Essay - 1918-1933: Selling Nazism in a Democracy

Allison Brown HIST 2040: Comparative Fascism Dr. Blackler 18 November, 2022 USHMM “State of Deception” Essay - 1918-1933: Selling Nazism in a Democracy For the purposes of this essay, I reviewed the online exhibition section entitled “1918–1933: 1 Selling Nazism in a Democracy” and its contents. This online exhibition starts with a brief overview of the NSDAP’s overthrow of the Weimar Republic as well as touching on the Treaty of Versailles. The introduction states that NSDAP “emerged out of the political and economic turmoil” which impacted Weimar and argues that the Great Depression in 1929 allowed the NSDAP to “dramatically rise in a polarized Germany.” I found this short introduction to fit with the literature we’ve reviewed in this class and others and its shift to focus on propaganda as a tool for spreading fascist Nazi ideals relevant to the broader exhibition. The exhibition then goes on to explain how the NSDAP, a relatively nascent political party with Adolf Hitler initially directing propaganda, was able to utilize propaganda in the Weimar Republic to obtain democratic seats. The exhibition focuses on the creation of a eugenic, homogenous national community or Volksgemeinschafand how the duality of NSDAP propaganda appealed to any and all Volk as a movement for all Germans regardless of their class, sex, or region. This exhibition also notes how “Nazi political strategy evolved during the Weimar Republic from inciting insurrection to Nazis winning at the ballot box” in a reference to the Beer Hall Putsch and Nazi-incited violence in Munich to the development of their party to one which initially participated fairly in German democracy. As a party that would be a “catch-all” and attract Germans of different backgrounds, creating a simple and appealing Nazi message was critical for propagandists. On this to inampf Hitler Mpeiicn, K writes, “All effective propaganda must limit itself only to a very few points and to use them like slogans.” From the creation of the NSDAP flag and propaganda slogans su Arcbei hat,sFreiheit und Brot! the NSDAP was able to create a simple message which resonated with some Germans during the economic downfall of post-Versailles and Great Depression Germany. This message was furthered through NSDAP mass communication techniques which created sensationalized posters and advertisements throughout Germany. The NSDAP in their rallies was the first to use electric loudspeakers at outdoor rallies and attracted sizeable crowds which were engaged by Nazi speakers. Film and radio content as well would help to spread the platform of the NSDAP and spur further interest in the catch-all party which would seemingly alleviate the economic and political turmoil of the Weimar Republic. Posters specifically became a favored means for NSDAP propagandists and Hitler himself, “A poster’s art lies in the designer’s ability to capture the masses’ attention by outline and color.” Often bold statements and accusations would be accompanied by bright colors and images which interested those passing by. Additionally, the party’s niche marketing to specific regional and population interests furthered the effectiveness of propagandists. As different themes and slogans were constructed to appeal to different voters such as the middle class, women, farmers, and youth, the Nazi propaganda machine was able to further garner support for the NSDAP and Hitler himself. German women, achieving suffrage in 1919, were targeted by NSDAP propaganda. Slogans such as “Mutter berufstätige frauen” created community and consistency for women voting to support the NSDAP. As women held a unique political capital in Germany as “the majority of voters in the Weimar Republic” much NSDAP propaganda was targeted toward mothers and working-class women. Women voters have also displayed propaganda which according to the exhibition “emphasiz[ed] that women could save the German family from ruin simply by voting for Hitler or the Nazi Party. Such marketing strategies worked, despite the Nazi Party’s poor record on women’s rights. Nazi messages aimed to create a sense of female empowerment by highlighting the crucial role of women in paving the way for social and political change.” Crucial to not only NSDAP propaganda and voter strategies, but this duality between the Nazi’s depiction of a German women who were crucial to Germany’s development and progress also stood in stark contrast to the reality which German women faced. From Bund the Deutscher Frauenvereine to discourse in eugenics, women would go on to occupy their own unique role in NSDAP propaganda as well as the Nazi state which emphasized their importance in their own, separate, social sphere in society. The concluding sections of the exhibition consider why many Germans believed NSDAP propaganda as well as opposition to the Nazi Party in propaganda and in politics. The first section regarding why Germans believed NSDAP propaganda displays the photo of a poster “Uunsure with Letzte Hoffung: Hitler” which in many ways speaks to the dire economical situations that many Germans faced in the Weimar Republic. As with other examples of fascism, often the fascist leader seems to be or presentshimself in a way that is different from the dysfunctional political present, and the only way in which a nation or population can move forwards. Regarding anti-Jewish propaganda the exhibition states, “Nazi antisemitism appealed to right-wing radicals but not to all of Hitler’s supporters. Although antisemitism may not have gained the Nazi Party huge mass support, it also didn’t scare off large numbers of voters.” I would agree with this assessment, this exhibition does well displaying different forms of propaganda which are not all antisemitic. Although this propaganda and NSDAP platform are critical in understanding the Nazi Party’s rise to power, sometimes readers today can forget the wide appeal to the working class, women, farmers, and other constituents via NSDAP propaganda. Remembering that the NSDAP indeed was a catch-all party that appealed to many Germans in a period of economic turmoil is important as it indicates that fascism and its propaganda may present itself in many forms.