Nazi propaganda
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{{Nazism}}
'''Nazi propaganda''' is the term that describes the psychologically powerful [[propaganda]] within [[Nazi Germany]], much of which was centered around [[Jew]]s, consistently alleged to be the source of Germany's economic problems. Nazi propaganda also expressed themes more common among the warring countries: the imminent defeat of their enemies, the need for security, etc. Doctored [[newsreel]] footage was also used to garner support for the Nazi cause. [[Leni Riefenstahl]] is likely the most famous propagandist; her film ''[[Triumph of the Will]]'' is still viewed today as a masterpiece in film making.
[[Joseph Goebbels]] was the [[Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda|Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda]] in Nazi Germany and played a large role in creating new [[anti-Semitic]] and pro-Nazi material for the party. He was in charge of a propaganda machine which reached right down to branch level. In this way information and instructions could be sent out from party headquarters and adapted to local circumstances.
In the 1920s, Nazi Propagandists wanted to draw support for their political machine and create a new attitude of the German countrymen. One source of leverage was the [[Treaty of Versailles]]. The Treaty of Versailles, which was signed by the [[Allies]] of World War I in 1919, placed most or all of the blame on Germany for World War I along with harsh punishments dealt out to the country. The Treaty was referenced before and throughout the war as a “warning of what our enemies are capable of”, a direct quote of a 1942 speech by Joseph Goebbels.<ref name=GPA>German Propaganda Archive, [http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/goeb73.htm What is At Stake] 2004. Calvin College. 25 Oct. 2007</ref> Some, including rising politician Adolf Hitler, believed the Treaty was too harsh. He states in [[Mein Kampf]] “In the oppression of the treaty (Versailles) and shamelessness of its demands, there lies the greatest propaganda weapon for the reawakening of a nation's spirit.”<ref>AngliaCampus, [http://www.angliacampus.com/public/sec/history/ww1/page16.htm Opinions Provoked by Treaty], October 25, 2007</ref>
==Before the war (1919-1939)==
[[Image:Nazi Anti-Semitic Propaganda by David Shankbone.jpg|thumb|Two examples of Anti-Jewish posters distributed by the Nazis: on the left is the Jewish worm, with a dollar sign and [[Communist]] hammer and sickle sign form each pupil; on the right is a depiction of [[The Wandering Jew]].]]
Before the war the Nazi propaganda strategy stressed several themes. Their goals were to create external enemies (countries that allegedly inflicted the [[Treaty of Versailles]] on Germany) and internal enemies (Jews). Hitler and Nazi propagandists played on the anti-semitism and resentment for the Treaty already present in Germany. The Jews were blamed for things such as robbing the German people of their hard work while the Jews did nothing. Hitler blamed Jews for “two great wounds upon humanity: Circumcision of the Body and Conscience of the Soul.” Der Stürmer, a Nazi propaganda newspaper, told Germans that Jews kidnapped small children before [[Passover]] because “Jews need the blood of a Christian child, maybe, to mix in with their Matzah.” Posters, films, cartoons, and fliers were seen throughout Germany which attacked the Jewish community, such as the film ''[[The Eternal Jew]]''.
Reaching out to ethnic Germans in other countries such as [[Czechoslovakia]], [[France]], [[Poland]], the [[Soviet Union]] and the [[Baltic states]] was another aim of Nazi party propaganda. In [[Mein Kampf]], Hitler makes a direct remark to those outside of Germany. He states that pain and misery is forced upon ethnic Germans outside of Germany, and that they dream of common fatherland. He finished by stating they needed to fight for one’s nationality.<ref>Hitler, Adolf. ''Mein Kampf''. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999</ref> Throughout Mein Kampf, he pushed Germans worldwide to make the mainland struggle for political power and independence their main focus.
Nazi propaganda efforts then focused on creating external enemies. Propagandists only strengthen the negative attitude of Germany towards the Treaty of Versailles by creating territorial and ethnocentrism. When the Treaty was signed in 1919 non-propagandists newspapers headlines across the nation spoke German’s feelings such as “UNACCEPTABLE” (Frankfurter Zeitung, front page 1919). The Berliner Tageblatt, also in 1919, predicted “Should we accept the conditions, a military furore for revenge will sound in Germany within a few years, a militant nationalism will engulf all.”<ref>Abel, Theodore. ''Why Hitler Came Into Power''. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1986. </ref> Hitler, knowing his nation's disgust with the Treaty, used it as leverage to influence his audience. He would repeatedly refer back to the terms of the Treaty as a direct attack on Germany and its people. In one speech delivered on January 30, 1937 he directly states that he is withdrawing the German signature from the document, in protest of the outrageous proportions of the terms. He claims the Treaty makes Germany out to be inferior and “less” of a country than others only because blame for the war is placed on them. The success of Nazi propagandists and Hitler won the Nazi party control of Germany and eventually led to World War II.<ref> German Propaganda Archive, [http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/hitler1.htm "Hitler Speech"] 2004. Calvin College. 25 Oct. 2007</ref>
For months prior to the 1939 invasion, German newspapers and politicians like [[Adolf Hitler]] had carried out a national and international [[propaganda]] campaign accusing Polish authorities of organizing or tolerating violent [[ethnic cleansing]] of [[German minority in Poland|ethnic German]]s living in Poland.<ref name="German Editor">[http://www.nizkor.org/ftp.cgi/imt/nca/ftp.py?imt/nca/nca-06/nca-06-3469-ps-04]German newspaper editor outlining the claims of Polish atrocities against minorities</ref> On [[22 August]], [[Adolf Hitler]] told his generals:
{{cquote|"I will provide a propagandistic ''[[casus belli]]''. Its credibility doesn't matter. The victor will not be asked whether he told the truth."<ref name="WirtzGordon">James J. Wirtz, Roy Godson, ''Strategic Denial and Deception: The Twenty-First Century Challenge'', Transaction Publishers, 2002, ISBN 0765808986, [http://books.google.com/books?id=PzfQSlTJTXkC&pg=PA100&ots=ouNc9JPz4y&dq=Gleiwitz+incident&as_brr=3&sig=WZF91Hk_0WybC1nqbS8Ghw7nTzw Google Print, p.100]</ref><ref name="Lightbody">Bradley Lightbody, ''The Second World War: Ambitions to Nemesis'', Routledge, 2004, ISBN 0415224055, [http://books.google.com/books?id=wyfgwYOiZasC&pg=PA39&ots=xYud8FdZWZ&dq=Gleiwitz+incident&as_brr=3&sig=7caKSyB2wnUFa7AjKU9rljRfDzk Google Print, p.39]</ref>}} The main part of this propaganda campaign was the [[false flag]] project, [[Operation Himmler]], which was designed to create the appearance of [[Second Polish Republic|Polish]] aggression against Germany, which was subsequently used to justify the [[Invasion of Poland (1939)|invasion of Poland]].<ref name="Himmler">Roger Manvell, Heinrich Fraenkel, ''Heinrich Himmler: The SS, Gestapo, His Life and Career'', Skyhorse Publishing Inc., 2007, ISBN 1602391785, [http://books.google.com/books?id=fO6Ow6jJA28C&pg=PA76&dq=%22Operation+Himmler%22&ei=fyDOR5L2MJXGyASA6MmNBQ&sig=FWfI2Tk8btX7m9FZTJ8xTFz6pto Google Print, p.76]</ref><ref name="WirtzGordon"/><ref name="Lightbody"/>
==During World War II==
[[Image:Liberators-Kultur-Terror-Anti-Americanism-1944-Nazi-Propaganda-Poster.jpg|thumb|left|Poster depicting America as a monstrous war machine destroying European culture.]]
Until the conclusion of the [[Battle of Stalingrad]] on [[February 4]], [[1943]], German propaganda emphasized the prowess of German arms and the supposed humanity German soldiers had shown to the peoples of occupied territories. Pilots of the Allied bombing fleets were depicted as cowardly murderers, and Americans in particular as gangsters in the style of [[Al Capone]]. At the same time, German propaganda sought to alienate Americans and British from each other, and both these Western nations from the Soviets.
After Stalingrad, the main theme changed to Germany as the sole defender of what they called "Western European culture" against the "[[Bolshevist]] hordes". The introduction of the [[V-1]] and [[V-2]] "vengeance weapons" was emphasized to convince Britons of the hopelessness of defeating Germany.
On [[June 23]], [[1944]], the Nazis permitted the [[Red Cross]] to visit [[concentration camp Theresienstadt]] to dispel rumors about the [[Final Solution]], which was intended to kill every Jew. In reality, Theresienstadt was a transit camp for Jews en route to [[extermination camp]]s, but in a sophisticated propaganda effort, fake shops and cafés were erected to imply that the Jews lived in relative comfort. The guests enjoyed the performance of a children's opera, ''[[Brundibar]]'', written by inmate [[Hans Krása]]. The [[hoax]] was so successful for the Nazis that they went on to make a propaganda film at Theresienstadt. Shooting of the film began on [[February 26]], [[1944]]. Directed by [[Kurt Gerron]], it was meant to show how well the Jews lived under the "benevolent" protection of the [[Third Reich]]. After the shooting, most of the cast, and even the film-maker himself, were deported to the concentration camp of [[Auschwitz]] where they were killed.
Goebbels committed suicide on [[May 1]], [[1945]], shortly after Hitler killed himself. [[Hans Fritzsche]], who had been head of the Radio Chamber, was tried and acquitted by the [[Nuremberg Trials|Nuremberg war crimes tribunal]].
==Posters==
[[Poster]] art was a mainstay of the Nazi propaganda effort, targeted both for Germany itself and occupied territories. The themes used reflect a great deal of research into the power of images and ideas to motivate.
<gallery>
Image:Nazi_poster_Mutter_und_Kind.jpg|"Mother and Child" poster for charity subscription.
Image:Nazi_poster_Mütter_Kämft_für_eure_Kinder.jpg|"Mothers Fight for your Children."
Image:Nazi_poster_Nederlanders.jpg|Invites Dutchmen to join the SS.
Image:EnthanasiePropaganda.jpg|Poster promoting [[Eugenics]].
Image:dove.jpg|[[National Socialist German Workers Party|Nazi]] poster portraying Adolf Hitler. Text: "Long Live Germany!"
Image:Zahnbroschuere2.jpg|Nazi health propaganda—tooth booklet published in 1940
</gallery>
==Films==
{{main|Nazism and cinema}}
The Nazis produced a number of films to promote their views. Themes included the virtues of the [[Nordic theory|Nordic]] or [[Aryan]] type, German military and industrial strength, and the evils of the Nazi enemies. On [[March 11]], [[1933]] [[The Third Reich]] established a Ministry of Propaganda, appointing [[Joseph Goebbels]] as Minister of Propaganda. On [[September 22]], a [[Department of Film]] was incorporated into the Chamber of Culture. The department controlled the licensing of every film prior to production. Sometimes the government would select the actors for a film, financing the production partially or totally, and would grant tax breaks to the producers.
Under Goebbels and Hitler, the German film industry became entirely nationalised. ''The National Socialist Propaganda Directorate'', which Goebbels oversaw, had at its disposal nearly all film agencies in Germany by [[1936]]. Occasionally certain directors, such as [[Wolfgang Liebeneiner]], were able to bypass Goebbels by providing him with a different version of the film than would be released. Such films include those directed by [[Helmut Käutner]]: ''Romanze in Moll'' (''Romance in a Minor Key'', 1943), ''[[Große Freiheit]] Nr. 7'' (''The Great Freedom, No. 7, 1944), and ''Unter den Brücken'' (''Under the Bridges, 1945).
[[Triumph of the Will]], by film-maker [[Leni Riefenstahl]], chronicles the 1934 [[National Socialist German Workers Party|Nazi Party]] Congress in [[Nuremberg]]. It features footage of uniformed party members (though relatively few German soldiers), who are marching and drilling to [[European classical music|classical]] melodies. The film contains excerpts from speeches given by various [[Nazi leaders]] at the Congress, including portions of speeches by [[Adolf Hitler]].
''[[The Eternal Jew]]'' (or The Wandering Jew) was directed by [[Fritz Hippler]] at the insistence of [[Nazi Germany|German]] Minister of Propaganda [[Joseph Goebbels]], though the writing is credited to [[Eberhard Taubert]]. The movie is done in the style of a documentary, the central thesis being the immutable racial personality traits that characterize the [[Jew]] as a wandering cultural parasite. Throughout the film, these traits are contrasted to the Nazi state ideal: While Aryan men find satisfaction in physical labour and the creation of value, Jews only find pleasure in money and a hedonist lifestyle.
Here is an incomplete list of Nazi film: [[List of German films 1933-1945|List of films made in the Third Reich]].
==Books==
The Nazis and sympathizers published a great number of books. Many beliefs which would become associated with the Nazis, such as [[German nationalism]], [[Eugenics]] and [[Anti-Semitism]] had been in circulation since the 19th century, and the Nazis seized on this body of existing work in their own publications.
The most notable is [[Adolf Hitler]]'s ''[[Mein Kampf]]'' detailing his beliefs. The book outlines major ideas that would later culminate in World War II. It is heavily influenced by [[Gustave Le Bon]]'s 1895 The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind, which theorized propaganda as an adequate rational technique to control the seemingly irrational behaviour of crowds. Particularly prominent is the violent anti-Semitism of Hitler and his associates, drawing, among other sources, on the fabricated "[[Protocols of the Elders of Zion]]". For example, Hitler claimed that the international language [[Esperanto]] was part of a Jewish plot and makes arguments toward the old German nationalist ideas of "[[Drang nach Osten]]" and the necessity to gain [[Lebensraum]] ("living space") eastwards (especially in Russia).
Other books such as ''Rassenkunde des deutschen Volkes'' (Ethnology of German People) by [[Hans F. K. Günther]] and ''Rasse und Seele'' (Race and Soul) by Dr. [[Ludwig Ferdinand Clauss]] attempt to identify and classify the differences between the [[Germans|German]], [[Nordic theory|Nordic]] or [[Aryan]] type and other supposedly inferior peoples. These books were used as texts in German schools during the Nazi era.
<gallery>
Image:Rasse und Seele title.png|"Race and Soul" schoolbook
Image:Rasse_und_Selle_female.png|"Race and Soul" showing expressions of Nordic people
Image:Rasse_und_Seele_photos_male.png|"Race and Soul" showing characteristics of Nordic people
Image:Kleine_Rassenkunde_cover.png|"Small Ethnology of the German People"
Image:Kleine_Rassenkunde_photos.png|"Small Ethnology" showing Germanic types
Image:Kleine_Rassenkunde_dolicho.png|"Small Ethnology" showing differences in skull shape
</gallery>
==See also==
{{commonscat}}
*[[Propaganda]], including the section about [[Propaganda#Nazi Germany|Nazi Germany]]
*[[Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda]]
*[[Big Lie]]
*[[Joseph Goebbels]]
*[[Leni Riefenstahl]]
*[[Lord Haw Haw]]
*[[Nazi architecture]]
*[[Hamburg America Line]]
*[[Soviet propaganda during World War II]]
*[[American propaganda during World War II]]
*[[Walt Disney's World War II propaganda production]]
*[[Mein Kampf]]
*[[Treaty of Versailles]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
<!--Uncited claimed ref
Christian H. Freitag: "Nazi Propaganda Strips", in: Comic Media (London) 8/ 1972, p.9-->
==External links==
*[http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/ Nazi and East German Propaganda Guide Page] German Propaganda Archive
*[http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/goeb73.htm "What is at Stake" by Joseph Goebbels] German Propaganda Archive
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