Propaganda In Nazi Germany

Question 1

Propaganda in Nazi Germany
Background Fact

Answer 1

The Nazis used various types of Nazi propaganda to spread their ideology and gain further support.

Question 2

Propaganda in Nazi Germany
Radio - Reich Radio Company

Answer 2

• The Nazis owned the Reich Radio Company and broadcasted Hitler’s persuasive speeches to the public.

✔ The Nazis could control all that was broadcasted through the radio and censor any information from the public. This discouraged opposition.

Question 3

Propaganda in Nazi Germany
Radio - People’s Receiver

Answer 3

• The Nazis introduced the ‘People’s Receiver’ scheme which provided the public with cheap radios. By 1939, 70% of households in Germany owned a radio.

✔ This allowed the Nazi message to reach more people and therefore generate more support.

x However, most Germans still could not afford a radio, leading to Nazi support coming from mostly the middle class, and not the large population of the working class.

Question 4

Propaganda in Nazi Germany
The press - Journalists

Answer 4

• Journalists in Germany required to be members of government controlled organisations.

✔ This gave Nazis control of what information was given out to the public through the press, giving them the ability to easily censor Nazi opposition.

Question 5

Propaganda in Nazi Germany
The press - Editors

Answer 5

• Through the new Editors Law of October 4th 1933, The Nazis kept registries of ‘racially pure’ journalists and editors and excluded those who were Jewish.

✔ The lack of Nazi opposition within the press discouraged opposition from the public.

x However, those who went against the Nazis and published anti-Nazi works were threatened with unemployment or even being sent to concentrations camps. This was done to intimidate people into submission however scared many people.

Question 6

Propaganda in Nazi Germany
Film - Nazi films

Answer 6

• Before movies played in theatres, Nazi advertisements would play, promoting the party. Nazis also made their own films to accumulate more support.

✔ This exposed more people to Nazi ideology and their promises to Germany unexpectedly. This constant exposure to the party generated and persuaded people into support.

Question 7

Propaganda in Nazi Germany
Film - Jews

Answer 7

• As well as making films about Nazis, they also promoted antisemitic films which villainised the Jews and portrayed them as ‘sub-human’.

✔ This gave the public and the Nazis to blame for Germany’s problems. As the Nazis promised to protect Germany from Jews, they gained more support.

x However, film was not as effective, as many people were either late or freely walked out of the theatre to avoid the Nazi media.

Question 8

Propaganda in Nazi Germany
Historians - Phenomenal growth

Answer 8

ZAB Zeman - The Nazis’ phenomenal growth “was due to the skilful exploitation of propaganda techniques”

Question 9

Propaganda in Nazi Germany
Historians - Dupe

Answer 9

Neil Gregor - “The function of propaganda was to to dupe, but to mobilise what was already latent.”