How effective was Nazi How effective was Nazi propaganda?propaganda?

Weltanschauung – world Weltanschauung – world view, philosophy of lifeview, philosophy of life

German cultural life during the German cultural life during the Third Reich was seen as yet another Third Reich was seen as yet another means of achieving indoctrinationmeans of achieving indoctrination

““What we are aiming for is more What we are aiming for is more than a revolt. Our historic mission is than a revolt. Our historic mission is to transform the very spirit itself to to transform the very spirit itself to the extent that people and things are the extent that people and things are brought into a new relationship with brought into a new relationship with one another"one another"

WeltanschauungWeltanschauung

Culture was co-ordinated through the Culture was co-ordinated through the Reich Chamber of CultureReich Chamber of Culture

Seven sub-chambers: fine arts, music, Seven sub-chambers: fine arts, music, theatre, the press, the radio, literature theatre, the press, the radio, literature and filmsand films

Everyone involved in cultural activity had Everyone involved in cultural activity had to be accountable for their creativityto be accountable for their creativity

““Whenever I hear the word ‘culture’, I Whenever I hear the word ‘culture’, I reach for my gun” (Hans Johnst, reach for my gun” (Hans Johnst, playwright, 1934)playwright, 1934)

Key themesKey themes

Goebbels and the Nazis sought to project Goebbels and the Nazis sought to project key themeskey themes

Anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism MilitarismMilitarism NationalismNationalism Supremacy of the Aryan raceSupremacy of the Aryan race Cult of the FuhrerCult of the Fuhrer Anti-modernismAnti-modernism Traditional German Traditional German ‘Volks’‘Volks’ culture culture

NewspapersNewspapers

1933 there were 4,700 daily 1933 there were 4,700 daily newspapers, 3% controlled by NSDPnewspapers, 3% controlled by NSDP

1944 997 daily newspapers, 82% 1944 997 daily newspapers, 82% controlled by NSDPcontrolled by NSDP

NewspapersNewspapers

Eventually, directly or indirectly, the Eventually, directly or indirectly, the Press was controlled by Eher Verlag Press was controlled by Eher Verlag (Nazi publishing house)(Nazi publishing house)

RMVP (Ministry for Enlightenment RMVP (Ministry for Enlightenment and Propaganda) told editors where and Propaganda) told editors where to place articlesto place articles

Nazi Press Agency supplied estimated Nazi Press Agency supplied estimated 50% of content50% of content

From 1933 all editors and journalists From 1933 all editors and journalists had to be accredited by Goebbelshad to be accredited by Goebbels

NewspapersNewspapers

October 1933 new law made editors October 1933 new law made editors responsible for infringements of responsible for infringements of government directivesgovernment directives

Clause 14 obliged editors to exclude Clause 14 obliged editors to exclude anything ‘calculated to weaken the anything ‘calculated to weaken the strength of the Reich’strength of the Reich’

Treason to spread false news or Treason to spread false news or rumoursrumours

RadioRadio

Radio wardens appointed to report on Radio wardens appointed to report on people’s reactions to specific broadcastspeople’s reactions to specific broadcasts

Provisions made for cheap radios called Provisions made for cheap radios called VolksempfVolksempfäänger nger (people’s receiver)(people’s receiver)

VolksempfVolksempfäänger nger could not pick up foreign could not pick up foreign broadcastsbroadcasts

Between 1932-9 the number of families Between 1932-9 the number of families with radios rose from 25% to 70%with radios rose from 25% to 70%

RadioRadio

Goebbels described radio as “the Goebbels described radio as “the spiritual weapon of the totalitarian spiritual weapon of the totalitarian state”state”

Radio was controlled from 1925 by Radio was controlled from 1925 by the Reich Radio Companythe Reich Radio Company

In 1934 Goebbels dismissed 13% of In 1934 Goebbels dismissed 13% of RRC on political or racial groundsRRC on political or racial grounds

All news broadcasts came through the All news broadcasts came through the Nazi Office of PropagandaNazi Office of Propaganda

FilmFilm

Nazi government bought up shares Nazi government bought up shares in 4 major film companiesin 4 major film companies

By 1942 film companies completely By 1942 film companies completely state controlledstate controlled

Unified under the UFIUnified under the UFI

FilmFilm

Film going quadrupled between Film going quadrupled between 1933 and 19421933 and 1942

Over 1000 films produced during the Over 1000 films produced during the Third ReichThird Reich

Nazis often used newsreels shown Nazis often used newsreels shown before the start of feature filmsbefore the start of feature films

MusicMusic

Germany had a rich classical tradition Germany had a rich classical tradition which suited the Nazi’s cultural which suited the Nazi’s cultural propaganda objectivespropaganda objectives

Jewish composers, e.g. Mahler and Jewish composers, e.g. Mahler and Mendelssohn bannedMendelssohn banned

New wave, modernist composers e.g. New wave, modernist composers e.g. Stravinsky, Schoenberg were disparagedStravinsky, Schoenberg were disparaged

New genres, e.g. jazz labelled ‘Negroid’ New genres, e.g. jazz labelled ‘Negroid’ and ‘degenerate’and ‘degenerate’

PostersPosters

Poster production controlled by the Poster production controlled by the Office for Active PropagandaOffice for Active Propaganda

Copies of all political material had to Copies of all political material had to be submitted in advance to the officebe submitted in advance to the office

Unapproved materials were Unapproved materials were confiscatedconfiscated

LiteratureLiterature In 1933 there were book burnings at the In 1933 there were book burnings at the

universities of Berlin and Nuremberguniversities of Berlin and Nuremberg 10 May 1933 central square in Berlin the 10 May 1933 central square in Berlin the

largest book burning event took placelargest book burning event took place Raids on public and private librariesRaids on public and private libraries Goebbels wanted eradicate ‘overstated Goebbels wanted eradicate ‘overstated

Jewish intellectualism’Jewish intellectualism’ Books burned which were Jewish, Books burned which were Jewish,

socialist or pacifist by naturesocialist or pacifist by nature

LiteratureLiterature

2,500 writers left Germany between 2,500 writers left Germany between 1933-45, including Thomas Mann 1933-45, including Thomas Mann and Bertolt Brechtand Bertolt Brecht

Writers who sympathised with the Writers who sympathised with the regime or accepted its philosophy regime or accepted its philosophy flourishedflourished

RalliesRallies

Rallies were a regular feature of Rallies were a regular feature of Nazi propaganda, with the first Nazi propaganda, with the first official rally in Nuremberg, 1927official rally in Nuremberg, 1927

As well as attending rallies, Hitler As well as attending rallies, Hitler would parade through streets in would parade through streets in open-top processionsopen-top processions

Many streets were renamed Adolf Many streets were renamed Adolf Hitler StaHitler Staββe following a visit from e following a visit from the Fuhrerthe Fuhrer

RalliesRallies

Speer specialised in designing and Speer specialised in designing and choreographing rallieschoreographing rallies

Used the ‘architecture of light’ to Used the ‘architecture of light’ to maximise the effect of gatherings maximise the effect of gatherings and speakersand speakers

Combined effects of uniforms, flags Combined effects of uniforms, flags and banners, icons like the eagle and banners, icons like the eagle and swastika and held meetings at and swastika and held meetings at nightnight

SportSport

Sporting bodies co-ordinated under a Sporting bodies co-ordinated under a ReichssportsfReichssportsführerührer

Hitler Youth and DAF (German Labour Hitler Youth and DAF (German Labour Front, Nazi trade union movement) Front, Nazi trade union movement) organised sporting eventsorganised sporting events

Aim was to encourage fitness and health Aim was to encourage fitness and health (useful qualities for increasing Germany’s (useful qualities for increasing Germany’s military strength)military strength)

Gym displays were also seen as another way Gym displays were also seen as another way of presenting an ordered, regimental societyof presenting an ordered, regimental society

SportSport Nazis made great efforts to ensure 1936 Berlin Nazis made great efforts to ensure 1936 Berlin

Olympics were a propaganda successOlympics were a propaganda success New stadium in modernist styleNew stadium in modernist style Hitler saw Olympics as an opportunity to show the Hitler saw Olympics as an opportunity to show the

racial superiority of German peopleracial superiority of German people Ant-semitic propaganda was minimised and the Ant-semitic propaganda was minimised and the

emphasis in posters and speeches was on emphasis in posters and speeches was on internationalisminternationalism

Germany headed gold medals table, despite Black Germany headed gold medals table, despite Black American, Jesse Owens winning 100mAmerican, Jesse Owens winning 100m

FA ordered footballers to give the Nazi salute FA ordered footballers to give the Nazi salute before their match against Germany in 1938 before their match against Germany in 1938 (England won 6-3!)(England won 6-3!)

ArtArt

Hitler also said, ‘It’s not the function Hitler also said, ‘It’s not the function of art to wallow in dirt for dirt’s of art to wallow in dirt for dirt’s sake, never its task to paint the state sake, never its task to paint the state of decomposition, to draw cretins as of decomposition, to draw cretins as the symbol of motherhood, to picture the symbol of motherhood, to picture hunchbacked idiots as hunchbacked idiots as representatives of any strength.’representatives of any strength.’

ArtArt

Hitler had very strong views on art and Hitler had very strong views on art and they formed the basis of cultural policythey formed the basis of cultural policy

Art critics were answerable to the Art critics were answerable to the state, and from 1936 could only provide state, and from 1936 could only provide ‘descriptive reviews’‘descriptive reviews’

Certain styles of art were given Certain styles of art were given political labels, e.g. expressionism was political labels, e.g. expressionism was described by Alfred Rosenberg, the described by Alfred Rosenberg, the Culture Minister, as ‘Bolshevik filth’Culture Minister, as ‘Bolshevik filth’

ArtArt

1937 two parallel art exhibitions 1937 two parallel art exhibitions held in Munich, one representing held in Munich, one representing what the Nazi regime viewed as the what the Nazi regime viewed as the best of German art (best of German art (Grosse Deutch Grosse Deutch KunstausstellungKunstausstellung), the other what it ), the other what it deemed ‘degenerate art’ (Entartete deemed ‘degenerate art’ (Entartete Kunst)Kunst)

ArtArt 18 July 1934, Exhibition of Great German Art 18 July 1934, Exhibition of Great German Art

was held in a newly built museum of art, was held in a newly built museum of art, MunichMunich

16,000 works submitted but only 6,000 16,000 works submitted but only 6,000 selected for displayselected for display

Art was rooted in the traditions of the Art was rooted in the traditions of the VolksgemeinschaftVolksgemeinschaft (the people’s community, (the people’s community, the Nazi ideal community)the Nazi ideal community)

Exhibition preceded by a Day of German Art, Exhibition preceded by a Day of German Art, annual pageant in Munich celebrating 2,000 annual pageant in Munich celebrating 2,000 years of German historyyears of German history

600,000 attended exhibition600,000 attended exhibition

ArtArt

19 July, Exhibition of Degenerate Art opened19 July, Exhibition of Degenerate Art opened 5,000 exhibits labelled as degenerate, 5,000 exhibits labelled as degenerate,

Bolshevik or artistically poorBolshevik or artistically poor Deemed to reflect cultural decadence of Deemed to reflect cultural decadence of

Weimar eraWeimar era Included works by Emil Nolde, Max Beckmann Included works by Emil Nolde, Max Beckmann

as well as works by Gaugin, Van Gogh and as well as works by Gaugin, Van Gogh and PicassoPicasso

2,000,000 attended exhibition2,000,000 attended exhibition Works later destroyed, sent abroad or kept by Works later destroyed, sent abroad or kept by

Goering!Goering!

ArchitectureArchitecture

Hitler was personally interested in Hitler was personally interested in architecture as well as artarchitecture as well as art

Rejected decadent architectural styles, Rejected decadent architectural styles, e.g. work of Gropius and favoured more e.g. work of Gropius and favoured more traditional neo-classical style of Troosttraditional neo-classical style of Troost

Albert Speer was Nazi architect who Albert Speer was Nazi architect who particularly admired the particularly admired the monumentalism of neo-classical artmonumentalism of neo-classical art

Local housing was to be inspired by Local housing was to be inspired by traditional art regional stylestraditional art regional styles

What are the problems in

assessing the impact of Nazi propaganda on

ordinary people?

How successful was Nazi How successful was Nazi propaganda?propaganda?

Problems: Problems: quantifying people’s responsesquantifying people’s responses impact of social, political, economic impact of social, political, economic

and religious contextand religious context effect of Nazi repressioneffect of Nazi repression

How successful was Nazi How successful was Nazi propaganda?propaganda?

MasonMason, sceptical of effect of Nazi propaganda , sceptical of effect of Nazi propaganda on all groups, for example the working classeson all groups, for example the working classes

WelchWelch, argues Nazi propaganda was , argues Nazi propaganda was successful in strengthening support for Hitler, successful in strengthening support for Hitler, but not its policies e.g. anti-Semitism and but not its policies e.g. anti-Semitism and some propaganda was arguably counter-some propaganda was arguably counter-productive, e.g. anti-Church propagandaproductive, e.g. anti-Church propaganda

GearyGeary believes Nazi propaganda was most believes Nazi propaganda was most successful when it played on traditional successful when it played on traditional German prejudices, e.g. nationalism, fear of German prejudices, e.g. nationalism, fear of Bolshevism etc.Bolshevism etc.

Go furtherGo further Useful texts and websitesUseful texts and websites Geoff Layton, Geoff Layton, Germany: The Third Reich Germany: The Third Reich

1933-451933-45, p.84-88, p.84-88 John Hite and Chris Hinton, John Hite and Chris Hinton, Weimar and Weimar and

Nazi GermanyNazi Germany, p.244-275, p.244-275 www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/ww2erwww.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/ww2er

a.htma.htm www.activehistory.co.uk/worksheets/a2/lwww.activehistory.co.uk/worksheets/a2/l

me/nazi_propaganda.pdfme/nazi_propaganda.pdf www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERnazigwww.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERnazig

ermany.htmermany.htm www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwtwo/nazi_pwww.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwtwo/nazi_p

ropaganda_gallery.shtmlropaganda_gallery.shtml