Governments commonly wield propaganda as a weapon meant to control. Propaganda is the action of influencing public opinion by omitting or manipulating information (“Propaganda”). Governments of varying ideologies utilize propaganda, and some of the most persuasive and convincing examples are from extreme left or right-wing leaders. Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Zedong are all prominent instances of leaders who employed propaganda as one of their main means of control over their people. These specific leaders often used propaganda in conjunction with the rest of their governments and/or government agencies in order to instill their own beliefs in their nations, and to place themselves and the country into a positive light in the eyes of their peoples. Adolf Hitler was a master of propaganda, as he was an exceptional public speaker who could change misfortunate events in his favor to make him seem like a mighty leader, utilizing dramatic effects like gesticulating, pauses, and other variations during (Cole 1: 326). Joseph Stalin, or as he was born, Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, omitted and censored information, and hid specific details of his agenda. Mao Zedong often used criticism to “better” his nation. Propaganda is a necessary tool for governing by extreme totalitarian leaders such as Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Zedong because it allowed them to exploit the beliefs of their respective nations.
Born April 20th 1889 in Braunau, Austria, Adolf Hitler, a charismatic dictator who justified his policies through propaganda, was known as Der Führer or “the leader” to the Germans of the early to the mid 20th century (“Adolf Hitler”). Even as a child, Hitler had a passion for the arts and a drive for cleansing Germany of the Jews (“Adolf Hitler”). These passions carried later into his life, when Adolf moved to Vienna to become a painter (“Adolf Hitler”). While there, he was inspired by a fellow anti-semitic, Karl Lueger’s propaganda and proceeded to write Mein Kampf, which had two chapters dedicated to propaganda (Cole 1: 267). Even before Hitler reigned over Germany, propaganda intrigued him and he had a natural affinity for it. He had a persistent dream of creating a third reich because of harbored prejudices against Jews for the entirety of his life (“Adolf Hitler”). Nazi propaganda from 1920 to 1933 followed the guidelines Hitler set which emphasized the necessity of German racial unity and expansion through slogans, speeches, and pamphlets (Cole 1: 267). After 1933, propaganda was focused on solidifying his own power (Cole 1: 267). Hitler believed that propaganda adapts to how the least intelligent will perceive it, so it must appeal to all audiences or it will be rendered useless (Cole 1: 267). He also believed violence was a necessary aspect because the crowds respect brutality and large displays of strength (Cole 1: 267). Hitler demonstrated great understanding of the human psyche and utilized it to his benefit. Joseph Goebbels, the German minister of Propaganda under Hitler (Cole 1: 276) developed a heroic image of Hitler in order to attract more followers and to unify the people who already supported Nazi Germany, and this leadingled to the a creation of a Hitler “cult” (Cole 1: 269). Goebbels consistently established his adeptness at manipulating public opinion through propaganda. In order to keep Hitler and his ideals subconsciously ingrained in the minds of Nazi supporters, his speeches were constantly played via radio (Cole 1: 269). The content broadcasted included military music, political speeches, and lectures and was meant to boost National Socialism (by blaming many problems of Germany on the Jews) (Cole 2: 639). Also commonly used by Hitler, was “cult of personality” including the “big lie” technique, in which brazen and shocking information is repeated so often it became accepted as common knowledge and/or fact (Cole 2: 639). He demonstrated this technique during the Nuremberg Party Rallies when 130 searchlights were shone down on Hitler to create a visually stunning look of “cathedral lights” (Cole 1: 269). However successful these propaganda attempts were at the time in instilling public trust in Hitler’s opinions, after 1943 morale was low from losing World War II and Hitler stopped going out in public (Cole 1: 270). Hitler is remembered as a ruthless dictator today, which is partially attributed to his skillful manipulation of public thought.
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Joseph Stalin, the “Man of Steel” (“Joseph Stalin”), born December 21, 1879, supported communist beliefs and enforced them onto the Soviet Union using propaganda. He was a self-proclaimed far-left ruler, who was really an extreme right leader, as he was a totalitarian dictator. He ruled over the Soviet Union from 1924-1954 (Cole 3: 737) and identified with the Bolsheviks before coming into power (“Joseph Stalin”). Stalin’s writings and speeches were nowhere near as utterly convincing and composed as Hitler’s, as he was known to be languid and clumsy with his speeches (“Joseph Stalin”). Similar to dictators before him however, he also applied “cult of personality” as a propaganda technique, which ironically juxtaposed his graceless stereotype. He was occasionally referred to by his people as “the wise, mighty, and fatherly, Stalin” (“Joseph Stalin”), which utilized a familial term to subconsciously insert into minds that Stalin himself was a fatherly figure to all. Before he was the sole leader, he was appointed General Secretary of the Communist Party in 1922, which gave him authority to discipline people who disobeyed the Party’s conformity standards, giving Stalin his first true tastes of propaganda (Cole 3: 737). After Lenin’s death in 1924, there was a power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky, and he used the nation’s favor of himself of Trotsky combined with his power in propaganda to shed a negative light on Trotsky for the remainder of his life (Cole 3: 737). Stalin’s other acts of propaganda include placing busts and statues of himself all over the Soviet Union and cities named after him, so everywhere one went, Stalin was there too (Cole 3: 739). During his rule, his propaganda was also integrated with education and so the curriculums only taught the positive facets of communism (Cole 3: 737). This helped the children feel a dedication towards Stalin growing up, as well as the many songs and poems written for him that were commonly repeated by children (Cole 3: 739). Stalin’s Five Year Plans were his only downfall in public image, and to remake Stalin’s image during the second and third plans, his propagandists produced all propaganda to shed Stalin in a positive light, like writing novels on how the plans exceeded quotas when they did not (Cole 3: 678). Stalin’s propaganda force was so believable and strong that when the Germans invaded in 1941, Stalin did not do anything for a few days because he believed his army was so strong based off his own propaganda (Cole 3: 906). Stalin’s unwavering control over the people through his propaganda secured his role in the Soviet Union and made them believe he was an effective ruler.
Mao Zedong, born December 26, 1893 in Shaoshan, China transformed his homeland into the communist nation it is today by remodeling the social and political structures of China through imposing propaganda (“Mao Zedong”). Mao Zedong’s ideals, which were rooted off of Marxist ideas of class struggle and Chinese ideas of human perfectibility, led to Maoism: his belief that if a person is properly motivated, that person has the ability to surmount any hurdles in order to continue a revolution (Cole 2: 467). Mao’s applications of propaganda vary from the other leaders as he convinced the people that their opinions mattered in what the government decided. In the 1920’s Mao recognized the potential of revolution the peasants contained, and proceeded to try to understand them and agitate them to urge them to created their own new nation (“Mao Zedong”). He believed that the Chinese peasants would become the “Proletariat” as they did in the Soviet Union and France before that, and if they were exploited properly, the idea of new social orders/classes would emerge from the minds of the people (Cole 2: 467-468). Soon thereafter, his approach worked and his nation was known as the People’s Republic of China after the nationalists fled to Taiwan (Cole 3: 468-469). Once his role was established as a higher authority figure, he applied the “mass-line” approach to elicit criticism from the people, examine it, and then implement reforms into society, and used “struggle meetings” which were meant to publicly criticize and punish the bad elements of society (Cole 2: 469). Later, Mao released the Little Red Book (Quotations From Chairman Mao Zedong), which became symbolic of his rule and appealed to the youth to make them rebel against the elders (Cole 2: 469). Mao Zedong’s own take on propaganda used his people as criticism to better his communist nation.
Used often throughout history, propaganda has proved time and time again to be a formidable tool against the unsuspecting minds of the masses. It preys on trusting instincts to convince people of untrue ideas, or to brainwash them into perceiving what is not true. Hitler, Stalin, and Mao Zedong used propaganda and without it, their campaigns and agendas most likely would have failed, for people would have known the truth behind these leaders’ actions. Today, whether it is advertising, or television, or music, we are still fall victim to propaganda every day without knowing. Propaganda is a weapon that should not have to be used in this time, but is necessary in order to control a nation’s thoughts and to keep them from rebelling.
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