Propaganda & Censorship Flashcards
What was the aim of propaganda & censorship?
Brainwash people into obeying the Nazis and idolising Hitler
How was the press censored?
Newspapers could only print stories favourable to/approved by Nazis
Daily briefings were held for editors to tell them what to print and where to place articles in their newspapers
Jewish journalists were banned
Editors had to join the Nazi Party or be dismissed
By 1935, 1,600 newspapers were closed
By 1939, 69% of newspapers were directly owned by the Nazis - Der Strummer example of this
How was radio censored?
All radio output controlled by Goebbels’ Ministry through Reich Broadcasting Corporation
Listening to foreign stations was banned
“People’s Receivers” (cost 76 marks) could only be tuned to Nazi station - by 1939, 70% of households owned one
“Mini receiver” only cost 1 weeks’ salary
Radio wardens used to ensure people listened to major speeches being broadcast
How were public events used to the Nazi’s advantage?
Rallies to show public support for Nazism - involved music, speeches & demonstrations of German military strength.
Biggest rally was annual Nuremberg Rally held in August:
Lasted a week, with different Nazi organisation being featured each day
4 specially-built stadia
Rallies were characterised by:
Order & discipline
Marching
Massive displays of flags & symbols
Rousing music (like the “Horst-Wessel-Lied” Nazi anthem)
Clever use of modern technology (such as arc lamps to create atmosphere, loudspeakers, car cavalcades and flypasts by planes). Rallies were held at other times in the year as well, for example on Hitler’s birthday.
How were sports events used to Nazi’s advantage?
Allowed people to be spectators/participants in mass activities
Strength Through Joy (KdF) movement organised many of these
Berlin hosted Olympics of 1936, which Nazis used as opportunity to showcase success of regime & demonstrate superiority of Aryan race
The victories of African-American athlete from USA, Jesse Owens, infuriated the Nazi leadership
Olympic held in Berlin in 1936 - boxers won many medals, showcasing aryan strength
New 100,000 stadium built for Olympics & T.V. Cameras & largest stadium clock
How did Nazi’s expose their message further?
Loudspeakers placed in cafés, town squares & workplaces to blare out Nazi propaganda
Therefore, even those who didn’t have radio didn’t escape Nazi message
How did the Nazis censor culture?
Hitler saw modern art, such as abstract art, as ‘degenerate’ - over 6,500 works of art removed from display across Germany
Instead, Hitler encouraged ‘Aryan art’, which showed physical & military power of Germany & Aryan race.
Hitler very interested in architecture & believed could be used to project power of the Nazi regime
Favoured 2 types - classical architecture for public buildings, & rural-style architecture for other buildings.
Most important architect of period was Albert Speer, who redesigned Berlin as well as designing main stadium in Nuremberg where annual rallies held
How did the Nazis censor music?
Goebbels drew up lists of what was acceptable:
Jewish classical composers, e.g. Mendelssohn & Mahler, banned & works of German composer Wagner promoted & gained huge popularity - they also promoted folk songs & marching music
Nazis were strongly opposed to jazz music, referred to as “degenerate Negro music” from racially inferior people
How did the Nazi’s censor literature?
Nazis made list of over 2,500 banned authors & encouraged burning books that challenged Nazi ideas & values
In 1933, 20,000 unacceptable books destroyed at University of Berlin - included books written by Jews, pacifists, socialists & communists.
Permission was needed to publish books - Goebbels used his own novel, called Michael, as model for suitable literature.
How did Nazis censor films?
All film plots shown to Goebbels for approval before production
They had to be entertaining - heavy topics not allowed, but references to benefits of Nazism permitted.
Most common themes were German greatness & anti-Semitism, e.g. The Eternal Jew
Love stories with pro-Nazi slants encouraged as they helped people escape from reality
Nazi Party gradually took control of film production & distribution
Babelberg became German Hollywood - membership of Reichsfilmkammer for film makers was compulsory -over 100 German films made each year.
Goebbels often used film stars, like Lil Dagover, to help promote popularity of party in Germany
He provided cheap cinema tickets to encourage people to watch films
Nazi propaganda was shown before feature films & doors shut early for this, meaning you had to watch it
Many American films, like Tarzan, were banned
How did Nazi propaganda & censorship impact on the lives of German people?
Overall, propaganda helped reinforce existing beliefs but less successful in getting people to accept new ideas
Propaganda & censorship meant culture became tiresome; range of music, films & books very restricted
Quality of much culture was poor - exception was film, high-quality work was produced
Particularly by Leni Riefenstahl in her documentaries called ‘Triumph of the Will’ and ‘Olympia’
German young people less influenced by American ideas than other European nations because of Nazi ban on foreign culture
Propaganda & censorship hid worst excesses of the regime from the public, which meant many Germans supported Hitler
Some musicians, artists, actors & writers left Germany, others joined the Nazis’ cultural organisations
Some studies suggest many Germans closed their ears to anything showing Nazis in bad light - they knew what was going on, but chose to ignore it. Therefore propaganda could be seen as highly effective as persuaded German people to allow Nazis implement policies
What are some other ways Hitler displayed his message?
Swastika appeared on every government uniform & public building
Pictures of Hitler displayed everywhere
Mein Kampf became best seller because people thought it wise to display loyalty
Germans had to greet each other with ‘Heil Hitler’ raised arm salute
In 1934, Malicious Gossip Act made anti-Nazi jokes punishable by fines or imprisonment
Why was Nazi propaganda successful?
Use of emotive language (i.e. playing on emotions)
Limited number of simple soundbites, hammered home by frequent repetition
Issues presented in black & white terms, & over-simplistic solutions offered tailoring of propaganda to concerns of key groups
Providing scapegoats for problems, such as Jews and communists
Heavy emphasis on symbolism,e.g. flags, pennants & uniforms
Modern means of communication,e.g. loudspeakers, radio & cinema
Big spectator spectacles, e.g. mass rallies & sports events
