Activity 12: Propaganda
A definition
The Nazis used propaganda to great effect by concentrating on a few key messages and repeating them often.
From 1930, propaganda was controlled in their party by a special department headed by Dr Joseph Goebbels. The department exercised tight control over all aspects of propaganda, especially the press, at national and local levels.
Once they came to power in 1933, the Nazis established a new Ministry of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda, again headed by Goebbels.
- From what you have already learned about the Nazis, what do you think was the main focus of their propaganda?
Propaganda and Children
The basic principle of the Nazi propaganda campaigns was to agree a few key themes and slogans and to emphasise them over and over again.
Their appeal to young people was particularly strong and even school textbooks employed propaganda techniques to indoctrinate children with Nazi ideals. The images below are taken from a child’s book. Look at the images carefully then answer the questions that follow.
For Discussion
- Why did the Nazis produce school books for children that showed their flag?
- Do the children look like they are having a good time in the pictures? What do you think is the purpose of this?
- Look back at the information about the Hitler Youth. To what extent do books such as these contribute to the peer pressure to conform?
- What is the purpose of using the word ‘Heil’ (German for ‘Long Live’) for children’s writing practice?
- What do you notice about the colours used in the picture books? Why do you think these colours have been used?
The Poisonous Mushroom
This is the cover of a book for children. 
- In what ways is it antisemitic?
The book Der Giftpilz (The Poisonous Mushroom), was published in 1938 for older schoolchildren in Nazi Germany. In the book, a mother explains to her son, Franz, that there are good and bad people in the world. The good people are the good mushrooms. The bad people, the Jews, are the poisonous mushrooms. Read this extract then discuss the points that follow.
‘It is almost noon,’ says the teacher. ‘Now we must summarise what we have learned in this lesson. What did we discuss?’ All the children raise their hands. The teacher calls on Karl Scholz, a little boy on the front bench. ‘We talked about how to recognise a Jew’. ‘Good! Now tell us about it!’ Little Karl takes the pointer, goes to the blackboard and points to the sketches. ‘A Jew is usually recognised by his nose. The Jewish nose is crooked at the end. It looks like a figure 6. So it is called the “Jewish Six”. Many non-Jews have crooked noses too. But their noses are bent, not at the end, but further up. Such a nose is called a hook nose or eagle’s beak. It has nothing to do with a Jewish nose.’ ‘Right!’ says the teacher. ‘But the Jew is recognised not only by his nose…’, the boy continues. ‘The Jew is also recognised by his lips. His lips are usually thick. Often the lower lip hangs down. That is called “sloppy”. And the Jew is also recognised by his eyes. His eyelids are usually thicker and more fleshy than ours. The look of the Jew is sly and sharp…’ Then the teacher goes to the desk and turns over the blackboard, on its back is a verse. The children recite in chorus: From a Jew’s countenance |
For Discussion
- What image of Jewish people is intended by the front cover and the extract from ‘The Poisonous Mushroom’?
- ‘The Poisonous Mushroom’ was widely read in Nazi Germany. What do you think would have been the effect on children reading this book?
- Why do you think the Nazis spent time on producing propaganda for young people?
Look at the image below. The text reads: ‘A child’s gaze’
- What impression does it give of Hitler?
- Why do you think this image was used on a postcard in Nazi Germany?
Look again at the same picture as before but this time it has writing over it. The writing says: Grandson of Rabbi Wedell, Dusseldorf.
It emerged that the child in the picture was Jewish. The postcard was then withdrawn from circulation.
- Why do you think the Nazis withdrew this propaganda image?
- In what ways does this image challenge the Nazi views on race?
- What do these postcards tell us about the Nazi attitude to propaganda?
The Nazi Propaganda Department issued detailed directives to the National Socialist press to control newspaper reporting of their activities.
In Nazi Germany there was no ‘free press’.
Read this excerpt from a Reich Propaganda Department directive to National Socialist newspapers for the Presidential elections of March 1932 then discuss the question that follows.
| 1. From Easter Tuesday 29 March until Sunday 10 April inclusive, all National Socialist papers, both daily and weekly, must appear in an enlarged edition with a tripled circulation. Two-thirds of this tripled circulation must be made available, without charge, to the Gau leadership responsible for its area of distribution for propaganda purposes… 2. From Easter Tuesday 29 March until Sunday 3 April inclusive, a special topic must be dealt with every day on the first page of all our papers in a big spread. Tuesday 29 March: Hitler as a man. Wednesday 30 March: Hitler as a fighter (gigantic achievements through his willpower, etc.). Friday 1 April: Hitler as a statesman – plenty of photos… |
- Why do you think the party made sure they had such control over the press?
- In what ways does this control fit in with your understanding of fascism? [See Section 2 An Enquiry into Fascism/Obedience]
Look at this antisemitic poster of a Jewish man.
Notice the following symbolism in the poster:
- The hammer and the sickle
- The money in his hand
- The hebrew style lettering
- What is the purpose of each of these symbols?
- Why do you think the Nazis chose to include mostly drawings and cartoons in their antisemitic propaganda rather than images of real Jews?
