The Use Of Propaganda And Censorship Flashcards
Censorship
Censorship is when certain types of information is banned. Censorship stopped people from reading about or listening to the ideas that the Nazis disliked. For example, the banning of newspapers, radio stations, types of music or film. It controlled people’s beliefs by stopping them from accessing ideas that were different from the Nazi Party.
Propaganda
Propaganda is the opposite of censorship. Instead of banning ideas, it creates them. Propaganda in Nazi Germany usually involved the media, such as newspapers, radio, posters and film. These were used to persuade the public to share the beliefs of the Nazis. The Nazis controlled every aspect of the media.
Joesph Goebbels
Goebbels was the key person behind the Nazi ability to control and influence people. In 1933 he was made the Minister of People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda. Goebbels controlled all media. Despite not being Hitler’s idea Aryan looking man (he was very short and had limped with a club foot) Goebbels became popular with Hitler for his talented approach to promoting Hitler in earlier elections.
The press (NewsPapers)
Once in power, the Nazi Party took control of the press and created more of their own newspapers. Newspapers at the time were the main way that people found out information. Any information published in a newspaper had to be approved by Goebbels’s Ministry of Propaganda first. The press was often censored and told what they were NOT allowed to say.
❑ As early as 1933, Jewish editors and journalists would be sacked. Anti-Nazi newspapers would be attacked and then closed down. For example, by 1935 1,600 non-Nazi newspapers had been closed down.
The Radio
The radio became a key method of influencing the German public. Radios were used to broadcast Nazi propaganda such as Nazi Party speeches, interviews, parades and promote traditional forms of music encouraged by the Nazi regime.
❑ All radio stations were put under Nazi control often broadcasting speeches made by leading Nazis and Hitler. People were encouraged to listen as often as possible and the Nazis made sure radios were easy and cheap to buy. By 1939, 70% of German homes had a radio, more than anywhere else in Europe.
❑ Workplaces would be regularly told by the Nazi Party to make sure their workforce listened to any major announcements broadcast on the radio.
❑ The Nazis also made use of modern loud speakers systems which were placed in the streets. This made the Nazis appear modern to their young supporters.
❑ All radios were designed to only have a short range. This stopped Germans from listening to foreign radio stations. Listening to the BBC for example could result in the death penalty
Cinema and newsreels
More than 250 million Germans visited the cinema in 1933 – so film and newsreels were a powerful propaganda method especially before the time of TV.
Positive films about life inside Nazi Germany were created and used as propaganda. E.g. The Triumph of the Will (1935) was a powerful Nazi film which followed the Nazi Party rallies.
Before every film, there would be a 45 minute newsreel would be shown about the achievements of the Nazi regime. All films had to be approved by the Ministry of Propaganda.
Nazi Rallies
❑ Rallies were used by Goebbels during Hitler’s election campaigns. They were huge parades which would show the strength of the Nazi Party. Goebbels made the parades bigger and more frequent after 1933.
❑ The largest rally was held every year at Nuremberg. It was meant to symbolise German unity and the power of the Nazi Party. For example, in 1934, the Nazis used a statue of a giant eagle with 100 ft wing span as well as thousands of swastika flags, lights, banners and the loudest speaker systems.
❑ Up to 200,000 supporters could attend the massive stadiums and the rallies had a huge emotional impact on the crowd.
Sports
❑ Goebbels was keen to use sport as a way of influencing beliefs and support for the Nazi Party as well as a way to unite Germany. Sport stadiums were covered with Nazi symbols. Goebbels made sure that all teams used the straight arm salute during the German national anthem.
❑ Any victory in sport was linked to the victory of the Nazi Party as well as proof of the Aryan Race.
1936 Berlin Olympics
❑ Berlin was due to hold the 1936 Olympic Games and Hitler used this as a key opportunity to show Germany in a positive light. Germany built the largest stadium in the world then covered it with swastika flags and banners.
❑ The Olympic Games was so well organised it showed Germany’s pride and hard work.
❑ Germany won more medals than any other country (33) and this was linked to the success of the Nazi Party.
❑ The games were filmed and used to further promote Germany.
Film in Nazi Germany
❑ Before every film there had to be a 45 minute newsreel. This made the impact of propaganda even greater. All film plots had to be approved by the Nazi before they were created and the Nazi Party itself made around 1,300 films. With audiences over 250 million people in 1933, the films were always for entertainment but they always had underlying political propaganda messages.
❑ Goebbels created a propaganda cartoon aimed at children called Hansi. Hansi was a canary who often had to fight the evil black crows who had stereotypical Jewish features.
Music in Nazi Germany
❑ Jazz and swing music was banned as it linked to black African American people who were seen by the Nazis as an inferior race. Jazz was also linked to the modern Weimar age and the open sexual freedom of women in Germany, which the Nazis frowned upon.
❑ Wagner was a favourite of Hitler as he was German and his music sounded heroic and powerful. Beethoven, Bach and traditional German folk music were also approved of.
Literature in Nazi Germany
❑ Books had to be approved by the Chamber of Culture before being published. Quite simply, any books had to promote Nazi beliefs or be banned. In fact, 2,500 writers were officially banned and existing books which contained views the Nazis disagreed with were officially banned and destroyed.
❑ Millions of books were taken from schools, libraries and universities and burned. In one infamous event, 20,000 books were burned in May 1933, by students in Berlin. These books included authors such as Jews, Communists or anti-Nazi authors.
Architecture in Nazi Germany
❑ The Nazis wanted new buildings which made Germany look strong and powerful. Hitler’s favourite architect was a man named Albert Speer. He went on to design many of Nazi Germany’s major buildings projects. These included the parade ground for the Nazi rallies in Nuremberg and the new offices for the Nazis in Berlin.
❑ Speer designed his buildings to symbolise what the Nazis wanted people to think about Germany and the Nazi Party. Buildings were built as tall as possible as size meant strength.
❑ He used features from the buildings of the ancient Greek and Roman Empires such as arches and pillars so the buildings looked grand and heroic. Nazi buildings were decorated with huge Nazi flags so the buildings would have a powerful impact on those who saw them.
What was censored? (Banned)
❑ All forms of art and culture had to be first approved by the Reich Chamber of Culture before it was made public.
❑ The Reich Chamber of Culture banned any form of culture linked with other races such as the Jews and black African Americans . This was in the attempt to promote the arts of the ‘Aryan’ people of Germany. Many Jewish artists, musicians and writers fled the country. ‘Negro’ music such as jazz, which had become popular during the Weimar Republic was also banned.
❑ The Nazis banned anything which became ‘modern’ during the Weimar Republic. Any art of culture of this time was instantly associated with the failing Weimar Government.
What was promoted?
❑ The Reich Chamber of Culture promoted any form of art or culture which saw Germany in a positive light. It promoted the idea of a strong family, the traditional role of men and women, of hard work and discipline. It also promoted the idea of a strength, aggression along with ideas of loyalty to Hitler, self-sacrifice and fighting for the country.
