3.3 Controlling and influencing attitudes Flashcards
why did Hitler want to control and influence the attitudes of the public?
because he wanted to create and generation of people loyal to the Nazi regime and its value
Whats was Joseph Goebbels role in the Nazi movement and when was he given this title?
He was the Minister of People’s Englightenment and propaganda
he was made this by Hitler in 1933
How did Joseph Goebbels want his propaganda?
He wanted Nazi attitudes to be so deeply buried in his propaganda that people did not even know that their attitudes were being changed.
How was the Press used for propaganda?
- Journalists were sometimes told what they could not publish (censorship)
- given regular briefings, containing information the government were willing to release
- sometimes given direct instructions on what to write (propaganda)
- Any newspapers which opposed Nazi views were closed down- this meant that there was no real free press in Germany, so every newspaper was a Nazi newspaper
How many newspapers were closed down in 1935 alone?
1,600
How was the radio used for propaganda?
- After 1933, Goebells censored radio stations and used them to broadcast Nazi propaganda - all radio stations were but under Nazi control,
- cheap mass-produced radios were sold to the public and were placed in cafes, factories, schools and the street
- All radios had to be designed to have a short-range so that they could not pick up foreign stations
By 1939 what percentage of German homes had a radio
70% - more than anyway else in Europe
How were rallies used for propaganda?
- Huge rallies and military parades were held, to create a sense of unity power and strength that would make Germans either proud of their country or fill them with terror
- Goebbels had the entire resources of the German state at his disposal so he made Nazi rallies and parades bigger and more frequent
- a mass rally was held each year at Nuremberg to advertise the strength the Nazi Party and Nazi Germany
Example of a Nuremberg rally and say its features
Nuremberg 1934
- stadium had a giant eagle with a 100-foot wing-spread
- thousands of swastika banner
- crowd of 200,000 party supporters waving 20,000 flags
How was sport used for propaganda?
how was sport Nazified
Sport was Nazfied :
- sports stadiums covered with Nazi symbols, linking enthusiasm for sport with enthusiasm for Nazism
- insisting that all teams, including those abroad, make the Nazi salute during the German national anthem so that sports stars seemed to be paying respect to the Nazi state
- hailing sport victories s victories for Nazi ideals, such as striving to be the best
How was the Berlin Olympics of 1936 used for propaganda?
- Nazis built an Olympic stadium which could hold 110,000 people - the largest stadium in the world. It was decked out with swastikas and other Nazi symbols
- all the events were very well organised, to demonstrate Nazi efficiency
- Germany won 33 medal - more than any other country. Goebbels hailed this as a success for Nazism
- element of censorship: Reich press chamber issued an order that, if the press printed any information about the Olympics before the official press repost it was at their “own risk”
Why was the Berlin Olympics of 1936 important?
- promoted Nazi ideologies such as Aryan superiority
- opportunity to present Nazi Germany in a good light
- it was well organised and a grand spectacle
What were Nazi attitudes to art and culture?
- had strong objections to many modern aspects of modern culture which had emerged during the Weimar republic
they favoured cultural activities, which stressed :
- romantic ideas about Germany’s past, such as country life and strong families
- Nazi ideals, like loyalty, struggle, self-sacrifice and discipline
When was the Reich chamber of culture established?
September 1933
What were the intentions behind the Reich Chamber of Culture, what did they do and what did they cover?
To make sure cultural activities were consistent with Nazi ideas. Consistent Gleichschaltung
they banned cultural activity with which they disagreed and promoted culture which fitted Nazi beliefs.
they covered art and architecture, literature, music, theatre and film
What did all painters and sculptors have to be members of?
the Reich chamber of visual arts
What happened to artists who were refused membership or had their membership taken away?
they were forbidden to teach, produce or sell art
How many paintings and sculptures were removed from galleries in 1936 and what artwork did this include?
12,000
- including the works of Picasso and Van Gogh
What was the Reich chamber of visual arts established under?
the chamber of culture.
How many artists were accepted to the compulsory Reich Chamber of Visual arts?
42,000
How was the chamber of Fine arts rules enforced?
surprise visits were made to artists studios by the Gestapo
How was the kind of art that the Nazis wanted encouraged?
give a real-life example
art competitions were held, with large prizes for the winners
the Greater German art exhibition, including 900 exhibits, was held in 1936
What were Nazi attitudes to architecture?
- disliked the modernist and futuristic architecture
of the Weimar republic - wanted buildings which made Nazi Germany seem powerful
Who was a popular architect amongst the Nazi party?
Albert Speer
What did the Nazis like about Albert Speer’s architecture?
- built huge buildings, so that size gave the impression of power and permanence
- Buildings had features from the Greeks and Romans so appeared grand and historic
- buildings were decorated with massive Nazi flags so that the powerful impact of the buildings reflected on the Nazi Party
What types of music were censored?
- Jazz music
- Blues
- Swing
- All works of black people and inferior people
How did the Nazis try to control the performance and composition of music in Germany?
censorship
What type of music was promoted?
give examples
Music that emphasised aspects of German culture which the Nazis liked
- Richard Wagner was favoured because he put to music the legends of heroic and powerful Germans from the past
- Beethoven. Bach and traditional German folk music were also favoured
How was literature used for propaganda?
- No new books could be published without approval from the Chamber of Culture
- Existing books containing views which the Nazis didn’t like were censored
- 2,500 writers were officially banned
- millions of books were taken from universities and public libraries and burned on huge, public bonfires
What is an example of a public bonfire that burned books?
May 1933:
- students in Berlin burned 20,000 books written by Jews, communists and anti-Nazi authors
- they destroyed books by Sigmund Freud and Albert Einstein amongst others
How were Films used for propaganda?
- A 45-minute newsreel highlighting Germany’s success preceded films showed in cinemas
- All film-makers had to send plot details of every new film to Goebbels for approval
- the Nazi Party made 1,300 of their own films for general release
- some Nazi films were for entertainment but had underlying political messages such as Hitlerjunge Quex (1933)
What is Hitlerjunge Quex about?
a young member of the Nazi party killed by communists
