Download How successful was Nazi propaganda

How successful was Nazi propaganda?
Historiography
The traditional view e.g. American journalist William Shirer. Germans were brainwashed by incessant
propaganda.
Revisionist interpretations
More recent interpretations take a more nuanced view. The success of propaganda is difficult to judge –
evidence of people’s attitudes is unreliable. Difficult to judge whether attitudes are due to Nazi
propaganda or another factor e.g. terror. Effectiveness of propaganda varied over time. Historians
disagree whether its most important role was in establishing or consolidating the regime.
e.g. Tim Mason: Nazi propaganda was largely unsuccessful among the working class.
e.g. Welch The Third Reich, Politics and Propaganda
-
Working class largely won over
The regime largely won over the working class through programs such as Strength Through Joy which
provided entertainment and travel opportunities and the Volkswagen. ‘German boys, across the socioeconomic categories were, for the most part, enchanted with the Hitler Youth. Welch concludes that
propaganda in these spheres was largely successful – at least to the extent that it tended to diffuse class
conflict and opposition to the regime.
-
Propaganda more successful at reinforcing rather than countering existing attitudes.
Propaganda more successful in reinforcing rather than countering existing attitudes. With regard to antiSemitic propaganda, Welch argued that it created not so much hate as apathy and indifference. AntiChurch propaganda backfired.
Aims of Nazi propaganda
 Disagreement within the Nazi party
Hitler’s view: propaganda would be less important once in power.
Goebbels’ view: propaganda would be more important, because although fear and terror could secure
compliance in the long-term a more effective tactic than coercion.

Aims of Nazi propaganda
1. To win support for particular policies
2. Keep population contented.
3. Indoctrination in the Nazi Weltanschauung
4. Goebbels wanted to create ‘one single public opinion’
5. Gleichschaltung – coordinate state, party and media.
Key figure: Josef Goebbels
Along with Himmler and Goering, Goebbels is one of the Hitler’s three lieutenants whose background
you must know about in detail.
Background
Born 1897 in the Rhineland. Working class Catholic background. Physically
handicapped –left leg 10 cm shorter than the right because of childhood polio. Rejected
for military. University education at a time when only the upper classes attended
university – Doctor of philology in 1921.
Views
Nationalist. Mystical beliefs that the Germans had a special mission to fulfil; believed
that other peoples were inferior. Sympathised with Bolshevik Revolution. Came from a
more socialist background than many Nazis. Contempt for the masses. Fiercely antiSemitic.
Early career
in the Nazis
Became a member of NSDAP 1922. Secretary of Gregor Strasser, the socialist leaning
Nazi in charge of NSDAP activities in northern Germany. During 1925 split in party,
Goebbels supported Strasser, demanding that the ‘bourgeois Hitler’ be expelled from the
party. Hitler summoned Goebbels to Munich and persuaded him to drop Strasser. In
1927 Goebbels became Gauleiter of Berlin. 1928 party propaganda chief. 1930 elected to
Reichstag.
Relationship
with Hitler
Offices
Genuinely worshipped Hitler. Personally close to him, frequently ate with him.
As part of Gleichschaltung, the Nazi state tried to get control over all media and cultural
activities. Methods: direct ownership, controlling those working in the media, telling the
media what to produce and by prosecuting non-conformist activities. Used modern
technology e.g. 1932 Fuhrer over Germany campaign. 1933 Head of Ministry of
Propaganda and Public Enlightenment (RMVP). Vast organisation employing 14,000
people. 1933 Nazi state established a Reich Culture Chamber, with seven sub
chambers in charge of film, literature etc. Controlled artistic life, licensed activities.
Goebbels created and organised the Fuhrer myth. Organised key events such as the
Main
achievements burning of degenerate books in 1933. Author of the Nuremburg Laws 1935. Organised
the Berlin Olympics 1936. Inspired Kristallnacht 1938.
Rivals
Built up an empire. Main rivals were Alfred Rosenberg, the party expert of culture and
ideology and Max Aman, head of a Nazi publishing empire. There was also a bitter
rivalry with Goering and Ribbentrop. In 1938 Goebbels was temporarily disgraced by
his affair with a Czech actress; he was overshadowed for a time by Goering and
Himmler.
Personal life
Despite propaganda against decadence, Goebbels had mistresses and went to nightclubs.
Death
A day after Hitler’s suicide, Magda Goebbels poisoned her six children then she and her
husband killed themselves.