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Daniel Hamilton Mr. Neuburger English Comp 101-101 17 April 2013 Research Paper Nazi Propaganda The Nazi party did not invent war time and racial propaganda, they lived and breathed it. Adolf Hitler led the entire country of Germany by the nose with his sophisticated lies and brainwashing. With his power of persuasion and suggestion, Hitler turned good German people into evil monsters. Hitlers hate, proposed torture and murder for selfish reasons, and people like you and I carried out these gut-wrenching tasks. Surrounded by tricks and lies, a country in despair and eager for recovery, set out to eliminate a race of humans that could not be any more holy. Like a mentally ill raptor, Nazis devoured any diversity or opposing ideas they came across or could uncover. At brainz.org an article reads, they also utterly mastered the art of propaganda, fabricating a national ideology around their twisted beliefs. (10 Most Evil Propaganda Techniques Used by the Nazis) Propaganda fueled Hitlers terror. Hitlers timing was impeccable, the targets set for Nazi propaganda were wisely selected, the Nazi show of
Poster using religious imagery http://bit.ly/13kL2VA

power was extremely intimidating, and when all of these

factors were organized, the National Socialists solution came to life. Organization of propaganda was turned over to one man, Dr. Joseph Goebbels. Hastily after coming into office,

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Hitler appointed Dr. Goebbels to be Minister of Propaganda and National Enlightenment. Goebbels credentials included the SS and Gastapo. He immediately founded the Reich Chamber of Commerce, intending to deal with literature, art, music, radio, film, newspaper, etc. In order to create any of the media mentioned, the creator had to be a member of this new organization. Members of the Nazi party decided who did or did not qualify to be a member. Any non-member that attempted to perform or published their work was intervened with severe punishment (History Learning Site, Propaganda in Nazi Germany). Country wide, moral reached a suitable height and in turn triggered Dr. Goebbels to organize the first Nazi book burning. Nazi officials ransacked Germanys libraries and book stores. Any books that did not mirror Nazi beliefs were burned. More than 25,000 books were destroyed. Even works by Jewish authors such as, Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud were subject to the destruction. Shockingly most of the publications were authored by non-Jewish people including Americans; Jack London, Earnest Hemingway, and Sinclair Lewis, whose ideas were not favored by the Nazis (USHMM, Nazi Propaganda and Censorship).
Nazi book burning Nazi book burning http://bit.ly/12pURCI

An army of storm troopers weakened any opposition the Nazis encountered. Through terror,

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danger was assured to anyone that attempted to produce any type of opposing propaganda. This militant terror combined with financial support from wealthy Nazi businessmen allowed the new propaganda to take over. This recipe defeated strong church groups that were the Nazis main opponents (Maebrussell, Modern English Readings, and Propaganda Techniques of German

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Fascism). Fascism took over Germany, Nazis made all the decisions for fixing the nations problems. Zero outside ideas were permitted and countless lies were adopted. In the 1920s Nazis promised to abolish unearned income. Nationalization of all trusts and no interest on land loans was guaranteed. An oath to never take personal land for the benefit of the public without compensation was given. In 1926 Hitler vowed to never change these policies but by 1928 he had already begun to go against his word. Nazi organized programs such as public housing, public works, and better living conditions grew in popularity. These new plans eventually resulted in the creation of concentration camps. While being deceived by false promises, Hitler also striped Germany of their labor unions (Modern English Readings, Propaganda Techniques of German Fascism). Without the unions no one was left to challenge Hitlers decisions concerning Germanys work environments. In order to remove all trade unions and democratic institutions, plans were put in place to make these groups appear to have an evil root, designed to ruin Germany. These organizations were constantly accused of being communist, while communism was made out to be a horrible way of life. Hitler vowed to protect Germany from invasion by communist countries; grouping communists, democrats, Jews, and liberals together as evil creations. This propaganda helped Hitler turn peoples attention to his plan of making himself seem to be a God-like savior. Hitler created a mythology about himself to add to his charisma. Hype was invoked by folktales of ancient German culture. A different way of thinking was created
A poster promoting a Nazi film http://bit.ly/13kM7wD

by Nazis; Volkisch is referred to as nineteenth century

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German romanticism. This new attitude together with Fuhrerprinzip; a style of leadership, explained Hitler to be a mystical guide. Hitler declared himself to be a sheppard guiding Germany to its destiny. Basically the myth suggested that Hitlers decisions came from the Heavens, instead of discussions had by men, that were swayed by the Devil (BBC History, Nazi Propaganda, Professor David Welch). The ties between Hitlers self-spun mystical persona and his false proclamations of direct ties to God, allowed the development of the technique of propaganda referred to on web page Maebrussell as transfer (Propaganda Techniques of German Fascism). Transfer occurred when positive feelings held from a respected subject were imposed on to a subject that Hitler wanted to be accepted. Hitler made himself out to be God-like in order to transfer the Germans religious feelings to himself, as a model of divinity he was able to transfer his policies to the people (Propaganda Techniques of German Fascism). Scapegoats carried a huge weight of importance in Hitlers propaganda. Obviously people looked for scapegoats to blame their current problems on; Hitler fingered this part of human nature with great skill. Jews were blamed for unemployment, poverty, and the loss of World War I. Through propaganda Jews became Germanys scapegoat and anyone could be labeled Jewish whether it was true or not (Modern English Readings, Propaganda Techniques of German Fascism). Hitler considered France to be Germanys natural enemy, so he labeled France as a country of Jews. He explained that Germans were superior and unmatched at the art of peace. He
A poster showing Jews as scapegoats http://bit.ly/ZuxTcG

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also preached that Germany was impossible to defeat in war unless betrayed by Jews (Modern English Readings, Propaganda Techniques of German Fascism). This technique left the German people with a sense of pride and a feeling of superiority that catered to magnifying their hatred for Jews. Huge rallies held by Nazis, impacted masses of people in astonishing magnitudes. Hitler spoke at these rallies, breaking arguments down into simple terms. He impacted the masses on an emotional level instead of intellectually. The rallies began at night, with one hundred fifty search lights aimed straight up around the main arena. The arenas held 400.000 people and the lights beaconed for one hundred kilometers. These meetings built up a feeling of expectancy as the people stood waiting for the speeches. As the hour got late and the German peoples resistance lowered, the amazing props, torch light, storm troopers, parades, and band music worked its way into the hearts of the bystanders. Next a hush came through the arena followed by drums and horns accompanying Hitler and his bodyguards. Dressed in his raincoat, hat off, and smiling
Nazi rally Nazi rally

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http://bit.ly/ZC9GNm

Hitler greeted everyone and began giving emotional speeches with his arms waving and his voice chanting, he

placed everyone in a trans (Propaganda Techniques of German Fascism). Germans who did not attend Hitlers great rallies could still hear his speeches through radio. Dr. Goebbels called radio the eighth great power (10 Most Evil Propaganda Techniques Used By the Nazis). The German government ordered the production of cheap radios called Volsempfaners, which translates to the peoples receivers. Almost every home had one and used

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them to take in Hitlers lies and hype first hand. The small radios were limited in range to local German and Austrian stations. Nazis took over theaters, only allowing films supporting their beliefs. The Department of Film was formed in 1933 to control this media and art form. The department was supposed to spread the national Socialist world view to the entire German people (10 Most Evil Propaganda Techniques Used by the Nazis). The Editorial Control law was put in place in 1933. This new law ensured Hitler would be able to assume control of all media through force, arrests, and exile. Using this law many newspapers were shut down or consolidated. The remaining press was controlled by the Nazis, banning anyone who wasnt Aryan from journalism. A major Nazi newspaper was called Der Sturmer, it was written like a tabloid. Obscene antiemetic views were published there. Hitler commented about the paper, spoke to the man on the street (Harvard Law, Analysis of Nazi Progaganda). Posters stacked with strong anti-Semitic view points and metaphors played an enormous roll in Nazi propaganda. These sheets of lies were used to boost moral as well as to increase productivity. They romanticized Nazi lifestyle and used religious imagery to portray Hitler as a liberating hero. (10 Most Evil Propaganda Techniques Used by the Nazis) For example one poster shows light shining above Hitlers head to represent a halo with a winged bird in the background representing an angel. (Harvard Law, Analysis of Nazi Propaganda) To increase production for war time material posters showed imagery suggesting a union between
A poster promoting the peoples receiver http://bit.ly/115Aok2

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soldiers and workers. These brainwashers suggested that workers work extra hard and be more productive to do their part while the soldiers fought to do their part. Along with production other posters promoted conservation of materials and goods during the war. (Oracle Think Quest, Nazi Propaganda) Propaganda was extremely important to the Nazis because, all though they were a large party, they were not popular. Nazi supporters needed to be reassured of their pro-Nazi votes and all the support they lent. Finally Nazi opposition had to be convinced that it was pointless to stand up for themselves and fight the suffocation brought on by Hitler.

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Works Cited BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. "Brainz." 10 Most Evil Propaganda Techniques Used by the Nazis. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. "Holocaust History." Nazi Propaganda. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. "Nazi Propaganda." Nazi Propaganda. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. N.p., n.d. Web. "Propaganda in Nazi Germany." Propaganda in Nazi Germany. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. "Propaganda Techniques of German Fascism - From "Propaganda Analysis"" Propaganda Techniques of German Fascism - From "Propaganda Analysis" N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.