Goebbels’ Contribution to the Nazi Propaganda Strategy in the 3rd Reich.

Introduction:

On Oct.16.1919, Adolf Hitler turned out to be a propagandist. Without Propaganda, Hitler would never be a public figure, leave alone rise to power. Studies show that it was through Propaganda that he made WWI possible(Marquis,1978). Hitler’s strategy of Propaganda was mainly from its content, which was a fictionalization of the global into simple slogans that were to be repeated until the enemies’ definition was exterminated. Thus, from Hitler’s ways, it can be noted that Propaganda was a critical tool during the war. Alongside attempts to cause an effect on public opinion, Hitler used Propaganda directly against his enemies. It was earlier used even before Hitler’s adaptation of Propaganda as a tool against his enemies. From the start of the war, balloons and airplanes would be used to drop leaflets and posters over fighting civilians and forces. In history, Nazis were among Propaganda’s most innovative and sophisticated users. Before the Nazis rose to power in Germany, they used Propaganda to draw the public’s attention to gain support from Germans. A major reason why Nazi Propaganda worked during the German 3^rd Reich was that after losing the first world war and the punishment imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, the “European superpower” had found itself in a deeply vulnerable state. Germany was ripe for Propaganda, and the Nazi Party effectively utilized it to advance its ideology. Hitler used diverse means to ensure his message reached huge masses by appointing key people to his leadership team. In March 1933, Hitler created the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, appointing Joseph Goebbels as Propaganda Minister. In turn, Goebbels became a key to the Nazis’ use of Propaganda to increase their appeal. To ensure Nazi propaganda was at the top, Goebbels used modern media, like radio and films, and traditional campaigns, such as newspapers and posters, to ensure the Nazi message reached huge numbers. It was via his strategy that he started building an image of Hitler as a stable, strong leader that Germans required to be powerful (The Holocaust Explained,n.d.).Thus its key to find out how significant was the role of Goebbels in Nazi propaganda strategy in the creation of the 3^rd Reich?

Germany’s ripeness for Propaganda and the Nazi’s rise to power.

Although Propaganda can be an efficient means to shape public opinion, it is also important to understand that other major forces come into play for Propaganda to work. The article by Casey ( 1944) shows that whether Propaganda prevails in peacetime or even wartime environments, it uses tools to mobilize opinions and attitudes. A major reason why Nazi Propaganda worked during the German 3^rd Reich was that after losing the first world war and the punishment imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, the “European superpower” had found itself in a deeply vulnerable state. This dire situation was further elevated by the collapse of the American stock market in 1929. The already fragile Weimar Republic, established after World War One, faced increased economic and political challenges and, followed by a greatly wounded national pride, created a perfect environment for Nazi Propaganda to thrive(Silva,2022). Germany was severely affected by the Wall Street Crash due to its dependence on American loans. The loans became recalled, thus leading the Germany economy to sink into a deep depression, the business became decreased where wages fell by 39%, and the working population decreased from 20 million in 1929 to 11 million in 1933(The Holocaust Explained,n.d.).As a result, these hurdles and political instability left German people disillusioned, hence looking for a concept that made Nazi propaganda ideas attractive. Thus, the Nazis exploited this moment of weakness to gain support and control over the population through propaganda tools and strategy. Resulting in efficiently cementing their power and paving the way for their extremist ideologies and policies.

Nazi Propaganda during the Third Reich tapped deep-seated emotions using a carefully planned and deceptive strategy, creating a potent brew of fear, resentment, pride, and hope(Wilson,1994). Nazi Propaganda emphasized threats to national security to play on Germans’ anxieties about being vulnerable and needing a powerful leader to protect them. It masterfully used prejudices already in place and widened rifts to blame specific groups, particularly Jews, for societal and economic issues. At the same time, the Nazis exploited the wounded national pride of the German people by appealing to their desire for the restoration of glory and greatness and by making promises of a return to a mythologized past (Facing History and Ourselves, 2020). Invoking a sense of shared identity and belonging, they depicted a united, racially pure Germany. The Nazis instilled a contagious hope by promising a better future and a revitalized nation through potent imagery, stirring speeches, and large-scale rallies. The Nazi propaganda machine swayed the German populace by deftly playing on emotions(O’Shaughnessy,2009). This helped them gain support for their extreme ideology and maintain their hold on power.

The basis of Nazi Propaganda was a deliberate blending of ideology, deceit, and control. The Nazi Party’s propaganda apparatus, under the direction of Joseph Goebbels, sought to sway public opinion, manage information, and foster unwavering adherence to Adolf Hitler and his agenda ( Holocaust et al..). It used effective resources like the media, rallies, and indoctrination to spread a carefully crafted narrative that emphasized Aryan supremacy, demonized deemed enemies, and exalted the Nazi regime.

Goebbels’ rise to power and the evolution of his propaganda techniques/tools.

Goebbels, despite the fact not part of the Aryan race, was able to become an important figure in the 3^rd German Reich. The Nazi party highly valued Goebbels’ strategic vision and resource mobilization. His organizational talent, deft use of propaganda strategies, and tireless work-based ethic caught the attention of the Nazi Party Hitler(Holocaust et al..). He centralized media outlets to Nazi Propaganda through newspapers, radio, films, and public events. He influenced public opinion and maintained the regime’s total flow of information.

Goebbels began associating more with right-wing political figures before finally joining the Nazi party in 1924(Heiber,2023). Goebbels had proven to be a dependable and successful party publicist. He assumed leadership of the Nazi Party’s propaganda department in 1928 and worked relentlessly to spread the party’s ideology and increase its power(Welch,2001). Hitler made Goebbels the Reich Propaganda Leader in 1930, confirming his status as the party’s top propagandist and demonstrating his appreciation for his abilities and dedication(Yad Vashem,n.d.). Following Hitler’s election as chancellor in 1933, Goebbels’ stature within the Nazi Party increased. When he was appointed Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, Germany’s media and cultural organizations came under his command. The article by Doob (1950) depicts that Goebbels oversaw a rise in censorship, the silencing of critics, and the development of Propaganda as a crucial instrument for strengthening Nazi power.

An effective propagandist must understand the needs and desires of the people. Goebbels was well aware of this. In the past, Propaganda was done in Ancient Rome and Greece. For example, there was a Pedicle’s funeral Oration, a persuasive narrative that emotionally linked the death of Athens citizens to the power of its people (Butt, 2023). However, it was only done systematically once Goebbels learned to use it as a weapon. He broke down the process into a system to achieve a specific goal (Herma, 1943). He did not invent the wheel; technology made it easier to reach people’s hearts and greatly amplified Goebbels’s propaganda strategy. In the work by Stark (1930), Hitler/Goebbels stated that Propaganda is not bad. It merely portrayed the German truth rather than British falsehood.

The evolution of Goebbels propaganda tools: before and after becoming the Minister of Propaganda and Enlightenment. Before and after Goebbels’ appointment as the Minister of Propaganda and Enlightenment, the propaganda apparatus underwent a significant transformation (Levine,2011). Before taking on this significant position, Goebbels used a variety of platforms to spread Nazi Propaganda, including newspapers, rallies, and speeches. He understood the value of mass communication and used it to spread the party’s message, frequently focusing on particular demographics and appealing to their emotions to win over voters. However, Goebbels achieved unheard-of control over Germany’s media and cultural institutions after being appointed Minister of Propaganda and Enlightenment in 1933. He drastically altered the propaganda machine thanks to his newly acquired power. He established strict censorship, centralized media outlets, and used cutting-edge methods to sway public opinion. Goebbels pioneered mass spectacles like the infamous Nuremberg Rallies, radio broadcasts, and films to spread Propaganda throughout society (Flitton et al.,2014). He recognized the value of using visual and auditory tools to enthrall the populace and indoctrinate them with Nazi ideology. Goebbels strategically orchestrated Propaganda to become a potent control tool, influencing the German populace’s attitudes, convictions, and actions. His appointment as Minister of Propaganda and Enlightenment signaled a significant change in the scope and sophistication of the Nazi regime’s propaganda strategies. The Ministry aimed to ensure that the Nazi message was successfully communicated through art, music, theatre, films, books, radio, educational materials, and the Press.

Gleichschaltung, which is German for “coordination” or “synchronization,” was a crucial procedure used by the Nazi regime to bolster its hold on German society. It involved systematically bringing different institutions, organizations, and sectors under the control and subordination of the Nazi Party(Imhoof,2009). The goals of Gleichschaltung were to stifle dissent, establish a centralized authoritarian rule, and forge a uniform society that wholeheartedly adhered to Nazi ideals. By implementing Gleichschaltung, the Nazis destroyed pre-existing democratic institutions, repressed political rivals, and replaced them with devoted Nazi adherents (Holocaust et al..). Political parties, labor unions, professional associations, educational institutions, the media, cultural institutions, and even the judiciary were included in this process. Non-Nazi organizations were either outlawed, appropriated, or changed into tools of Nazi control and Propaganda. The Nazis consolidated their power, eliminated opposition, and significantly influenced public opinion, thanks to Gleichschaltung. An article by Lichtenberg (2017) shows that the Third Reich’s totalitarian government was largely established and upheld thanks to the Gleichschaltung process. It was believed that “Goebbels was an extreme narcissist “who needed a figurehead to get affirmation and approval(Gerwarth,2015). This would also explain his obsession and deep admiration for Hitler. This would make him one of Hitler’s closest allies. He was essential to the Nazi Propaganda. He heavily prioritized: Emotional Manipulation, a Fascist based ideologies such as Nazism, which gives more importance to emotions, sensations, and sentimental values rather than rational thinking and material values(Möckli,2011). He also prioritized simplification and repetition, where every propagandistic act should be done within the limits of the simplest mind, the official slogan of NSDAP and also one of the most successful propaganda acts of Nazism “Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer” (One people, one empire, one leader) can be given. That slogan was created regarding the basic principles of Nazi propaganda, such as simplicity, and emphasized the power of a unique leader(Falcoff,1998).

Goebbels employed the powerful techniques of simplification and repetition to shape public opinion and manipulate the masses. Recognizing the persuasive impact of concise and easily understandable messages, Goebbels simplified complex ideas and concepts into catchy slogans and simple narratives that resonated with the German population. By simplifying and repeatedly hammering key points, Goebbels aimed to control and shape public perception, ensuring that the Nazi narrative remained deeply ingrained in the minds of the German people(Stout, 2011). This deliberate use of simplification and repetition played a pivotal role in the success of Nazi Propaganda during the Third Reich. It led to control of mass media, tailored Propaganda, cult personality, demonization of enemies, and totalitarian control. Creating cult of personality – Creation of Adolf Hitler’s image of supremacy. Goebbels said in 1944: “We do not need to know what the Führer is going to do — we believe in him.”

Goebbels’s principle strategies for Propaganda:

Propaganda must evoke an audience’s interest and be transmitted through an attention-getting medium to be perceived. According to Goebbels’s principle strategies for Propaganda, it needed to evoke the audience’s interest and be transmitted through an attention-getting medium(Doob, 1950). Furthermore, more importantly, he employed the “three” most effective mediums: Newspapers, Press conferences and Arts. By far the most effective branch of political education, which in this connection is best expressed by the word ‘ Propaganda,’ is carried on by the Press. The Press is the chief means employed in political ‘enlightenment'(Caspar,1958). The article by Doob (1950) indicates that “Goebbel was too crafty to pour forth his soul to a secretary”.This means that anything he said should have been motivated by whatever public audience he imagined would find his words worthy.

Furthermore, perhaps the most important media used for Nazi Propaganda was film. But before the Nazis could implement film to enhance Propaganda, they had to take control of the German film Industry. Thus with control of the film industry, it would be up to Goebbels to implement the principle of film propaganda production. For example, one of the known Nazi propaganda films was “Triumph of the Will,” directed by Leni Riefenstahl.

Moreover, Goebbels understood filmmaking’s mechanics and the film’s power to stir emotions, distract from reality, and soften unpalatable truths. Goebbels’s Contribution to Propaganda: Even in film today, it shapes public opinion (Kubrak, 2020). The Newspaper is another tool Goebbels used to ensure Nazi propaganda was at the top. Under Goebbels’s leadership, Newspapers had to print views agreed upon by the MinistryMinistry or else would face the consequences. The journalist would be given a press briefing with information the government required to publicize. For example, there was the Volkischer Beobachter, the key Newspaper of the Nazi party, mostly printed in Munich during morning hours(Petrocelli,2020). Also, there was Der Angriff, known as the assault and founded by Goebbels, printed in Berlin during the afternoon.

Conclusion

In history, Nazis were among Propaganda’s most innovative and sophisticated users. Propaganda played a huge role in the success of the Nazis, which Hitler led. Hitler indicated that “propaganda is key for masses who cannot comprehend intellect and logic but ought to be convinced of anything if own emotions are manipulated.” Thus Nazi Propaganda was not the same until Goebbels was appointed minister of the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. Even though the conditions for Propaganda to work were set in Germany. The Nazis used Propaganda efficiently by combining it with modern technology. The purpose of this paper was to; find out how significant was the role of Goebbels in Nazi propaganda strategy in the creation of the 3^rd Reich? Goebbels, despite the fact not part of the Aryan race, was able to become an important figure in the 3^rd German Reich. When he was appointed Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, Germany’s media and cultural organizations came under his command. Thus, to ensure Nazi success, Goebbel employed diverse strategies. He centralized media outlets to Nazi Propaganda through newspapers, radio, films, and public events. Goebbels was a pioneer in the use of mass spectacles like the infamous Nuremberg Rallies, radio broadcasts, and films to spread Propaganda throughout society. Moreover, more importantly, Goebbels employed powerful techniques of simplification and repetition to shape public opinion and manipulate the masses.

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