How did the Nazis use culture and the mass media to control the people? Flashcards
(9 cards)
1
Q
How did the Nazis use culture and mass media to control the people?
A
- In 1933, Goebbels made Minister for Propaganda and Enlightenment with control of the arts, media and culture
- To inform the German people of Nazi achievements, demonise the enemies of Nazi Germany and portray Hitler as a saviour
2
Q
How effective was Nazi propaganda?
A
- Did help indoctrinate, especially young Germans
- Many Germans saw through the lies but didn’t dare criticise the Nazis due to police state
3
Q
What methods did Goebbels use to keep people loyal to Hitler and the Nazis?
A
- Propaganda
- Censorship
- Control of the media
- The Olympics
4
Q
How did Goebbels use propaganda to keep people loyal to Hitler and the Nazis?
A
- Nuremberg rallies (watched by hundreds of thousands), uniformed SS, bands, flying displays used to create sense of belong to Nazi movement
- Classical music promoted along with folk songs
- Editors told to print pro-Nazi messages
- Movies carried pro-Nazi and antisemitic messages
- Posters with Nazi messages displayed all over Germany
5
Q
How did Goebbels use censorship to keep people loyal to Hitler and the Nazis?
A
- Shut down all anti-Nazi newspapers
- Sacked Jewish and left-wing journalists
- Jazz music was banned
- All books had to be approved by Goebbels
- Between April-May 1933, Goebbels organised book burning of Marxist and Jewish authors
- Foreign broadcasts were banned
6
Q
How did Goebbels use control of the media to keep people loyal to Hitler and the Nazis?
A
- Radios and loudspeakers on the streets to air Hitler’s speeches daily
- Cheap radio (the People’s Receiver) in over 70% of households by 1939
- All radio stations controlled by the Nazis
- Listening to anti-Nazi radio stations could result in death penalty
7
Q
How did Goebbels use the Olympics as a propaganda opportunity?
A
- Berlin Olympics in 1936 showcased Nazi achievements to rest of the world
- New stadium for over 100,000 people built with modern electric lighting and television cameras
- Many visitors in awe of scale of spectacle
- Undesirables cleared from the streets
8
Q
Who was Joseph Goebbels?
A
- Joined Nazi Party in 1924
and made regional leader of Berlin in 1926 - In charge of propaganda in 1930, became minister of Propaganda in 1933
- Goebbels fiercely loyal to Hitler, used media to portray Hitler as saviour of Germany
- In 1945, he and family committed suicide
9
Q
In what ways was the Olympics in 1936 not a good propaganda opportunity?
A
- African-American athlete Jesse Owens broke 11 Olympiad records in defiance of Nazi racial theory
- People shocked at military presence
