.
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Propaganda fail

  • The Nazi propaganda machine only began to fail when Germany started to lose the war.

Censorship & Propaganda - Verdict

Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Enlightenment and Propaganda was in charge of propaganda and censorship in Germany.

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Censorship

  • The counterpart (served same purpose) to propaganda was censorship.
    • The Nazis burned books written by Jews or books which disagreed with Nazi beliefs.
    • All scripts in plays, films and radio shows were told what to say by the Nazis.
    • Only newspapers that supported the Nazis were allowed to operate. In 1944, the Nazis controlled over 80% of German newspapers.
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The initial success of propaganda

  • We can regard the Nazi propaganda efforts as hugely successful. Goebbels could spread Nazi ideas in both obvious and subtle ways. Posters everywhere showed the messages that the Nazis wanted to spread.
    • Most of German society supported the Nazis.
  • In 1939, the majority of Germans had radios and Nazi messages were broadcast into peoples' houses.
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The downturn of propaganda

  • The Nazi propaganda machine only began to fail when Germany started to lose the war.
    • It was difficult to believe that a win was possible when cities were being bombed and people suffered food shortages.

Jump to other topics

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1929

1.1World War One

1.1.1WW1

1.1.2The Weimar Republic

1.1.3Early Challenges to Weimar

1.1.4Reparations & the Ruhr

1.1.5Weimar Recovery

1.1.6Weimar Living Standards

1.1.7Weimar Culture

1.1.8End of Topic Test - WW1 & Weimar

1.1.9Grade 9 - The Weimar Republic

2Hitler's Rise to Power 1919-1933

2.1Early Development of the Nazi Party

2.1.1Hitler & the Beginnings of the Nazi Party

2.1.2End of Topic Test - Start of the Nazi Party

2.2The Munich Putsch & the Lean Years

2.2.1The Munich Putsch

2.2.2The Lean Years, 1923-1929

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Putsch & Lean Years

2.2.4Grade 9 - Hitler's Rise to Power

2.3The Growth of Support for the Nazis

2.3.1The Impact of the Great Depression

2.3.2End of Topic Test - Great Depression

2.4How Hitler Became Chancellor

2.4.1Article 48 & Political Turmoil

2.4.2von Papen & Hindenburg's Pact

2.4.3End of Topic Test - Chancellory

2.4.4Grade 9 - How Hitler Became Chancellor

3Nazi Control & Dictatorship 1933-1939

3.1Creating a Dictatorship, 1933-1934

3.1.1The Rise of Hitler

3.1.2End of Topic Test - Dictatorship

3.2The Police State

3.2.1The Police State

3.2.2Repression & Concentration Camps

3.2.3The Nazis & Religion

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Police State

3.2.5Grade 9 - Dictatorship and Police State

3.3Controlling & Influencing Attitudes

3.3.1Propaganda & Censorship

3.3.2Nazi Art & Culture

3.3.3Church Opposition & Social Conformity

3.3.4Youth Opposition & the July Plot

3.3.5End of Topic Test - Controlling Attitudes

3.3.6Grade 9 - Controlling Attitudes

4Life in Nazi Germany 1933-1939

4.1Life in Nazi Germany

4.1.1Women in Nazi Germany

4.1.2Youths in Nazi Germany

4.1.3Employment & Living Standards

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Life in Nazi Germany

4.2The Persecution of Minorities

4.2.1Nazi Racial Beliefs

4.2.2The Persecution of the Jews

4.2.3The Death Camps

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Persecution

4.2.5Grade 9 - Life in Nazi Germany

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Grade 9 - Dictatorship and Police State

Nazi Art & Culture