Nazi Propaganda

Table of Contents

Table of Content 1

Opening 2

Introduction 3

Paper Bullets 4

Conclusion 10

Enclosure 11

Bibliography 12

Opening

My name is Nellie Horn and I visit the Helmholtz Gymnasium in Potsdam, Germany. My being a 9th grader, I am obliged to write a paper with any topic concerning Europe. My choice? Nazi Propaganda.

A little odd, perhaps, considering the many other topics to pick from, the Euro, the European Union, scandals in the Windsor house. I think that the thing that interested me in this topic was the fact because it was surprisingly up-to-date. I think 9/11 and the behavior of the American government (in other words, George Bush) shows some similarities- patriotism used as an advertisement.

The other factor was the devastating side of humanity displayed: the manipulation, the blame, and finally, the support of anti-Semitism. Interested by all this, I set out to explain them and to find out, if such a thing is still possible today.

Introduction

Propaganda:

n. association or scheme for propagating a doctrine; attempt, or material used, to propagate a doctrine.

Propaganda:

n. gezielte Werbung u. Beeinflussung fÐ"јr eine bestimmte Idee, eine politische →Ideologie, aber auch Ware.

Furthermore, propaganda is manipulation. The manipulation of masses, emotions, unconscious desires, principles and ideals. Propaganda can only be measured by one unit- success.

Nazi-propaganda, it seems, was quite successful. But through which mediums was this success made possible? In the following essay on Nazi Propaganda, the methods of this disturbing event- the Ð''brain wash' of an entire country- are explored.

Paper Bullets

"All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual level, that even the most stupid of those towards whom it is directed will understand it. Therefore, the intellectual level of the propaganda must be lower the larger the number of people who are to be influenced by it."

Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf

From Chapter VI: War Propaganda

Germany is washed up, desperate as it gazes up onto the posters, swastika and German soldier proudly displayed. There is not much to understand nor interpret just: Der Sieg wird unser sein! (See P1)

To whom should propaganda be addressed? To the scientifically trained intelligentsia or to the less educated masses?

It must be addressed always and solely to the masses.

What the intelligentsia need is not propaganda but scientific instruction. The content of propaganda is as far from being science as the object depicted in a poster is from being art. A poster's art lies in the designer's ability to capture the attention of the masses by form and color.

The function of propaganda does not lie in the scientific training of the individual, but rather in directing the attention of the masses toward certain facts. . . . It must be directed toward the emotions, and only to a very limited extent toward the so - called intellect.

The receptive ability of the masses is very limited, their intelligence is small, their forgetfulness enormous. Therefore, all propaganda has to limit itself to a very few points and repeat them like slogans until even the very last man is able to understand what you want him to understand.

It didn't use big words- it used pictures and symbols to display its Ð''product'. Therefore, everyone could understand it: from toddlers to seniors, from the mentally handicapped to those of larger intellectual capacity. Exactly that was the principle after which the Nazi-propaganda was conducted; it was group oriented and simple to comprehend. It demanded attention, not from a single person, but from the masses.

Mass psychology, a trend started by Gustave le Bon and his book Psychologie des Foules. Apparently, Hitler read his book as many theories of Le Bon's were practiced in his (Hitler's) speeches. Mass psychology, and furthermore, Hitler's propaganda and views on it functioned after the following principles:

Ð'* the masses, unlike the accompanying individual loses his ability to cope with critic

Ð'* the masses handle unselfishly

Ð'* the masses can not be persuaded by arguments

Ð'* the masses are easily excited and irritated

Ð'* base convictions of the masses only change slowly

Ð'* morals of those in the masses are independent of intelligence or origin of the members

Using des Foules as his guide, Hitler found it an easy goal to manipulate and bias Germans. In fact, it even went so far that Hitler chose when and where to hold his speeches as to persuade his listeners with his words. The connection between psychology and propaganda wasn't the only successful one however; soon the swastika could be found in art, too.

Hitler als BannertrÐ"¤ger (see P2) by Hubert Lanzinger, based on a quote of Hitler's in 1939: Who wishes to live, fights then, and who doesn't wish to brawl in this world of everlasting wrestling, doesn't deserve to live. Lanzinger, inspired by this,