Educational Resources on Propaganda in Nazi Germany
- Encyclopedia of Nazi Propaganda
The article "Nazi Propaganda" from the Holocaust Encyclopedia details how the Nazi regime employed propaganda to garner public support, enforce its ideology, and facilitate the persecution and extermination of Jews. Utilizing modern technology and mass communication methods, the Nazis disseminated their messages through various media, including newspapers, films, radio, and posters.
- Bpb: Medien und Propaganda 1933
The article "Medien und Propaganda 1933" by Niklas Venema, published by the Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb), examines how the Nazi regime utilized media to consolidate power and promote its ideology. After seizing control in 1933, the Nazis transformed their propaganda from aggressive attacks on the Weimar Republic to a strategy aimed at integrating the populace into the "Volksgemeinschaft" or national community. They capitalized on existing societal values and prejudices, using state-controlled media—including radio, film, and print—to disseminate their messages.
- Bpb: Kriegsideologie, Propaganda und Massenkultur
The article "Kriegsideologie, Propaganda und Massenkultur" by Dr. Jörg Echternkamp examines how the Nazi regime systematically employed propaganda, ideological narratives, and mass culture to mobilize German society for total war. Central to this effort was the portrayal of war as a heroic, existential struggle for the "Volksgemeinschaft" (people's community), glorifying fallen soldiers as national heroes and fostering a cult of the dead. The regime utilized a controlled, emotionally charged language to suppress dissent and manipulate public perception, replacing nuanced discourse with simplistic, emotive appeals.
- The Holocaust Explained: Propaganda and the Nazi rise to power
The article "Propaganda and the Nazi rise to power" from The Holocaust Explained details how the Nazi Party effectively utilized propaganda to ascend politically in Germany between 1924 and 1933. Under Joseph Goebbels' leadership, the Nazis employed both modern media—such as films and radio—and traditional methods like posters and newspapers to disseminate their ideology. Additionally, they vilified Jews and Communists, portraying them as enemies of the German people.