Totalitarianism

Purpose of Nazi Propaganda

Making a Leader Intense public desire for charismatic leaders offers fertile ground for the use of propaganda. Through a carefully orchestrated public image of Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler, during the politically unstable Weimar period the Nazis exploited this yearning to consolidate power and foster national unity.

Rallying the Nation Nazi propagandists appealed to popular desires for order by advertising the party as a protest movement against the instability and ineffectiveness of the "Weimar system." Indeed, from 1919 through the worldwide Depression that began in 1929, no single German political party was able to establish a parliamentary majority. Disagreements over economic policies, as well as the growing opposition between political parties, prevented a workable coalition. Instead, a succession of chancellors governed by presidential decree through Article 48 of the Weimar constitution, established to preserve democracy in times of unrest.

Indoctrinating the youth From the 1920s onwards, the Nazi Party targeted German youth as a special audience for its propaganda messages. These messages emphasized that the Party was a movement of youth: dynamic, resilient, forward-looking, and hopeful. Millions of German young people were won over to Nazism in the classroom and through extracurricular activities.

Defining the Enemy One crucial factor in creating a cohesive group is to define who is excluded from membership. Nazi propagandists contributed to the regime's policies by publicly identifying groups for exclusion, justifying their outsider status, and inciting hatred or cultivating indifference. Nazi propaganda was crucial in selling the myth of the "national community" to Germans who longed for unity, national pride and greatness, and a break with the rigid social stratification of the past. But a second, more sinister aspect of the Nazi myth was that not all Germans were welcome in the new community. Propaganda helped to define who would be excluded from the new society and justified measures against the "outsiders."

Writing the news When Hitler came to power in 1933, Germany had a well-developed communications infrastructure. Over 4,700 daily and weekly newspapers were published annually in Germany, more newspapers than in any other industrialized nation, with a total circulation of 25 million. Although Berlin was the press capital, small town presses dominated newspaper circulation (81% of all German newspapers were locally owned). Eight papers published in larger cities, however, had established international reputations. Germany's movie industry ranked among the world's largest, its films had won international acclaim, and it had pioneered in the development of both radio and television.

Deceiving the Public propaganda served as an important tool to win over the majority of the German public who had not supported Hitler and to push forward the Nazis' radical program, which required the acquiescence, support, or participation of broad sectors of the population. Combined with the use of terror to intimidate those who did not comply, a new state propaganda apparatus headed by Joseph Goebbels sought to manipulate and deceive the German population and the outside world. At each step of the way, propagandists preached an appealing message of national unity and a utopian future that resonated with millions of Germans and, simultaneously, waged campaigns that facilitated the persecution of Jews and others excluded from the Nazi vision of the "National Community."

Definition Totalitarianism is a centralized system of government often involving a one-party state, a dictator, and personality cult that exercises absolute authority over all aspects of life— political, economic and social. Totalitarian regimes maintain power through control of education and mass media, political repression, mass surveillance, and terror. Fascism is a totalitarian and right-wing nationalist ideology

Mussolini on Fascism Above all, Fascism believes neither in the possibility nor in the usefulness of peace. War alone brings out the best in people and puts the stamp (mark) of nobility upon the people who have the courage to face it. Fascism attacks democratic ideals. Fascism denies that the majority can rule human societies. It insists that the inequality of men is beneficial. Some men are greater than others, and these men should rule. Life is permanent warfare—craving for a heroic death—contempt for the weak Action is idealized over thought— intellectuals and artists are suspicious Anti-modern (anti-Enlightenment): diversity of thought and critical thinking is dangerous The leader voices the will of the people (Cast doubt on legislatures as representing the voice of the people)

Mussolini Continued The masses need a dictator—no rights. The Fascist State organizes the nation. It takes away pointless or harmful freedoms, and preserves those that are essential. It cannot be the individual who decides what freedoms matter, but only the State. In it the tradition of ancient Rome, the Fascist State seeks to create an empire. For Fascism, the creation of an empire is a demonstration of strength and health. Its opposite, which is staying at home, is a sign of weakness and corruption. The masses need a dictator—no rights. Disagreement is treason. Fear of difference Nationalism-cult of tradition Male-oriented, disdain for women— contempt for the “weak”

Mussolini Continued If every age has its own doctrine, it is clear from a thousand signs that the doctrine of the current age is Fascism. The Italian people will rise again after many centuries of abandonment and neglect. The Italian people will rise again to create a new Roman Empire, and once again the Italian people will lead the world. Social frustration (economic crisis or political humiliation) is harnessed Obsession with a plot. National identity is defined by its enemies Popular elitism

Sources Eco, U. (1955, June 22). Ur-Fascism. New York Review of Books. Retrieved from http://www.nybooks.com/articles/1995/06/22/ur-fascism/ Mussolini, B. (1932). Doctrine of Fascism. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Propaganda Exhibit. https://www.ushmm.org/propaganda. Accessed on January 26, 2017.