University:
University of Cambridge
Course:
0653 IGCSE | Science - Combined
Academic year:

2023
Views:

12

Pages:

4
Author:

anon

IGCSE History: Germany – Propaganda in the Nazi Police State Nazi propaganda Problems Newspapers Most newspapers were local and some were owned by Jews. Many political parties who opposed the Nazis had their own newspapers Goebbels’ solutions ● Took over most publishers – end of independent press ● Controlled what journalists wrote ● Press agency – tell newspapers what the news should be ● Propaganda Ministry – issued daily orders to newspapers ● Anti-Nazi newspapers closed ● 1944: only 1000 newspapers, controlled by Nazis ● Newspapers put in public display boxes ● People who cancelled subscriptions threatened Radio Locally based, but few people had radio sets ● Millions of cheap radios made, which could not pick up foreign broadcasts ● Radios played Hitler’s speeches ● 1939: 70% of German households had radios ● For those without one, 6000 loudspeakers were set up to play Nazi propaganda ● Orders for people to listen to broadcasts Films Germans used to watching entertaining, good quality films. Did not want to watch boring propaganda films ● Believed that propaganda succeeded if people were properly entertained ● Wanted propaganda films to be properly made ● Films about ‘evil’ Jews, anti-British, and pro-Nazi ● E.g. Aryan climber successful, Aryan woman commits suicide rather than marry African (black) Festivals Rallies and festivals were old Nazi tactics. How could these be adapted? What should be celebrated? People encouraged to celebrate a new list of important days. On these days people were expected to attend parades, speeches, and hang out flags ● Jan: ‘Day of Seizing Power’ – mass torchlight processions ● Feb: founding of the Nazi Party day ● March: War Heroes’ Day ● April: Hitler’s birthday. Army parades, flowers for portraits ● July: German Culture Day ● Sept: Reich Party Day – week’s rally at Nuremburg ● Nov: anniversary of the Munich Putsch – silent march through Munich Image of Hitler How to enhance the image of Hitler? ● Lots of supporters, powerful ● Images of Hitler: ○ Strong ○ Powerful (uniform, straight arms) ○ Brave (iron cross from WWI) ○ Caring (photos of him with children) ○ Organized (uniform) Culture Weimar Germany had very modern culture, which the Nazis thought undermined traditional values. How could Goebbels control artists now that the Nazis were in power? ● Supported Nazi ideology ● Activities coordinated through ‘chambers’, e.g. Reich Culture Chamber, Reich Press Chamber ● Standards set for art, music, literature ❖ Importance of propaganda ➢ Used to achieve power in 1933 ➢ Targets – Jews, Socialists, Communists, etc ➢ Used to mould the minds and lives of the people ➢ Reinforced existing attitudes ➢ Used to make the people aware of Nazi achievements