Controlling Thought: War Propaganda in Nazi Germany and Contemporary America

The reason why this propaganda was so successful throughout the war was simple; there were more then one type of propaganda. Some of which were through wars

“let them forget there was such a thing as war.” They believed it was better to forget about their problems rather than deal with them.

What would make a group of people ignore their country’s own genocide? In Nazi Germany, the answer was propaganda. From the end of World War I, the German leaders knew how important propaganda was. By the time Hitler had complete control of the military, the powerful propaganda film Triumph de Willens was already being produced . By the time the second offensive started, they had already launched an international propaganda magazine called Signal. Both of these are prime examples of the purpose of German propaganda. Like earlier British propaganda, it had two primary roles. First, the control of the people. Gobbels’ propaganda about “national enemies” made it seem as if the Nazis were the only alternative to a loss in national security. The second goal was scaring foreign powers. Through international magazines and radio broadcasts such as Signal, German power and victories were highlighted and shown to the world. The three key issues are the attacks on Jews and Communists, the origins of these methods, and the uses of these methods to create a powerful Nazi government. Through slandering and suppression of the opposition of the Nazis, Hitler’s media soon became the voice of the country. The Nazi Party used propaganda to gain power out of fear for national security.

Rhetoric, or the art of persuasion, is a conventional tool employed in propaganda to manipulate the public. In Propaganda by Edward Bernays, modern propaganda is defined as “a consistent, enduring effort to create or shape events to influence the relations of the public to an enterprise, idea or group.” Manipulation is a quintessential quality in modern democracy—allowing the “executive arm of the invisible government” to control the public. For example, Hitler united a mass of people by reworking current movements and providing them with a sole leader and ideology—often using Nazi propaganda to foster a sense of community. Similarly, Bernays asserts that propaganda is often distributed by a select leader or utilized by the intelligent

“The essence of propaganda consists in winning people over to an idea so sincerely, so vitally, that in the end they succumb to it utterly and can never escape site from it” wrote Joseph Goebbel; a statement that Hitler strongly agreed with (Trueman). When Nazi Germany came to power in 1933, Goebbel was a master propagandist of the “Nazi regime and dictator of its cultural life for 12 years”. With Goebbles as a propaganda leader, Germany was able to develop an organized propaganda designed to to manipulate “ a cynic, devoid of inner devotions” and “ orchestrate a pseudo religious cult” (“Joseph Goebbels”). Subliminal propaganda proved to be a more valuable weapon than artillery and man power combined. Propaganda played a key part in every nation 's war effort; though, none were as efficacious as Nazi Germany. Germany knew the power that could be harnessed from propaganda and carefully cultivated, and molded their message to become one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

“Propaganda itself is neither sinister nor evil. It is really no more than the organization of methods designed to persuade people to think and behave in a certain way, and in wartime that usually means getting them to fight or to support the fight.” Though propaganda has been used in various ways

After World War I, Germany was is great debt and in great need for a political change in its government. Adolf Hitler hired a man named Joseph Goebbels to create posters and media by using the “art of persuasion” to ensure his message over the world (“Propaganda in Nazi Germany” 7). Hitler and Goebbels goal in the propaganda was to “Nazify” the German culture (“How did the Nazis” 5). However, the media that the Nazis presented didn’t state all the negative outcomes of their choices, instead the propaganda only praised the Nazis and the things that they were doing. One film that the Nazis created was of the Theresienstadt ghetto-camp.

Throughout Hitler’s reign over Deutschland, Germany was fundamentally monopolized by propaganda. This method of reaching out to large groups of people has been used throughout all of history, despite many people’s’ beliefs that the idea of propaganda use is new and modern. From as early as the 1400’s, the Athenians began creating an empire using methods of propaganda through playwrights, religious festivals, and handwritten books, which all gave opportunity to shape man 's beliefs and ideals. The first influential and arguably most successful use of propaganda in history was that used under the control of Hitler, which caused the majority of a powerful nation to discriminate against an entire group of people. “Hitler and Nazi officials believed it was possible to manipulate public opinion by using propaganda techniques including euphemisms, name-calling, fear, and ‘bandwagon’ which set the tone as “you are either for us or against us”. Hitler and the Nazi regime rose to power using tactical strategies to take advantage of Germany’s disorientation and vulnerability following World War I, “Coupled with this rejection of democracy which had failed Germany was a growing belief that strong leadership was needed to transcend class and sectional interests and provide a new start” (Welch). This historical investigation will focus on Hitler’s reign as well as the Nazi regime and war propaganda during the Third Reich, and will discuss the extent to which propaganda aided the success

“ I Fred Young the president of the United States declare that we have a war free world.” “ I believe that's a great thing but how will we settle things.” Stated Olaf Hunter. “That's a great question, up I believe will be able to to have a meeting like this and discuss what the problem is and came to a solution” remarked Henry Billmond the leader of Germany. “That's exactly what we are going to do,” replied Fred Young.

He suggests that war consists not of unilateral but reciprocal action, and thus we can

When WWI came to a close in November of 1945, Europe was caught in a strain of destruction and financial ruin. Four years of war would take nearly a decade to rebuild Europe back to its former glory. So, when deliberating the Treaty of Versailles, a wounded Europe chose to lay blame to Germany. Article 231, also known as the War Guilt Clause , would name Germany as the culprit of the entire World War and force them to admit defeat and take the responsibility of rebuilding Europe. This punishment did not sit well with many Germans who felt humiliated by the Allies torment and sought for action. This action would be found in the orations of a new rising star. Adolf Hitler, leader of the NAZI Party would rise through the ranks and become Fuhrer of Germany. Adolf Hitler knew that persuasion would allow him to gain control that would not falter, as fear so often could. Propaganda would persuade Germans to love Adolf Hitler, the Nazi Party, and rally them to fight for Germany. Propaganda would also invoke Anti-Semitism and the most famous Genocide in history: the Holocaust. Persuasive tactics were incorporated into every aspect of German life through the means of posters, contemporary art, film and other mediums. This paper will discuss the origins of propaganda and its purposes for the Nazi Party’s overall success including its process of persuasion in the German

The fact that wars give rise to intensive propaganda campaigns has made many people suppose that propaganda is something new. The truth is, it is not. The battle with persuasion for power and men’s minds is as old as human history (Casey, 1994d)

In Britain, everyone did not want to go to war; especially, their Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey. Edward Grey was in the forefront to making deals, amongst other nations. Throughout his time, he kept pushing toward no war. Grey was by no means an advocate for war, but an advocate for peace. (256) Although, came time, the inevitable occurred and had to take action.

Michael Balfour, Propaganda in War 1939-1945: Organization, Policies and Publics in Britain and Germany, p120

By thoroughly studying historical facts and evidence, it can be concluded that propaganda is the reason behind the widespread anti semitism in Germany that furthermore lead to the Holocaust occurrence. Propaganda is defined as “ideas that are spread, through various branches of media, for the purpose of influencing opinion.”(The) This is a term often used to refer to information that is constructed in favor of or in opposition to any type of political agenda. Though, this “agenda” wasn’t always of positive influence. During World War I, the public discovery was made that propaganda could be used as a very powerful weapon for shaping public judgment and actions. Propaganda became the significant weapon used by several powerful and influential governments. Some of these countries being Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, the U.S., Austria-Hungary, and Germany. The previously stated nations “employed people to craft political messages aimed at mobilizing their populations for war, weakening the enemy’s confidence and will to fight, and at winning over the audiences in neutral countries” (United). Hitler believed so strongly in this powerful weapon that he created a position in his new government titled the Minister of Propaganda and National Enlightenment.