Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Propaganda
Through out history propaganda has been used to influence people's ideas and beliefs, but during WW II it became very popular, mostly in Nazi Germany. In order to get what he wanted achieved Hitler used propaganda, in which he got the idea from the allied powers in WWI and other historical events. He also required jornalists, writers, artists and radio broadcasters to register with the Ministry. The Ministry acted in a dictoral way because they controlled and revised all that was sent out to the public. Along with controlling what people spread around they also spread false information out in order to gain followers and make them believe that what they were doing was the right thing. Hitler was sifting through the information that was getting to the public and in some was he was brainwashing them to believe and think what he wanted them to.
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Propagana definately aided Hitler in controlling all of Germany. He was able to manipulate people into believing what he thought was true. Hitler's propaganda was especially abundant with spreading hatred against the Jews. His anti-semitism propaganda got people to believe that he was right in killing all of the Jews. He also established the Nazi youth, which brainwashed children at a young age to believing Hitler's ideals.
ReplyDeleteI think that Hitler absolutely used propaganda as a means of deceiving Germany. He took advantage of the fact that through radio, writers, and journalists he could control what the people of Germany heard and thought. Each source of media was under Hitler's control and used to manipulate all of Germany. The constant messages promoting his ideals definitely did brainwash Germany, like Kristen said. Hitler spread lies in order to justify his actions that might be questioned and since no other information was made available suggesting that what Hitler was doing was cruel and evil, the German people couldn't really question what was going on.
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy to think about how easily people were influneced by Hitler's anti-semtic propaganda. Referring to the "brainwashing" Shawna said, the German people who had no preious knowldge about the Jewish community, could look at one piece of propoganda and decide to dedicate their lives to carrying out "the Fuhrer's " duty. the Nazi youth was also a scary yet effective way Hitler influneced young Germans. WWII definately was fueled by propaganda both on the front and back home in the states.
ReplyDeleteAs Erin said each citizen felt that it was there duty to carry out what Hitler wanted them to do. They felt some sort of alligence to him and and felt that they needed to fufill whatever message that he sent to them. This also led to strong nationalism within the country because people believed that whatever Hitler said was true. He used this propoganda to promote Germany and degrade the beliefs German citizens had of other opposing countries.
ReplyDeleteJessie, if you can find links to war posters you may want to put them up, so others can see some the propaganda that was used
ReplyDeleteHitler's use of propaganda was beneficial to him in so many ways, especially in creating his army of young Nazi's. After he had convinced pretty much all of Germany that his anti-semitic views were justifiable, he saw the opportunity to totally manipulate those that were growing up his craziness. I can't even imagine being born into the Nazi youth, especially since no one around them was questioning it. Hitler's methods were sick, but like Erin said he was effective. I think propaganda definitely allowed him to breed his Nazi youth who would grow up to be his most loyal followers.
ReplyDeleteAfter learning more about his background it is more noticable to why Hitler would have acted the way he did. Certainly having a harsh father did not help shape his character. Also being a failure in school and having such high views of himself caused him to want to be able to control others.
ReplyDeleteLinks:
http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/posters2.htm
This website contains many posters that Germany used to influence the citizens.
Knowing that Hitler doctored the media and really censored what Germany knew kind of puts the Holocaust in a new perspective. Obviously, it should not have happened, but with a charismatic leader and false information, Germans were persuaded into seeing Jews as their biggest problems, but the fact that it took so long for information to reach the rest of the world really showed how manipulative Hitler was.
ReplyDeleteIt's just like in the novel 1984 how the government had the documents burned to destroy history. They brainwashed the people and printed whatever they wanted in the newspapers so everyone believed the same things. While reading it, it seemed impossible that something that extreme could ever happen or that it was insane that people could burn the past and rewrite history. Hitler was able to do that and control countries while hiding it from the rest of the world. It's scary to imagine one person having that much control.
ReplyDeleteI think that even if people needed a leader, they would be able to see the bad side of HItler. If HItler had not imposed his SS army against the public, i think most citizens of Germany would not have elected him.
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ReplyDeleteHitler used propaganda to get the people of Germany to believe his big lie. By using propaganda to display his ideas, he was able to get the public on his side and form organizations such as the Nazi Youth. As we learned in class today, Hitler knew that in order to get the people on his side, he needed to convince them, and he used propaganda to do this.
ReplyDeleteOne piece of propaganda that I was looking at stated that the old way of Germany was similar to serfdom. Hitler promised that if he was elected he would take care of the people. He also promised that they would be "repaid". Hitler did nothing but manipulate his people to do everything that he wanted. In no way did he stick to his promise made on that piece of propaganda.
ReplyDeleteIn order to control the German's minds, Hitler used intimidation factors and propaganda. I agree with Kristen, where Hitler used propaganda to try and get as many supporters as he could. People needed to be convinced and controlled in order for them to make a decision about there lives. However, since Hitler used propaganda it was easier to convince the Germans about anything. Hitler manipulated his people, only to get ahead in the political world.
ReplyDeleteI think that although he was terrible, Hitler's tactics were effective. As we've learned in the past few days, the people of Germany weren't merely pledged to Germany or Hitler's ideas, they were pledged mainly to him. As you look on the link that Jessie posted, you can see that the propaganda was no different. So long as Hitler's face was on a poster, the people of Germany were going to consent to it no matter what it said.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Shawna, I think that Hitler used propaganda at first, and when he realized the effectiveness of it, it became a popular tool in Nazi Germany. If the people had not responded so well to the Propaganda during the war, it probably would not have been used as much. But, like Shawna said, the people were pledged to Hitler already, so having posters of him around is like advertisement almost, in the sense that if Hitler was on a poster or billboard somewhere doing something, he was an icon and suddenly everyone wanted to do it.
ReplyDeleteSort of like Stalin, i think HItler wanted to make himself seem larger than life. Like the speech in class, he said he was germany, and germany was him. By creating propaganda, poeple saw him above eveyone else, like a god. Stalin similarly did this by making ever citizenm having a picture of Stalin in their homes. Dictators like propaganda because it makes them look stronger and more powerful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Max's statement. By making themselves seem larger than life, dictators like Hitler and Stalin instill fear into their people. Propaganda forces people into believing the established ideals of a leader, and the people realize if they do not comply, they will suffer the consequences. This fear made dicators more powerful and effective in controlling their subjects.
ReplyDeleteYeah, what Kristen said. Walking around nazi Germany, Hitlers ideas would have been everywhere, posters advocating him, with him on them, with nazi youth, there would have been so many things reminding every citizen that Hitler was in charge, and if you even thought of going against him, you're done. Propaganda seemingly put Hitler everywhere, and with the SS, there really was no choice but to go along with it, and eventually, people probably believed he was right.
ReplyDeleteThe citizens put to much faith into their leader. He used that to his advantage because he and figured that their government would tell them true facts. Hitler secluded Germany and kept the citizens out of the real world. This is shown when the Allies invaded Germany and they did not realize how bad the conditions were. Hitler did all that he could to keep Germany isolated, so the citizens would continue following his ideas.
ReplyDeleteJackie makes a good point. If a person was walking around Germany during the 1940s, all they would see is propaganda supporting and advocating for Hitler. Nazi youth would be influenced, where they would grow up, supporting a dictator that is limiting their power. Hitler controlled every aspect of one's life, people just went along with anything Hitler said. Nazi propaganda showed what a true totalitarian state looked like. Hitler strived to "regulate" the German people's power, where he controlled everything.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gina that Hitler used propaganda to further his totalitarian powers. However, Germany wasn't the only country to use propaganda during the war. America used propaganda to influence citizens on the home front to contribute to the war effort. Propaganda prompted women to work, people to buy war bonds, and to plant victory gardens.
ReplyDeletepropaganda can have its pros and cons. It is obviously a way to influence people, but to distuinguish it from being newgative or positive, it what it is influencing you to believe. Influencing people to be frugal with their goods so they can send supplies over to the troops is good type of propaganda because you are helping people out. But the propoganda that turns you against another group of people without is the bad kind. Propoganda usually blows up the tiniest things and focuses on that slip up which makes the group of people as a whole look bad.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Erin that propaganda can have pros and cons. Propaganda in any form is very successful. Even though Hitler was evil, he was very smart to use propaganda. He scared the citizens and he got them to follow them. They believed in what he was doing. He also brainwashed the youth and that led to the next generation to follow him with less fear and more faith in his ideas. If he had stayed in power longer he would have been supported by his citizens and could have lasted a very long time.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?ModuleId=10005202
ReplyDeleteThis is the propaganda exhibit in the Holocaust museum and it shows that a lot of the propaganda was directed toward younger children. This tactic was used so that kids grew up thinking that Hitler was good, and the propaganda helped develop their mindset. Older children and adults have a point of view that is much harder to change, but children are much more open to ides, therefore they are the target of propoganda.
Sophie, I agree with your statement because children are easily persuaded to one side. Hitler figuered that if he coulld gain the children's trust as they grew old they would continue to be faithful to him. Also as they had children their ideas awould ensue on them. This would create double the amount of his followers and allowing him to rule with a majority of the public under his beliefs.
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