Role of Leni Reifenstahl and Joseph Goebbels to Nazi Propaganda Flashcards
(6 cards)
Intro
Goebbles and Reifenstahl both made huge contributions to Nazi propaganda.
Goebbels was minster for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda and shaped ordinary peoples opinions by controlling every aspect of their lives. He gained control of media and censored everything.
Leni Reifenstahl was a famous German filmmaker. Her films “Olympia” and “triumph of will” use advanced techniques which helped create the image of Nazi Germany that Hitler wanted.
Goebbles promoting Propaganda for Nazi Message
Goebbles used this power as Minister for propaganda to spread the Nazi message.
The Nazi message spread that the Germans were Herrenvoldk (master race), who were superior to the Untermenschen (disabled, Jews, Slavs, homosexuals).
To spread this message Goebbels encouraged for the use of symbols and grand speeches to spread propaganda.
The Nazi Flag (Blutfahne) of red and white with a black Swastika in the middle became the official flag of the Nazi Party. It was displayed everywhere, alongside images of Hitler.
To spread propaganda further, “Mein Kampf” became compulsory reading for citizens and was widely used in schools.
Goebbles propaganda emphasise the Nazi message of gaining Lebensraum and expanding the German Military.
This propaganda increased the popularity of the party and by 1935, there were 5 million members.
Goebbel’s control of literature
Goebbels also began to control literature to ensure that the books people read reflected Nazi ideology.
I’m Summer 1933, SA members began to collect all the books they deemed ‘un-German’ , and removed them from libraries.
This led to a series of public book burnings; the most notable being in Berlin, May 1933.
Many famous authors like Sigmund Freud’s works were destroyed.
Goebbels Reich Chamber of Literature was founded in September to control literature.
4,000 titles were banned and 2,500 writers left Germany.
Goebbels work at eliminating everything un-German to control what people thought and learned, strengthened the power of Nazi Propaganda.
Goebbels control of Radio and media
To control the media to heighten the level of Nazi Propaganda circulating around Germany, Goebbles controlled radio and media.
Goebbels ordered the production of cheap radios (Volksempfänger) (people’s receivers).
These radios were made so that only German stations could be accessed easily.
These radios broadcasted music, political programmes and, drama.
By 1939, German radio ownership was the highest in the world.
Goebbles also hired talented filmmakers like Leni Reifenstahl to produce media that would spread the Nazi message and build unity through propaganda.
Goebbels plan was effective in bringing the Nazi Message into peoples homes
leni’s Nuremberg Films
Leni Reifenstahls films of the Nuremberg rallies was an important past of Nazi propaganda that spread the Nazi Message.
Her films were sued to build up strength and unity through propaganda.
Her first film, ‘victory of faith’ was an hour long propaganda film funded for by the Nazi Party.
Her most famous film was “Triumph of Will” which was filmed at the 1935 rally.
It included Hitlers Grand Speeches and the roaring crowd of 70,000 people.
She used camera angles and lighting to glorify Hitler and make him seem like a grand leader who will restore Germany to its former glory.
“There was great enthusiasm for Hitler, we had to find it with our cameras”
Riefenstahl’s films aided the spread of Nazi Propaganda.
“Olympia”
Riefenstahl was commissioned to make a film of the 1935 Olympics to spread propaganda that Nazi Germany was united and welcoming.
The resulting “Olympia” is considered to be one of the greatest sporting documentaries ever produced.
It extends the already present propagandas success even further.
It showed the German people as strong and United, much like Riefenstahl’s previous documentaries.
It was a very valuable contribution to Nazi propaganda
