Nazi Propaganda

1. Nazi Propaganda Indoctrination of the German people

2. Why Hitler used propaganda • Hitler was very aware of the value of good propaganda and he appointed Joseph Goebbels as head of propaganda. His official title was Minister of Propaganda and National Enlightenment

3. Goebbels’ role • As Minister of Enlightenment, Goebbels  had two main tasks: • to ensure nobody in Germany could read or see anything that was hostile or damaging to the Nazi Party. • to ensure that the views of the Nazis were put across in the most persuasive manner possible.

4. Effects on media • Nazi Germany introduced a system of censorship. You could only read, see and hear what the Nazis wanted you to read, see and hear. In this way, if you believed what you were told, the Nazi leaders logically assumed that opposition to their rule would be very small and practiced only by those on the very extreme who would be easy to catch.

5. What did this mean? • Books that did not match the Nazi ideal was burnt in public - loyal Nazis ransacked libraries to remove the 'offending' books. • The same approach was used in films. The Nazis controlled film production. Films released to the public concentrated on certain issues : the Jews; the greatness of Hitler; the way of life for a true Nazi especially children, and how badly Germans who lived in countries in Eastern Europe were treated.

6. Propaganda everywhere… • To ensure that everybody could hear Hitler speak, Goebbels organised the sale of cheap radios. these were called the "People's Receiver" and they cost only 76 marks. A smaller version cost just 35 marks. Goebbels believed that if Hitler was to give speeches, the people should be able to him. Loud speakers were put up in streets so that people could not avoid any speeches by the Fuhrer. Cafes and other such properties were ordered to play in public speeches by Hitler.

7. Examples of German propaganda • German people's comrades! German housewives! • You all know the disgraceful methods that so-called "German" Jews abroad are using to incite against the German people and Adolf Hitler's national government. • If we do not want to give up and sink into deeper misery, we must defend ourselves. • We therefore call on you to heed the appeal of our Führer, the German people's chancellor, • for a boycott against the Jews • and expect the full support of each person in this defensive action. • Do not buy from Jewish shops! • Do not go to a Jewish doctor! • But maintain the strictest discipline. Do not even touch the hair on a Jew's head. • The boycott begins Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. • From that moment on, we will watch to ensure that the boycott is strictly followed. He who tries to ignore the boycott will be seen as an enemy of the German people. On Saturday morning at 9:30 at the Lindenplatz and the Pflänzer there will be a large public • Boycott Meeting • Appear in masses and show that, in the hour of need, you stand with the German people. • In Geisenheim, the following establishments will be boycotted: • Georg Strauß, grain merchant, MarktstraßeGebr. Strauß, shop, MarktstraßeMoritz Strauß, ironware, MarktstraßeHugo Forst, leather goods, LandstraßeDr. Nathan, physician, LandstraßeLöwenthal, butcher, Pflänzer • The local group office of the NSDAP