Nazi Propaganda “The task of propaganda is not to make an objective study of the truth…but to convince the masses. -Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf

Nazi Propaganda What is propaganda? Propaganda is biased information designed to shape public opinion and behavior.

The Role of Propaganda in Nazi Strategy Hitler joins German Workers Party Encourages leaders to take out ads and promote meetings Organizes mass meetings Hitler becomes propaganda director

The Role of Propaganda in Nazi Strategy

Hitler’s ideas were not particularly new, what was new was the attention he paid to presentation, how he said something rather than what he said. Hitler’s salute came from Mussolini’s Fascists which they borrowed from the ancient Romans He also modeled his brown shirts on Mussolini’s black shirts

Otto Dietrich Nazi Party Press Chief

Joseph Goebbels Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda

Nazi Propaganda The Nazi’s quickly recognized the value of the media. From the early days of the party they used aggressive advertising to promote the nazi ideology Goebbels was in charge of ‘enlightening’ the German public

Book Burnings Nazi students unload confiscated materials for the public book burning that is to take place on the Opernplatz in Berlin. The banner on the back of the truck reads: "German students march against the un-German spirit."

Book Burnings Link to Book Burnings

Nazi Propaganda: Methods Word of the Week Posters Radio Film Newspapers

Censoring newspapers ensures that only the news you want people to read is available to the public Nazi party members wrote many articles for the press, ensuring that the message was always positive

Der Sturmer

Joke of the Times “I told my wife that if I die, don’t let them put it in the newspaper, because no one will believe it”

Nazi Control of Radio Hitler’s Speeches Hitler is considered to have been one of the greatest public speakers of all time.

Nazi Control of Film Film was used to show Hitler in a positive light as often as possible The Nazi’s commissioned several films, each carefully portraying a certain image Triumph of the Will Directed by Leni Riefenstahl taken at Nazi Party Rally in Nuremburg considered a documentary masterpiece

Film: The Eternal Jew

Winning the Masses “One people, one government, one leader.”

Posters Creating One People Posters are cheap and easy to distribute Placed in prominent positions they act as a constant reminder of ideology Can be used for many purposes

Examples of Nazi Posters

Anti-Jewish Propaganda Campaigns Nazi’s had to determine who was and who wasn’t a full-fledged member of the national community.

Then and Now

“You are Sharing the Load! A Genetically Ill Individual Costs Approximately 50,000 Reichsmarks by the Age of Sixty”

Race Defiler 1936

Der Fiftpilz: The Poisonous Mushroom