Nazi Germany and Its People - Propaganda and Censorship

Question 1

What was the purpose of Nazi propaganda?

Answer 1

Between 1933 and 1945 the Nazis used propaganda to control what the public knew and to create more support for the regime. The Nazis wanted to influence people’s opinions and beliefs to win the hearts and minds of the people.

Question 2

Who was in control of Nazi propaganda?

Answer 2

Joseph Goebbels was put in charge of the Nazi government’s propaganda in 1933. He was the minister of people’s enlightenment and propaganda.

Question 3

What was the main message of Nazi propaganda?

Answer 3

• Blaming the Jews for Germany’s problems.
• Criticising the Treaty of Versailles.
• Making Germany great again.

Question 4

What was the propaganda strategy of the Nazis?

Answer 4

Goebbels thought propaganda worked best when the people were repeatedly given basic, short messages.

Question 5

What methods of propaganda did the Nazi party use?

Answer 5

• The press and newspapers were under tight control.
• Film was used to push the Nazi message.
• The availability of radio was expanded to cover all aspects of people’s daily lives.
• Rallies became an annual propaganda event.
• Sport was Nazified to showcase how the Germans were a superior race.
• Literature was used to tell a Nazi worldview.
• Music had to be of Germanic roots.
• Art was created to promote Nazi ideals.

Question 6

How was Volksgemeinschaft used within Nazi propaganda?

Answer 6

Volksgemeinschaft means ‘national community’. The Nazis used this idea within their propaganda to encourage people to feel pride for their country and to want to be part of the great German community the Nazis claimed they had created.

Question 7

What was the Nazi control of the press?

Answer 7

The Nazi government controlled the press in different ways by censoring information and directing what was published.

Question 8

Who was in charge of controlling the press for Nazi propaganda?

Answer 8

Minister of the people’s enlightenment and propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, was in charge of the press.

Question 9

How did the Nazis control the press?

Answer 9

• All newspapers that opposed the Nazis were shut down, and the rest were often told what to write.
• Only the stories that showed the Nazis in a positive light were allowed to be printed.
• They also used the press to spread negative messages about the Jews. Any editors of Jewish origin were fired and replaced.
• The press was also censored and forbidden to publish certain information.

Question 10

What were Nazi rallies?

Answer 10

Nazi rallies were organised mass gatherings for propaganda purposes.

Question 11

How did the Nazi Party use rallies as a method of propaganda?

Answer 11

• They were used to celebrate Hitler’s greatness.
• To demonstrate how impressive and well organised the Nazis were.
• To reinforce their control of the people.

Question 12

Where did the Nazi Party hold the rallies?

Answer 12

• Weimar in 1926.
• An annual national rally was held in Nuremberg between 1933 and 1938.

Question 13

What were the Nuremberg rallies like in Nazi Germany?

Answer 13

The Nuremberg rallies were the largest rallies that the Nazis organised. They were held every summer. They included marches of soldiers with flags, torchlight processions and speeches by leading Nazis, with the highlight being a speech by Hitler.

Question 14

What happened at the Nazi Party rallies?

Answer 14

Alongside the mass rallies there were other events such as bands, speeches, fireworks and air shows.

Question 15

What was the role of sport in Nazi Germany?

Answer 15

Sport was used as propaganda to influence people’s attitudes and to increase support for the Nazi regime.

Question 16

How did the Nazi government use sport as a method of propaganda?

Answer 16

• They Nazified sport by flying Nazi flags at all venues, and sportsmen and women had to give the Hitler salute when the national anthem was played.
• To promote its ideas of the importance of health and physical fitness.
• They used the 1936 Berlin Olympics to promote Nazi rule. A huge new stadium was built, and Hitler used the fact that Germany won 33 medals as evidence that the German race was superior.
• Leni Riefenstahl filmed the games and her slow-motion technique was used as an example of Nazi brilliance.

Question 17

What was the role of literature for the Nazis?

Answer 17

Literature was used as propaganda to influence people’s attitudes and to increase support for the Nazi regime. Therefore, literature was controlled by the Nazis.

Question 18

How did the Nazi government use literature as a method of propaganda?

Answer 18

• The Nazis controlled literature by banning some books e.g. books by people that the Nazis did not approve of, such as Jews, communists, and anti-Nazis.
• All new books had to be approved.
• ‘Mein Kampf’ was promoted heavily; for example, it had to be in every school.
• A massive book burning took place in Berlin in 1933, in which books by Jews, communists and anti-Nazis were destroyed.
• Books which focused on glorifying German history or the German race were promoted.

Question 19

What about music in Nazi Germany?

Answer 19

Music was used as propaganda to influence people’s attitudes and to increase support for the Nazi regime. Music, therefore, was controlled by the Nazis.

Question 20

How did the Nazi government use music as a method of propaganda?

Answer 20

• Goebbels said music had to be of German or Austrian origin.
• They banned certain types of music such as jazz, which was seen as being influenced by black people, as well as music by Jewish composers such as Mendelssohn.
• Traditional folk and classical music were promoted as being German.
• Marching music, old folk songs and classical music by Bach, Beethoven and Mozart became popular.

Question 21

What about the arts and culture in Nazi Germany?

Answer 21

The arts and culture were used as propaganda to influence people’s attitudes and to increase support for the Nazi regime. Therefore, the arts and culture were controlled by the Nazis.

Question 22

How did the Nazi government use the arts and culture as a method of propaganda?

Answer 22

• The Nazi government set up the Reich Chamber of Culture in September 1933.
• It controlled art, culture, music, literature, theatre, film and architecture.
• All art and culture were required to promote Nazi ideas and give the same message: that all Nazi beliefs and ideas were correct and what Hitler did was in the best interests of the country.
• Membership was compulsory for actors, artists, musicians and writers or they could not work. Jews were not allowed to become members, and so, could not participate in the arts.

Question 23

What about the use of the radio in Nazi Germany?

Answer 23

The radio was used as propaganda to influence people’s attitudes and to increase support for the Nazi regime. Therefore, radio was controlled by the Nazis.

Question 24

How did the Nazi government use the radio as a method of propaganda?

Answer 24

• The Nazi government produced a cheap ‘people’s radio’ and 70% of households had one by 1939.
• All radio stations were censored and controlled by the Nazis.
• Speakers were installed in public so everyone could hear the radio.
• More Germans owned radios than did Americans.
• Listening to a non-Nazi radio station was illegal. Many tried to tune in to the BBC, but would be taken to a concentration camp if they were caught.

Question 25

What was the role of film in Nazi Germany?

Answer 25

Goebbels controlled the film industry so that all films supported and promoted Nazi ideas such as loyalty, self-sacrifice and discipline. They also focused on Germany’s glorious past.

Question 26

How did the Nazi government control film?

Answer 26

• The plots and details of new films had to be sent for approval to Goebbels as minister of the people’s enlightenment and propaganda.
• The Nazis made about 1,300 films of their own.
• Films had to have a Nazi propaganda message e.g. anti-communist or anti-Semitic.

Question 27

What did the Nazis do with art?

Answer 27

The Nazi government controlled artists through the Reich Chamber of Visual Arts, which was part of the Chamber of Culture. Artists had to be members to produce, sell or teach art. All art that wasn’t acceptable to the Nazi government was removed from galleries.