Nazis In Power Part 2: Terror and ForcePROPAGANDA How did propaganda help the Nazis stay in power?

Mediums of Propaganda Posters Leaflets Newspapers Speeches Rallies Radio (People’s Receiver) Speakers in towns Cinema Architecture

1. Broadcasting Social Benefit of Nazi Rule Through all types of media, the Nazis would display the benefits of Nazi rule.  positive messages Examples: – Advertising KdF benefits – Advertising loans for new families

2. Promoting the Fuhrer Cult Building Hitler up to a god-like figure was central to Goebbels propaganda. Creating this status was meant to make people feel obligated to obey the demands of the Nazi state. Hitler’s success was widely publicised. For example: – the completion of the autobahn system – his foreign policy victories

3. The Dominance of the Aryan Race The superior nature of the German people, and a feeling of great national pride was also widely advertised. The inferiority of Jews and ‘undesirables’ was created.

Propaganda- analysis There is no evidence that propaganda completely changed the minds of the German people. For example, historical research has uncovered that Germans who were not prejudice, did not become prejudice as a result of propaganda. It did however, publicise the benefits of Nazi government – making people feel ‘grateful’ for the improvements the Nazis had made, allowing them to stay in power propaganda also effectively played on existing prejudices i.e. increasing underlying anti- Semitism, allowing the Nazis to justify their treatment of minorities Further, propaganda did have an impact on young people whose young minds were easily shaped

Historiography The traditional view maintains that Germans were brainwashed by incessant propaganda. However, Revisionist interpretations conclude that the success of propaganda is difficult to judge as evidence of people’s attitudes is unreliable because the system of fear may have stifled real attitudes. Historians such as Tim Mason believe that Nazi propaganda was largely unsuccessful among the working class. Historian Welch believes that the regime largely won over the working class through programs such as Strength Through Joy which provided entertainment and travel opportunities. Welch concludes that propaganda in these spheres was largely successful – at least to the extent that it tended to diffuse class conflict and opposition to the regime.