Nazis Methods of Control

Propaganda aims to control how people think.

• Spreading information that influences how people think & behave
• Certain points of view- leaves out important facts
• Gain support of German people

Goebbels took charge of Nazi Propaganda.

• Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda- founded 1933- led by Dr Joseph Goebbels
• Had departments for all the arts- artists etc had to register to get work approved
• Persuaded Nazis were right
• Stopped people reading & hearing anything that gave a different message

The Nazis used Propaganda as a method of control.

• Encouraged people to hate countries who signed the Treaty of Versailles
• Said Jews and communists were the cause of problems
• Used to unite Germans & make them believe the Nazis would make Germany great
• Took simple ideas & repeated them
• People- easier to persuade- depression had left them in poverty- they were promised help

Nazis used the media as a tool of Propaganda.

• Controlled the media 
• Controlled content of newspapers & broadcasts- sold cheap radios
• Films- showed strength of Hitler & weakness of opponents
• Important German director- Leni Rienfenstahl
• Posters- showed evil of Germany's enemies & power of Hitler

Other forms of Propaganda were used.

• Public rallies- annual Nuremburg Rallies focused on speeches by leading Nazis
• 1 million + attended the 1936 rally
• Displays of lights & flags to greet- made Hitler look powerful
• Nazis power- shown through art & architecture- grand new buildings appeared in Nuremburg & Berlin
• 1936 Berlin Olympics- show off German wealth & power
• Hitler was angered when Jesse Owen won 4 gold medals (african american)

Hitler was portrayed as the Saviour of Germany.

• Gobbels created- Hitler Myth- make him seem like God & saviour
• Cult of the Fuhrer
• Slogan: 'One people, one empire, one leader'
• Purpose of rallies- increase loyalty to Hitler
• Many Germans devoted their lives to Hitler

Propaganda had major effects on Society and Culture.

• Tried to control every aspect of life- inluding religion
• Priests who disagreed- went to concentration camps
• School textbooks- made Germans look successful- children taught to believe in German doctrines
• 'Strength through joy' progranme- show workers Nazis cared about conditions
• Promised empire would last 1000 years- based on traditional values
• Modern art- banned in favour- realistic paintings that fit Nazis ideology 
• Modern art- labelled degenerate & exhibitions- showed people how bad it was
• Nazis celebrated- German composers- Wagner
• Modern classical music & works by jewish composers & jazz- attacked

Society seemed different to that of the Weimar Republic.

• Weimar republc- disappointed old fashioned Germans- standards had slipped- welcomed Nazis
• More freedom under Weimar- Nazis-harmful- keep tight control 
• Nazis promises gave workers & business hope after depression

The Nazis set up a Totalitarian state.

• TS- government had complete control
• After weakening opposition- enabling act 1933- unlimited power to pass laws
• July 1933- other political parties were banned
• Law for Reconstruction of the Reich- Nazis total power over state governments 

Germany became a police state.

• ** began as bodyguard for Hitler- feared for cruelty
• Expanded under Himmler leadership (1930s)
• Himmler in charge- secret police called the Gestapo
• After 1933- concentration camps spread- hold political prisoners and dangers to Nazis
• Some were later turned to death camps
• Local wardens employed- ensure civilian loyalty
• People- encouraged to report disloyalty- many arrested as a result by Gestapo

Censorship helped to stifle opposition.

• 25000+ books were burned- single night 1933
• Only favourable news was allowed- Ministry of Public Enlightenment
• Jews- forbidden to own or publish newspapers- could be executed for publishing anti Nazis work

Hitler attacked all groups that might oppose the Nazis.

• 1934- Night of the Long Knives- killed rival leaders- Ernst Rohm (leader of SA)
• Tried to control churches- some members were sent to concentration camps
• 1933- trade unions were banned
• German Labour Front introduced- include workers & employers- strikes were illegal

The Nazis used concentration camps to removed anyone they did not like uncluding disabled people, homosexual, Jews and communist. Some of these became extermination camps.