FREE ESSAY ON THE ROLE OF PROPAGANDA IN THE NAZI TAKEOVER

THE ROLE OF PROPAGANDA IN THE NAZI TAKEOVER

The Role of Propaganda in the Nazi Takeover 
When one thinks of the term propaganda, what comes to mind? Would it bring a positive
response? Would it bring a negative response? When one thinks of propaganda in
association with the Holocaust, what comes to mind? A positive response or a negative
response? Most likely a negative response. Why is propaganda any different from what any
political party or regime does, namely to disseminate its views? Is propaganda simply the
name we give to views which we do not like or which we think to be untrue? And finally,
was the role of propaganda in the Nazis' assumption of power overstated? (Daniel
Goldhagen, 1996) As many people who are learned in the field of the Holocaust will agree,
propaganda played an extremely vital part in the Nazis' rise to power, as well as their
brain-washing of the German population into detesting all, of what they considered,
heretics to the degree of accepting their murders. Validity of the accusations upon which
they attempted to justify their action against the Jews was not an issue. The issue in
this case was its power of persuasion. Although to achieve this goal the Nazi party
deemed it necessary to monopolize the communications, media, and entertainment
industries, Germany already had a strong anti-Semitic background.
European anti-Semitism is an outgrowth of Christianity. Since the time of the Roman
Empire, Christian leaders preached boundlessly against Jews. It escalated from generation
to generation, for as long a the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah, the Jews
challenged the whole belief system of Christianity. The idea that it was the Jews that
killed their savior also evolved from that time period. Along those lines, the notion
that all Jews of forever were responsible for Jesus' death, for they approved of the
crime, would have certainly done it again (according to the anti-Semitics), and had
always rejected his teachings.
As the Medieval period came, the Christians' hatred for Jews further articulated and was
brought to a new level. The Christians in the Medieval world saw Jews in twofold
opposition to Christianity: they rejected his revelation and were his killers. In
addition, church members had much detested the Jews on the basis that they should have
accepted Jesus as their Messiah. Consequently, persecution and killing of the Jews became
a part of everyday life, leaving many regions of Western Europe without any Jews by the
end of the sixteenth century.
Entering the nineteenth century, German anti-Semitism went through an acute
transformation. It was then that it made its change from a religious issue, to a racial
one. Germans naturally detested Jews, and with a passion. Nineteenth century Germans now
saw Jews as the symbol for everything awry in their declining economy, even though they
made up but a mere one percent of the population. Soon the cultural taboos that had
formerly shaped the moral fabric of Germany at the time lost all influence. It was then
that German anti-Semitism reached a high point: false, cruel, yet indisputable
accusations. Prostitution, sexual degradation and depravity, and the sexual assaulting of
unsuspecting German virgins are examples. The Germans also imagined Jew conducting ritual
murders.
By the time the Nazi party instituted totalitarian control, all that remained was to
build on the framework provided by the nineteenth century. A framework which included
anti-Semitism being common knowledge, Germans' obsessive hatred toward Jews, the common
belief of Jews being the reason for their collapsing economy, the belief of Jews being
evil and a source of great harm. This new type of anti-Semitism was of a savage nature
and a logic that it was necessary to rid Germany, along with the rest of the world, of
Jews by whatever means necessary. 
Already having a foundation for their cause, all the Nazis had to do was execute their
strategies. Even before gaining full control in January of 1933, they used all possible
methods, and even introduced new forms of publicity, to get national attention and
recognition. The Nazi party sponsored mass meetings and pageants, distributed all sorts
of visual aids and propaganda, and assumed control of the radio and film industry.
Once the Nazis gained control they used all the above means and more to strengthen their
totalitarian control on the German population. By means of blatant false claims and
accusations, the Nazis made untrue justifications for political and military aggression,
as well as enthusiasm toward Nazi goals. 
Hitler knew how he had to manipulate propaganda to get positive results from the
population. In his book, Mein Kampf, he wrote:
To whom should propaganda be addressed? To the scientifically trained intelligentsia or
to the less educated masses? It must be addressed always and solely to the masses.
What the intelligentsia...need is not propaganda but scientific instruction. The content
of propaganda is as far from being science as the object depicted in a poster is from
being art. A poster's art lies in the designer's ability to capture the attention of the
masses by form and color. 
The function of propaganda does not lie in the scientific training of the individual, but
rather in directing the attention of the masses toward certain facts...It must be
directed toward the emotions, and only to a very limited extent toward the so-called
intellect.
The receptive ability of the masses is very limited, their intelligence is small, their
forgetfulness enormous. Therefore, all propaganda has to limit itself to a very few
points and repeat them like slogans until even the very last man is able to understand
what you want him to understand.
And that is the basis upon which Hitler set up his whole campaign. He wanted to aim his
propaganda crusade exclusively toward the masses. In doing so they would accept it as a
decree. Furthermore, it was extremely important that the material exposed to the masses
appeal to the interests of the majorities, and not address itself to just the intellect.
Propaganda had to be popular and be geared in order for even the most simple-minded
individuals to understand. Equally as important, was the necessity to give the people the
conceptual truth, but really only spreading the information the leader wanted to
disseminate.
The Nazis utilized propaganda to saturate Nazi ideology, philosophy, and mentality into
the German population, as well as to change the traditional German moral standards (as
far as behavior). Subsequently, as the Nazis hoped would happen, the ideas acquired via
propaganda would mature into a part of everyday German life. It would become an issue in
and out of the home. According to Hitler, the masses must not have two or more enemies.
Rather, they should concentrate on one primary enemy: the Jews. To support this idea, the
Nazi propaganda reinforced racist philosophy on the normal anti-Semitism by giving the
Jews the title of enemy of the common people. Two elements, hatred and racism, were
integrated in propaganda to urge the population to find the importance of ridding Germany
of the parasitic/blood-sucking Jew. In Hitler's view, anti-Semitism was a vital weapon in
the propaganda enterprise. He insisted that wherever it is used, it has a huge effect,
and refused to it disregarded as a political weapon. So began the obsessive anti-Semitic
propaganda campaign of Nazi Germany. To achieve their goal, they began using all means of
media. Early on, the Nazis began showing very anti-Semitic movies and shows, as did they
air such programs on the radio.
They were now getting closer and closer to their goal of having the population detest to
the Jews, to the point where the commonly seen distasteful episodes in Polish ghettos
lead the people to accept the beating, killing, and liquidation of Jews. The Nazis even
got international protests to subside. They aired movies exemplifying the pleasant
conditions in the concentration camps. For example, the Nazis broadcasted scenes of a
masquerade presented at the Theresienstadt camp. 
In recognition of the significant role propaganda was playing in the Nazi's battle, the
Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda (Reichsministerium for
Volksaufklrung und Propaganda) was created on March 5, 1933. Headed by Joseph Goebbels,
the Nazi expert in propaganda and a notoriously persuasive speaker, a new generation of
radio, press, cinema, and arts manipulation was brought forth. Goebbles ran the
department from an old palace which oversaw thirty-two other field offices. He recruited
the brightest, most intelligent young men he could find to work in his department.
In the Nazi's industrial takeover of Germany, the propaganda machine was then set up into
seven different sections, each in charge of the a department:
1. Administrative and Organization 
2. Propaganda 
3. Radio
4. Press 
5. Films 
6. Theatre 
7. Adult Education
Anyone who produced, distributed, broadcasted, published, or sold any form of cinema,
media, press, or literature had to first join one of the departments and then follow all
rules of the department head. That person was usually Joseph Goebbles. Naturally, no
Jews, non-Aryans, or any of Hitler's adversaries were not allowed to join. Thus, without
a license to practice their businesses, all artists, writers, publishers, producers, or
directors could not work or do any business in their field. Also along with those quotas,
came the prohibition of all Jewish newspapers, radio, and cinema.
Part of Hitler's master plan was to have his nation to become the most powerful country
in the world; an Aryan nation, that is. Without a doubt, that requires more Aryans. As a
part of this theory, the fuhrer, with much assistance form Goebbles, began a new
campaign. This time, it was aimed at women. 
Hitler wanted to encourage good health and child birth among women. There were two things
that constituted this: having women take on a nursing, house-wife role and for them to
make time for activity, such as sports. However, it would not be easy to entice women to
compromise on giving up what they considered to be a trim figure.
Hitler needed to replace the traditional fit look for women with a more substantial
motherly looking image (refer to doc. pic of woman)
The World and the Jews, 1933-1945 84). Workers in the arts industry were urged to use
such women in their work. Hitler even granted an award to any German woman who gave birth
to six or more children. SS troops were given instructions to marry blond-haired,
blue-eyed women who had not yet received the Reich sports award.
The family life campaign soon branched off to another important issue, education. For if
Germany were to be flooded with Aryan children they had to get the right education and to
be taught by the right teachers: Nazi teachers. Therefore, the German school systems
discharged all Jewish and non-Nazi teachers. At that point, 97% of the teachers in
Germany belonged to the Nazi Teachers Association.
Textbooks and children's books, as well, had heavy military and anti-Semitic overtones. 
A modern bomber can carry 1,800 incendiaries.
How long is the path along which it can distribute these bombs if it drops a bomb every
second at a speed of 250 kilometers per hour? How far apart are the craters?
The New Order, p. 103
Some children's books even intimidated Nazi members, because they were so biased that
they were horrifying. Perhaps the author that best exemplifies this was the notoriously
relentless and obsessive anti-Semite, Julius Streicher. 
Born in Fleinhausen, Bavaria in 1885, Streicher was a German politician and journalist.
He was one of the earliest and most extremist members of the Nazi party. In fact, he even
participated in Hitler's 1923 rebellion. He is best known, though, for his notoriously
rabid anti-Semitism displayed in his books and newspapers. Some of is works include The
Poisonous Mushroom, a children's book, and Der Stormer, a Nazi newspaper. While his works
appalled even some Nazis, Hitler was intrigued by his skillful and amusing campaign. 
With the campaign aimed at children, the Nazis integrated both anti-Semitic ideology and
encouraged children to join the Hitler Youth, for boys, and the League of German Girls,
for girls. Indeed, the enrollment rate was very high, but the storm of children joining
the two youth organizations were not all going for their hatred toward Jews. Rather, many
saw it as a good opportunity to go camping, make friends (activities which the to
organizations did, in fact, often do); in a way, the equivalent of our Boy/Girl Scouts of
America Organization.
Billboards, poster, leaflets, and flyers were everywhere. Some were aimed at the adult
population, some at children. Most commonly, they were to urge the public to join
Hitler's crusade, for there was a job and a place for everybody. The Nazi's offered men
jobs in Hitler's army. If they were inexperienced, they offered training camps, seminars,
and classes, in which they were taught everything from military maneuvers to how to
identify a Jew. 
As effective of the other forms of Nazi propaganda were, the best results came from the
media: newspapers, radio, and film. Control of the media was the key to gaining control
of the people's minds.
Joseph Goebbles took the first step to assuming full control of the news-wire services.
He then merged the different wire-services into the German News Bureau. This allowed him
to control the distribution of news at its source. Now that the Nazis had full control of
the news circulation in Germany, they began making laws pertaining to it. For example, in
1933, Goebbles instituted the Editor's Law. This stated that all newspapers had to go
through his ministry. Accordingly, the editors were responsible for every picture and
word in their publication, and if Goebbles did not like what was being printed, the
editors would be punished. Although, they would most commonly lose their jobs, Goebbles,
on occasion, would have the person sent to a concentration camp. His regulations on new
circulation so limited the liberty of the reporter, that daily press conferences were
often held. There, Goebbles would dictate what should be written in the article and how
it should look. Unfortunately for the Nazis, mu ch of the population of Germany stopped
reading newspapers, altogether, for they already knew what would be written.
Since Goebbles realized he could not brainwash the people just through the newspaper, he
then took over radio communication. By making sure stores kept a plentiful stock of
inexpensive radios, a record seventy percent of German families owned at least one radio.
If in the event that a family did not own one, the Nazis encouraged gathering in groups
at home, at work, and at eating places to listen to the broadcasts. With over a quarter
of a typical day's broadcasting time being reserved solely for Nazi propaganda, the
people became very vulnerable to what they heard. To be sure not one person was without
the privilege of listening to daily broadcastings, the Nazis had loud speakers installed
all over the country. 
Goebbles also seized control of the cinemas. Still a fairly new concept, motion pictures
were very popular among the Germans. The Nazis began making both movies and documentaries
with extremely anti-Semitic messages. There were documentaries that were merely intended
for the glorification of the Nazis, while other were tasteless, explicit movies based on
mere blatant lies and biases produced by the Nazis and other anti-Semitic organizations.
Some were so anti-Semitic that the actors requested that a telegraph be sent out
publicizing that they themselves were not really Jewish. Despite the horrifying
motion-picture campaigning, countless numbers attended these films. 
By now, the German population was predominantly anti-Semitic. Stage one of the Nazis'
plan was done. However, Nazi missionaries began coming over to the United States.
Although quickly deported, they left behind their ideas. Organizations such as the
Christian Front and the German-American Bund were formed and strongly supported the
Nazis. Newsletters and leaflets were being mass produced throughout the country. Luckily
the majority of Americans retained their morals and acceptance of Jews. 
In their quest for both world and racial domination, the Nazis covered all possible
territory/subject-matter, and all possible means of accomplishing their goal. They
monopolized and strictly monitored all branches of the communications and media industry.
By doing this, the Nazis only allowed the people to hear what they wanted them to hear,
and nothing more. In the midst of a major economic depression, the German people were
both vulnerable and desperate, and the unemployment rate was very high. Thus, many people
had nothing else to do beside listen to the radio and read the newspaper. Naturally,
there was no commercial or industrial market, almost everything fitting into those two
categories was failing, so it was not difficult to take over. Hitler's plan was working
very well.
Reflecting on the manner in which the term propaganda is used in this paper, it could be
understandable why one could see the word as a negative term. Even though the dictionary
defines propaganda as publicity to either further or damage one's cause, I am unable to
picture myself defining Hitler's publicity scheme as merely marketing, promotion, or
advertising. Rather, I see it as a disgusting form of disinformation (See, p. 1). In
conclusion, even though the word, propaganda, can be used in reference to either positive
or negative campaigning, it is how we have come to, most often, identify ideology which
we do not approve of or think not to be true.