Summary 7 - How effective was propaganda?

Question 1

What did occasional plebiscites suggest regarding support for the regime?

Answer 1

Occasional plebiscites suggested strong support for the regime (but there were no free elections).

Question 2

What did Gestapo reports suggest about the support for Nazi policies from ordinary Germans?

Answer 2

Gestapo reports suggest there was some scepticism towards some policies.

Question 3

Give some factors, other than propaganda, which influenced the views of ordinary Germans?

Answer 3

• Age
• Class
• Geography
• Religion

Question 4

Was support for the Nazis specifically due to propaganda?

Answer 4

It is impossible to say whether support for the Nazis was specifically due to propaganda, however it was definitely a key factor.

Question 5

Give four successful aspects of propaganda?

Answer 5

• Propaganda aimed at the young was particularly successful
• Messages that reinforced existing beliefs and traditional values. were successful e.g. Middle classes shared the Nazi hostility to communism.
• Censorship was also successful at closing down alternative or critical messages
• Hitler Myth - belief in Hitler remained strong throughout