Sophie, Emily, Adiba

Propaganda

• The Nazis produced many films to promote their views. Themes included the German military, industrial strength, and the evils of the Nazi enemies.

• Hitler was very aware of the value of good propaganda, so on March 13, 1933, The Third Reich established a Ministry of Propaganda, appointing Joseph Goebbels as its Minister.

• Under Goebbels and Hitler, the German film industry became entirely nationalised.

• There were several audiences for Nazi propaganda.

• Films were provided to schools as they were seen as appropriate for propagandizing children. Films especially made for schools were known as ‘military education’

Films

Triumph des Willens (Triumph of the Will) 1934

Der ewige Jude (The Eternal Jew) 1940

Romanze in Moll (Romance in a Minor Key) 1943

Grobe Freiheit (The Great Freedom) 1944

Unter den Brücken (Under the Bridges) 1945

Examples of films

• Propaganda campaigns created an atmosphere tolerant of violence against Jews.

• Propaganda also encouraged acceptance of the impending measures against Jews, as these appeared to show the Nazi government as stepping in and “restoring order.”

• Nazi films portrayed Jews as "subhuman" creatures infiltrating society. For example, The Eternal Jew (1940) portrayed Jews as wandering cultural parasites.

• The Triumph of the Will (1935) glorified Hitler and the National Socialist movement.

Films