L08 - Three Documents - Hitler and the Nazis

Question 1

What was the purpose of the Reich Ministry of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda, according to Goebbels?

Answer 1

The ministry was created to serve as a link between the regime and the people, ensuring coordination and “living contact” between the government and the population.

Question 2

What does Goebbels say about propaganda’s purpose?

Answer 2

Propaganda is not an end in itself but a means to achieve the goal of mobilizing and uniting people under the ideals of the national revolution.

Question 2

How does Goebbels describe the new government’s approach to the people?

Answer 2

He claims the government is a “people’s government” that arose from the people and executes their will, aiming to give people their due but in a different form than parliamentary democracy.

Question 3

How does Goebbels justify the effectiveness of Nazi propaganda?

Answer 3

He argues that propaganda methods are successful if they achieve their goal of mobilizing and uniting the population, regardless of whether they meet aesthetic standards.

Question 3

What is Goebbels’ stance on gaining support from the opposition?

Answer 3

He states the goal is not just neutralizing opposition but working to win over and ideologically convert the remaining 48% of the population who do not support the regime.

Question 4

What does Goebbels say about modernity and technology in propaganda?

Answer 4

Propaganda must stay modern and up-to-date, ensuring the Reich keeps pace with technological advancements, as only the latest tools are sufficient.

Question 5

How does Goebbels define the role of leaders in propaganda?

Answer 5

Leaders must act as “modern princes of the people,” understanding the masses and effectively communicating what the people need to understand.

Question 6

What does Goebbels emphasize about the centralization of propaganda?

Answer 6

All propaganda and public information must be centralized under one authority to ensure unity and effective communication.

Question 6

How does Goebbels refute claims that the Nazi government is reactionary?

Answer 6

He passionately denies the label of reactionary, emphasizing that the government’s aim is revolutionary and modern, aligning with the will of the people.

Question 7

According to Goebbels, how should propaganda interact with the masses?

Answer 7

Propaganda should not slavishly follow public opinion but guide the masses toward understanding and supporting the regime’s goals.

Question 7

Who was Hermann Führbach, and what organizations did he belong to?

Answer 7

Hermann Führbach was a German laborer, member of the Nazi Party (NSDAP), and Sturmabteilung (SA).

Question 8

How did Führbach’s early experiences during World War I influence him?

Answer 8

As a boy, Führbach was swept up in the patriotism of the era, carrying bags and guns of German soldiers heading to war.

Question 8

What event from the post-World War I revolution left a strong impression on Führbach?

Answer 8

Führbach felt particular disgrace when Red revolutionaries ripped off officers’ epaulettes in front of him at school.

Question 9

How did Führbach encounter Marxism during his apprenticeship?

Answer 9

While working at the Thyssen Company, Führbach experienced class struggle, as Marxists tore off his nationalist rosette and pressured him to join a syndicalist union.

Question 10

What was Führbach’s response to Marxist pressure at work?

Answer 10

He applied for membership in the German Metal Workers’ Union but later quit and joined the German Eagle defense league in 1923.

Question 10

What significant event occurred for Führbach on July 4, 1926?

Answer 10

Führbach took the oath on the flag before Adolf Hitler, becoming the first man in Mülheim to do so.

Question 10

What activities did Führbach engage in during the French occupation of the Ruhr in 1923?

Answer 10

Führbach worked with the German Eagle to gather intelligence on French troop strength and equipment.

Question 11

How did Führbach describe the determination of Nazi members despite opposition?

Answer 11

Führbach stated that persecution only strengthened their resolve to spread Hitler’s ideas and win the unity of the German people.

Question 12

When did Führbach join the Nazi Party, and who founded the local group?

Answer 12

Führbach joined the Nazi Party in 1925 after Dr. Joseph Goebbels founded the local group in Mülheim-Ruhr.

Question 13

How did Führbach and other Nazis interact with Communists and Marxists?

Answer 13

They actively infiltrated Communist and Marxist ranks, converting some of their members to the Nazi cause.

Question 14

What challenges did Führbach and other Nazis face in their early activities?

Answer 14

They faced persecution, were insulted as “Nazi kids” and “pagans,” and dealt with police beatings, imprisonment, and violence from Communists.

Question 15

What opposition did the Nazis face from the Centre Party and the Catholic Church?

Answer 15

The Centre Party fought them bitterly, and Catholic priests denied church funerals to dead Nazi comrades and forbade uniformed Nazis from entering churches.

Question 16

What did Führbach believe was the ideological basis of the Nazi Party?

Answer 16

Führbach claimed that the Nazi Party’s foundation was Christian, despite opposition from the Catholic Church.

Question 17

When did Adolf Hitler deliver his radio address outlining his vision for Germany’s future?

Answer 17

Hitler delivered the speech on February 1, 1933, two days after being appointed Chancellor of Germany.

Question 18

How did Hitler describe the 14 years following World War I?

Answer 18

He called it a period of betrayal, loss of honor and freedom, and disunity among the German people due to ideological and political conflicts.

Question 18

What economic and social conditions did Hitler highlight in his speech?

Answer 18

Hitler described widespread unemployment, the pauperization of the middle class and artisans, and the struggles of German farmers.

Question 18

What did Hitler claim would happen if Bolshevism (Communism) took over Germany?

Answer 18

He warned it would lead to chaos, destruction of German civilization, and the collapse of Europe’s cultural heritage.

Question 18

What did Hitler blame for Germany’s political and economic collapse after World War I?

Answer 18

He blamed internal discord, ideological divisions, and the Treaty of Versailles, which he said destroyed trust between nations.

Question 19

How did Hitler characterize the Communist ideology?

Answer 19

He called it a “negative, totally destructive ideology” that attacked family, honor, loyalty, and traditional morals and faith.

Question 20

What appeal did President Paul von Hindenburg make to the nationalist parties?

Answer 20

Hindenburg urged nationalist leaders to unite for the salvation of the Reich, as they once fought together in World War I.

Question 21

What was the National Government’s “first and supreme task,” according to Hitler?

Answer 21

To restore the unity of mind and will of the German people.

Question 22

How did Hitler define the National Government’s moral and cultural foundation?

Answer 22

He stated it would protect Christianity as the basis of morality and the family as the nucleus of the nation.

Question 23

What goals did Hitler set for German youth in his vision?

Answer 23

To instill respect for Germany’s great past and pride in its traditions.

Question 24

What two major tasks did Hitler propose in his Four-Year Plan?

Answer 24

1.Save the German farmer to secure the nation’s food supply.

2.Overcome unemployment through a comprehensive effort.

Question 25

How did Hitler criticize the Marxist parties for their governance over the previous 14 years?

Answer 25

He accused them of creating economic ruin, unemployment, and societal collapse, calling the result “a heap of ruins.”

Question 26

What promise did Hitler make to the German people in his speech?

Answer 26

He pledged to lead Germany to recovery and asked for four years to prove his government’s effectiveness.

Question 27

What role did Hitler say faith and divine favor would play in Germany’s recovery?

Answer 27

He appealed for God’s blessing on their work and trust from the German people, emphasizing their mission was for Germany, not personal gain.