Press in the Third Reich

Chris, Omar, Atty

Why did the Nazis use Propaganda?

• Goebbels – head of Ministry of Propaganda and Enlightenment

• ‘The finest kind of propaganda does not reveal itself, the best propaganda is that which works invisibly.’

• Reached the common man, all over Germany. Wide reaching grip. Spreading ideas and entering everyday life

Features of Press• Newspapers• Spread message of Gleischaltung• Deutsche Nachrichtenburo• Reich Press Chamber • Incident with Frankfurter Zeitung – also the expulsion of Jews and Marxists as

journalists

• Radio• “I consider radio to be the most modern and crucial instrument that exists for

influencing the masses”-Goebbels• Broadcasted Hitler’s speeches• Promoted the sale of cheap radio sets

• Posters/Photos

Censorship• Free expression in any form was seen as a threat to

Volksgemeinschaft• “Cultural Autarky”• Censorship of the media and arts was achieved in a

variety of ways:• Bans on Communist and Socialist parties – no newspapers, books, posters• Purge of Communists, Socialists, Jews from employment in the media• Goebbels issued instructions to media of what could/could not be reported• Editors threatened with punishment if their newspapers fell out of line• Propaganda Ministry ordered specific books to be seized• Propaganda Ministry could view film scripts before the films were made• Police and Gestapo had freedom to search bookshops and confiscate publications• Official Party Censoring Commission had responsibility to vet Party publications

Examples of Propaganda via Posters

Effectiveness of Press Control in the Third Reich

• Hitler and Goebbels were skilled propagandists, but success is difficult to gauge

• Nazis carried out plebiscites to demonstrate the support of the people but since no elections were really ‘free’, it is difficult to judge the success of propaganda here

• There was some scepticism in society• Terror played a strong part in suppression• All these factors need to be considered when judging

propaganda – any judgments on it alone can only be provisional