The Methods of Propaganda
- The Publicly Unknown Propagandas and Instigations of Nazi That Eventually Caused World War II
Michuhol Foreign Language High School, Shin, Jong Min
Michuhol Foreign Language High School, Lee, Bae Kyung
Abstract :
The purpose of this paper is to research the ways that the Nazi government used to lure the people of Germany into the World War II. This study is based on books that were written by specialists in Nazi Germany and the members of Nazi Germany. It was found that there were more things that Nazi did to instigate people that was known to the public. There are things that are not recognized as a Nazi's propaganda or instigation today. This research paper shows that not only the public sentiments were affected by propaganda and instigation but also there are many other ways used for the purpose of propaganda and instigation that Nazi used for the World War II.
[Keywords: World War II, Nazi, Germany, Propaganda]
1. Introduction
1-1 Research Background
A few months earlier, the army of Israel attacked the Palestine and thousands of civilians in Palestine were dead. Even though innocent civilians were killed by the Israelis and many internet users around the world have blamed Israel for the cruel acts, the actions of second thoughts and reflections of Israelis have been hardly found. Searching for the keyword 'Palestine' in the Israeli internet media, 'www.sderotmedia.com', it was found that articles about 'Palestine' from 2013 to 2014, 14 of the total 15 articles(except one article whose title is ''UNRWA Strongly Condemns Placement of Rockets in School) described 'Palestine' with words such as 'Terror, Threats, Terrorist organization, Hamas, and Military.' The words used to describe the Palestine are usually considered violent and unjust. The words would show Palestine as violent and unjust to Israelis. This reminds of us the Nazi government which were in power in Germany during 1930s and early 1940s(Ironically, the Jews were the victims then).
It is well known in the world that the Nazi contributed to causing World War II. It is also well known that the Nazi used various propagandas and instigations to lure the people of Germany. However, not only did they not know the specific ways of the Nazi’s actions but also they do not know what various ways the Nazi used to pick the Germans up. Today, the Nazi’s behaviors that are considered as propagandas and instigation are : Public Speeches that vibrated the people’ minds and controlling the mass media. However, the authors of this paper assumed that these two methods were not the only instruments they employed to seduce the German people into Nazism.
1-2 The Purpose of the Study
The purpose of the study is to find out the various ways that the Nazi used as propaganda weapons. The two components generally regarded as ways of Nazi, people-moving public speeches(even though the speakers of Nazi are really good at moving people by speeches) and controlling the mass media, are not enough to move people to agree with and participate in the war. As a result, the authors of this paper would like to find out more ways that contributed to Nazi’s domination in Germany and inform the different ways that were used in the propaganda.
2. Literature Review
Nazism can be defined when Adolf Hitler became the leader of German labor party, that is Nazi party, Nazism was the official ideology associated with the 20st century German Nazi party that led Hitler rise to power. The expression, "Nazism", is used with the Nazi dictatorial government(From 1933 to 1945) and is the abbreviation of "National Communism". The supporters of Nazism believed that Germans(so called Aryan) are superior to other races and supported establishing "Centralized Empire". In other words, their belief is that the Germans(Aryan) should be the race that dominates the world. This idea is the main cause that led Germany to the bloodsheds.
Yang(2011) studied the propaganda and instigation of Nazi Germany, China, North Korea. Yang claims that the speeches for propaganda and instigation that the Nazi Germany used were appealing to public emotions and repeating their ideology constantly so that the public could be moved. The speakers used microphones and loudspeakers in assemblies of the party and used radios and medias actively. Also, the speakers of Nazi justified the war in the beginning of the World War II and after being defeated by ‘Soviet Union’ in Stalingrad, the speakers fostered atmosphere that Germany may be defeated in the future, thereby causing people to be more active at serving the war as one German. However, as mentioned above in ‘Research and Background’, speeches are inadequate for completely seizing the people of Germany and the government even though the speakers are really brilliant. The historical facts that politicians seized the entire country and people cannot be found. Also Lee(2012) studied about the Nazi’s dictatorship and holocaust in the German history textbook’ Lee claimed that the Holocaust and other massacres of Jews by Germans was originally caused by Anti-Semitism, mentioning 5 types of history textbooks in Germany. Furthermore, Lee mentions about the moral responsibilities that the Germans should have about Holocaust and it was hatred of Germans against Jews that led Holocaust. However, no researchers have yet determined comprehensive background and methods. In fact, anti-Semitism was, spread across the entire continent of Europe. But why Holocaust and massacres happened only in Germany? Surely, Holocaust is a problem of morality. However, the authors of this paper doubted, ‘Didn’t the government use Holocaust for political reasons?’
3. In-depth analysis about the ways that Nazi used for propagandas
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| Adolf Hitler(1889~1945) |
3.1 The Historical Background - The Fall of Weimar Republic and the Nazi's seizure of the power.
From 1939 to 1945, the world was terrified with bloodsheds and cruelty. The Great Depression after the end of World War I, USA overcame the economic disaster by changing its Economy policy into "Modified Capitalism" and other imperial powers such as United Kingdom, and France overcame the economic difficulties by selling their national products to their colonies worldwide. However, countries like Germany whose industrialization was later was not able to solve the economic hardships they had. Consequently, they made World War II happen with the purpose of taking the colonies of existing powers. However, the question is that it is not easy to understand why Germany chose to make a war. Germany had enough base to propel "Modified Capitalism" like United States. However, Germany didn't propel 'Modified Capitalism' but propelled a war. The reason is the 'Nazism' that made the whole Germans agree the war. From 1933(When the Hitler gained power in Germany), 'National German Communist party' so called 'Nazi', was backed with overwhelming supports. 90% of the Germans supported the 'Nazi' party. As a result, the 'Nazi' was able to call the people in Germany into the war. In fact, the 'Extreme rights parties' existed in every country by the time then(US had KKK, France had extreme rights parties that later establish the ‘Vichy’ government and UK had ‘Federations of Fascists). It is questionable that party like Nazi could seize power only in Germany.
After the Versailles Treaty in 1919, Germany had to pay 132 billion marks to the allied in World War I. With the appearance of Weimar Republic, the German economy seemed to recover gradually. However, in 1929, due to Great Depression, the German economy marked the worst in history. Also, the people of Germany who were influenced by militarism tried not to follow the democratic system of Weimar Republic. Finally, the Social Democratic Party which had power then tried to build a new country, but every time the party tried, the politicians from the left and the right made the party suffer bringing up the aftermath of Great Depression and contents of Versailles Treaty. After then, the Weimar Republic lost their support from both the right side and the left side. The Nazi Party which vanished for some time right after the 'Beer Hall Putsch' reappeared. The Nazi, through propaganda and instigation, gained overwhelming supports.
In 1932, general election was held in Germany, and the Nazi party took one third of the whole votes, and became the dominant party in Germany. What we should carefully note is that Germany was exempted from most of the compensation(which was included in Versailles Treaty), and even though Germany suffered from the worst economic recession in history due to Great Depression, this phenomenon(that a country suffered from economic recession) was not just a case for Germany. Other victorious countries in World War I also suffered from economic troubles then. Even though countries like the United States and the United Kingdom propelled various policies(the United States - Modified Capitalism, UK - Selling tremendous goods to the colonies) and improved, they still suffered from the economic problems. However there were only few countries that chose Fascism and party that is extremely right sided.
Why should Germany had to overcome the country's difficulties through extreme ways? It was found that the reason why Nazism could get powers only in Germany is the Nazi's unique propagandas and instigations making manipulations in mass psychology.
3.2 Group Instigation controlling public psychology
Nazis, since seizing the power, established a department 'Propaganda of the Empire'. Through this department, the government was able to gain control of the mass media. The minister of the department, Paul Joseph GÖbbels(1897~1945) captivated the public with ringing speeches.
3.2.1 Mass hypnotism and mob psychology
Ralf Georg Reuth(1994) who studied evaluate GÖbbels and Nazi said that the methods that GÖbbels and Nazi used were not complicated at all. There are four main contents that were included in Nazi's propaganda.
1) Simple and Clear messages and repeating slogans in Speeches
Nazi's speakers like GÖbbels always used simple messages that could be imprinted in human minds. He used intense words such as 'Believe it, let's do it, can you do it, wake up'. In his speeches, these simple but memorable words can be found easily. Moreover, the speakers were able to convince and brainwash the citizens by repeating Nazi's slogans.
2) Fostering friendly image and changing citizens' concern through controlling the mass media.
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| Paul Joseph GÖbbels(1897~1945) |
The minister of the Department of propaganda, GÖbbels believed that the radio and the newspaper would be the best media for propaganda. GÖbbels lowered the price of a radio to 76 marks to make more people listen to the radio. Also, GÖbbels set up radio speakers in public places. GÖbbels suppressed medias that oppose the policies of the government. GÖbbels eliminated all the left-leaning newspapers and integrated three major medias into 'Imperial Broadcasting company'. In addition, GÖbbels enacted 'The law of prison editor' which made newspapers' editors and publishers to be responsible for the articles that were on their newspapers. This law made GÖbbels to effectively control the medias.
"Mass medias should be a piano in the government's hands"
-GÖbbels
In fact, GÖbbels is the first person who used parodies for political aims. He used radios, newspapers to express political situations comically. Furthermore, GÖbbels ordered the president, Hitler, to show his figures with ordinary citizens which made citizens of Germany to trust Hitler. Through processes that GÖbbels made for the president for a long time, Hitler was able to be a dictator who was recognized as the 'Hero' or 'The Great person' by the Germans. Kwon(2005) studied the Nazi's Hero-making project with the case of Horst Wessel. Kwon even mentioned that Hitler was a made hero mixed of fictional Hitler which was made through propagandas and heroism, and the image of Hitler himself.
3) Effective Use of Posters
Nazi effectively used posters for political reasons. The posters were composed of the ideology and beliefs that Nazi had and criticisms about social problems. The letters in the poster were in red which made it effective to attract people in contrast to the colors of walls and buildings. Also, the red color stimulated the Communist Party in Germany and imprinted the existence of Nazi, attracting people's eyes who were interested in left sides in politics. In addition, the contents help people to support the Nazi by mentioning the social problems by the time then and giving radical solutions to the problems. The poster acted a great role in getting attention from the Germans. Besides, Nazi was able to insert its ideas and beliefs in people's minds. Park(2004) studied Nazi's political posters and policies of propagandas from 1919 to 1932. He cited that posters were critical for Nazi since the posters allowed Nazi party to grow up by gaining public interests and making ethnical revolution among the Germans.
4) The use of Culture
Nazi also used culture. It was found that Nazi used classical music for promoting and detached musicians to raise soldiers's morales. In addition, the music was used to beautify the Nazi's behaviors that are considered wrong and cruel today, such as killing Jews. Furthermore, Nazi used movies for its political aims. It was discovered that Nazi used movies for propagandas and conveying messages. Synthetically, Nazi propelled a project called 'Kulturelle Gleichschaltung' which means 'Merging Culture'. Through this policy, Nazi not only was able to integrate people into one, but also inject its policies and ideology into people.
3.3. The image of Hero - ‘Schutzstaffel’
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| The Emblem of 'Schutzstaffel' |
The German force was composed of ‘Navy’, ‘Army’ and ‘Air Force’. Besides, there was ‘Schutzstaffel’(abbreviation : ‘SS’) which was not categorized to be regular forces. In the beginning of the organization, it was more like a royal bodyguards of Hitler. However, following extended wars, gained recognition of ‘Elite Troops’, instructed by the supreme commander of Germany. To enter ‘Schutzstaffel’, people had to prove that they are purely Aryans, and also had to be perfect in appearance. They had to be over 174cm, and they even shouldn’t have a cavity. The members of ‘Schutzstaffel’ wore military uniforms, and held parades armed with latest equipments. Consequently ‘Schutzstaffel’ had an effect of propaganda as the group of highest elites. Many young men who were seduced by ‘Schutzstaffel’ applied for the organization. The strong appearance from the members of ‘Schutzstaffel’ was fit for inciting the Germans.
3.4. Holocaust – The massacre of Jews
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| A picture showing Holocaust |
To change people’s concerns and foster the pro-war atmosphere, the Nazi murdered Jews massively. The Jews killed by the Nazi are about 6 millions. In reality, during the World War II, killing civilians, captives and subjugated people existed everywhere. Some massacres were committed by the Allied Forces. However, the difference between Holocaust and massacres committed by the Allied was that Holocaust was supported by the government(Nazi) and practiced by the government(Nazi). That is, Holocaust is different from the standard massacre forms that are usually done by compulsory labors or concentration camps. The latter aimed to benefit from economically through prisoners’ workforce and exploiting economic power and the ‘killings’ were by products. On the other hand, Holocaust aims only ‘massacre’ There was nothing more than a big ‘massacre’ Nazi killed Jews by various ways such as terrible torments, killing with gas, using people for medical experiment, making Jews march until deaths and making Jews work until their deaths. Treblinka, which became the symbol of Holocaust with Auschwitz today, the victims were gone directly to gas room as soon as they arrived. In addition, there were special armies called Einsatzgruppe(Task Force) that was one of the forces of Germany that took charge of killing the Jews. Even though the Holocaust was more like a waste of people and materials that Germany had, the Nazi government never stopped the massacre. At the end of the war, the Germany did not have enough people to operate factories and other facilities needed. Although they could use the Jews detained for replacing the lacking of workforce, the Nazi did not. This case reveals the seriousness of ‘Holocaust’
Then, It is hard to understand that Nazi government kept supporting a policy that did not give advantages to productivity. Why did not the Nazi government use the Jews for economical ways? The reason is that a specific target(which was the Jews) was needed for the Germans to express their hatred. Germany is one of the defeated nations in World War I. After the World War I, Germany lost its colonies due to the Principles of National Self Determination. Chaos followed in Germany, and defeatism was prevalent among the Germans.
According to Hitler’s ‘Aryan Supremacy’ policy, the Nazi government had to find reason of their lost from others, not from the Germans. And the target was Jews. From the past, Anti-Semitism had existed in Europe. The Nazi used Anti-Semitism for its political purposes. By Hitler’s theory, the reason why Germany was defeated in World War I was betrayals and incompetence of Jews. Also, the Great Depression in 1929 was a great event for Hitler to strengthen the belief of Anti-Semitism since it was a big crisis for the people in Germany and Hitler knew that the crisis is the chance for him to persuade people. Hitler and some of his men such as GÖbbels who were really good at addresses incited people which contributed to spreading the belief, the Anti-Semitism. To sum up, Hitler used hatred toward Jews to get supports from people and it was the main purpose of the Holocaust.
At first, even Germans whose level of hostility toward Jews was relatively low agreed with the policy of Holocaust. In reality, it was found that most Germans and even terrorists occupied by the time directly and indirectly cooperated with Holocaust.
Sergeant Leslie Brown who participated in World War II in 1944 said, "We called out the German villagers and made them to dig up the ground for graves. I want to bury the Germans too but I suppressed my anger. Even though the villagers was just in front of the site of Holocaust, they insisted that they know nothing about the killings. And I shouted that they are also murders as Nazis.
4. Conclusion
Nazi Germany put the world into fire pit during the midst of 20th century, causing World War II. And the war killed more than 500 million people around the world. The numbers of deaths cannot be considered as small. And It can be found that the basic factor why the Germany started World War II is the propagandas and instigations that were used by Nazi. Nazi, through controling mob psychology in which mass medias, posters and culture were used, Holocaust, and forming the image with 'Schutzstaffel', was able to dominate Germany and instigate people. The Germans who were instigated acclaimed to the Nazi. Eventually, Germany started a war with the Germans' consents, and Nazi government's propel, which led lots of deaths and damages. What should be noticed is that small and invisible materials in medias, culture and papers can be used for instigations and propagandas. Even the color of letters in a Nazi's poster was used to propagate and instigate for political reasons. And what is important is that most people are unaware of the propagandas and instigations made by governments that are ongoing invisibly and inaudibly. Such case of Israel in the 'Introduction part' can be an example of invisible, inaudible propagandas by the mass media. It can be quite dangerous when people get trapped in the propagandas and lose the critical thinking and beliefs. What the incidents that Nazi Germany brought, that is, what past and history tells us, is that people in the world should be aware of the propagandas and instigations that are performed closely and elaborately by the government or other organizations. Thus, to build up a brighter future, it is quite worthy to analyze, arrange and inform the detailed, elaborate, systematic strategies of Nazi's propagandas that used various ways to lure the nation's people.
References:
Adolf Hilter(1925). ‘Mein Kampf’
Choi Yong Chan(2007). ' Study of Nazi's dictatorship's 'Culture Revolution' and project of revolutionizing German movies'
Joachim C Fest(2005). ‘Inside Hitler’s Bunker : The Last Days of the Third Reich’
Kwon Hyung Jin(2005). 'Nazi's making of Public Hero :The case of Horst Wessel'.
Lee Byeng Ryeon(2012) ‘Nazi’s Dictaotrship and Holocaust on the German History Textbook.‘
Lee Jin Mo(1998). 'Nazi's Massacre of Jews and the role of 'ordinary Germans'.
Lee Kyung Boon(2007). 'War, Murder and Music - the role of music in Nazi Germany.‘
Park Sang Wook(2004). 'The poster and propaganda policies of Nazi from 1919 ~ 1932'.
Ralf Georg Reuth(1994). ‘GÖbbels’
Yang Moo Jin(2011). 'Propagandas and instigations : Cases of Nazi Germany, North Korea and China.'
