Nazi PropagandaNazi Propaganda

Nazi Propaganda was used to:Nazi Propaganda was used to:

• Instill in Germans a fear and hatred of Instill in Germans a fear and hatred of JewsJews

• Instill in people in Nazi occupied Europe a Instill in people in Nazi occupied Europe a fear and hatred of Jewsfear and hatred of Jews

• Gain the people’s support of the Nazi’s Gain the people’s support of the Nazi’s social policies social policies

• Glorify GermanyGlorify Germany• Glorify the NazisGlorify the Nazis

Nazi Anti-Semitic Nazi Anti-Semitic Propaganda Propaganda

PostersPosters

Anti-Semitic Anti-Semitic propaganda poster propaganda poster distributed by the pro-distributed by the pro-German Lithuanian German Lithuanian Activist Front. Activist Front. Lithuanian citizens—Lithuanian citizens—Jews and non-Jews Jews and non-Jews alike— suffered under alike— suffered under the Soviet occupation the Soviet occupation of Lithuania during of Lithuania during 1940-41, but 1940-41, but propaganda such as propaganda such as this equated Jews with this equated Jews with Stalinist repression. Stalinist repression. This and similar This and similar posters were created posters were created in Germany and given in Germany and given to pro-Nazi groups in to pro-Nazi groups in the Baltic region for the Baltic region for local distribution. local distribution.

This is a copy of the This is a copy of the original poster with original poster with English translation.English translation.

This 1938 Anti-This 1938 Anti-Semitic cartoon Semitic cartoon depicts an octopus depicts an octopus with a Star of with a Star of David over its David over its head. It is using head. It is using its tentacles to its tentacles to encompass the encompass the globe with the globe with the intention of world intention of world domination.domination.

A spider, A spider, with a with a Star of Star of

David on David on its back, its back,

lures non-lures non-Jews Jews

(victims) (victims) into its into its web.web.

Nazi Anti-Semitic Nazi Anti-Semitic

Propaganda Propaganda Films Films

The Eternal JewThe Eternal Jew is an Anti-Semitic is an Anti-Semitic Nazi propaganda Nazi propaganda film released in film released in 1940. The central 1940. The central theme of the theme of the movie is how the movie is how the racial personality racial personality traits of the Jew traits of the Jew characterize the characterize the Jew as a Jew as a wandering cultural wandering cultural parasite. In the parasite. In the film, the Jews are film, the Jews are constantly referred constantly referred to as rats. to as rats.

Jud SussJud Suss German German

adaptation of adaptation of this film in 1940 this film in 1940 is considered to is considered to be one of the be one of the most hateful most hateful depiction of depiction of Jews on film.Jews on film.

Plot: A Jewish Plot: A Jewish businessman businessman cons the Duke cons the Duke of Wurttemburg of Wurttemburg

By showering the corrupt duke with treasure By showering the corrupt duke with treasure and promises of even greater riches. and promises of even greater riches.

As the Jew's schemes grow more elaborate and As the Jew's schemes grow more elaborate and his actions more brazen, the dukedom nearly his actions more brazen, the dukedom nearly erupts into civil war. erupts into civil war.

Persuaded by the Jew, the Duke all but scuttles Persuaded by the Jew, the Duke all but scuttles the constitution and alienates the assembly by the constitution and alienates the assembly by lifting the local ban on Jews in Stuttgart. lifting the local ban on Jews in Stuttgart.

In a final outrage, the Jew rapes a wholesome In a final outrage, the Jew rapes a wholesome German girl and tortures her father and fiancee. German girl and tortures her father and fiancee.

When the Duke succumbs to a sudden heart When the Duke succumbs to a sudden heart attack, the assembly of Elders try the Jew and attack, the assembly of Elders try the Jew and sentence him to death for having "carnal sentence him to death for having "carnal knowledge of a Christian woman."knowledge of a Christian woman."

The 1940 film achieved Nazi objectives The 1940 film achieved Nazi objectives and was a great success in Germany and and was a great success in Germany and abroad. abroad.

Anti-Jewish violence was reported after its Anti-Jewish violence was reported after its projection in Marseilles, for example. The projection in Marseilles, for example. The impact of this movie was such that its impact of this movie was such that its director, Veit Harlan, received the 1943 director, Veit Harlan, received the 1943 Universum Film Archiv award (the UFA Universum Film Archiv award (the UFA was the major commercial German film was the major commercial German film studio in the early part of the 20th studio in the early part of the 20th century)century)

The film’s director was put on trial after The film’s director was put on trial after the war, but he defended himself arguing the war, but he defended himself arguing the Nazis were in charge of his workthe Nazis were in charge of his work

Nazi Propaganda Films were Nazi Propaganda Films were used to glorify the German used to glorify the German

Nation.Nation.

““Triumph of Triumph of the Will”the Will”

Considered to Considered to be the best be the best propaganda propaganda

film ever film ever made.made.Its sole Its sole

purpose was purpose was to glorify to glorify Germany.Germany.

  

The Nazis used The Nazis used propaganda to gain propaganda to gain public approval of public approval of

social policies – such social policies – such as its euthanasia as its euthanasia

program. program.

This poster This poster reads: reads:

"You are Sharing "You are Sharing the Load! the Load!

A Genetically Ill A Genetically Ill Individual Costs Individual Costs Approximately Approximately

50,000 50,000 Reichsmarks Reichsmarks by the Age of by the Age of

Sixty." Sixty."

  

Nazi German Nazi German propaganda propaganda poster with a poster with a

German soldier German soldier defeating the red defeating the red

dragon of dragon of communism. communism.

Roughly Roughly translated the translated the poster states, poster states, "Germany's "Germany's Victory is Victory is Europe's Europe's

Freedom."Freedom."

  

This poster This poster states, “Work states, “Work and Food”and Food”It was used for It was used for the November the November 1932 Reichstag 1932 Reichstag elections. elections. The Nazis The Nazis viewed this as viewed this as one of their one of their most effective most effective postersposters..

This visual This visual from the from the mid-1930s mid-1930s shows shows Germany Germany in white, in white, with the with the 100,000-100,000-man army man army permitted permitted by the by the Treaty of Treaty of Versailles Versailles surroundesurrounded by d by heavily heavily armed armed neighborsneighbors..  

This poster dates This poster dates to sometime after to sometime after 1936. Some 1936. Some argue this poster argue this poster compares Hitler to compares Hitler to Jesus. Just as a Jesus. Just as a dove descended dove descended on Christ when he on Christ when he was baptized by was baptized by John the Baptist, John the Baptist, what looks to be what looks to be an eagle hovers an eagle hovers against the light against the light of heaven over an of heaven over an idealized Hitler.idealized Hitler.

The text: The text: Long Live Germany!Long Live Germany!

The text translates: The text translates: "All Germany hears "All Germany hears

the Führer on thethe Führer on the People's Receiver." People's Receiver." The Nazis, eager to The Nazis, eager to encourage radio encourage radio listenership, listenership, developed an developed an inexpensive radio inexpensive radio receiver to make it receiver to make it possible for as many possible for as many as possible to hear as possible to hear Nazi propaganda.Nazi propaganda.  

The filmThe film“Triumph of “Triumph of

the Will”the Will”was written, was written, directed, and directed, and produced by produced by

Leni Leni RiefenstahlRiefenstahl

• Each September, a pilgrimage was held Each September, a pilgrimage was held in the German city of Nuremberg.in the German city of Nuremberg.

• Followers gathered from all over Followers gathered from all over Germany to participate in torchlight Germany to participate in torchlight marches and solemn ceremonies marches and solemn ceremonies honoring fallen Nazis.honoring fallen Nazis.

• There were big military-style parades There were big military-style parades and most important of all…and most important of all…

• A chance to see the Fuhrer in personA chance to see the Fuhrer in person• Many Germans returned home from a Many Germans returned home from a

rally with renewed dedication to the Nazi rally with renewed dedication to the Nazi cause and increased devotion to Hitler.cause and increased devotion to Hitler.

Triumph of the WillTriumph of the Will was filmed by Leni was filmed by Leni Riefenstahl at the 1934 rally at Riefenstahl at the 1934 rally at Nuremberg.Nuremberg.

Over one million Germans participated Over one million Germans participated in the 1934 rally, and from then on the in the 1934 rally, and from then on the turnout only grew larger.turnout only grew larger.

It is the 1935 Nuremburg rally that is It is the 1935 Nuremburg rally that is most remembered - as it was during this most remembered - as it was during this rally that the special announcements rally that the special announcements concerning the status of German Jews concerning the status of German Jews were announced…the Nuremberg Laws.were announced…the Nuremberg Laws.

The film’s most enduring and dangerous The film’s most enduring and dangerous illusion is that Nazi Germany was a super-illusion is that Nazi Germany was a super-organized state.organized state.

In reality, Nazi Germany was In reality, Nazi Germany was only only well well organized to the degree that it was a organized to the degree that it was a murderous police state.murderous police state.

The Nazi government was a tangled mess The Nazi government was a tangled mess of inefficient agencies and overlapping of inefficient agencies and overlapping bureaucracies led by ruthless men who bureaucracies led by ruthless men who competed for power and would do competed for power and would do anything to get in the favor of a superior anything to get in the favor of a superior Nazi authority and, especially, Hitler. Nazi authority and, especially, Hitler.

Leni Riefenstahl combined the strengths Leni Riefenstahl combined the strengths of documentary and propaganda into a of documentary and propaganda into a single, overwhelmingly powerful visual single, overwhelmingly powerful visual force.force.

The film is a “deification” of Hitler.The film is a “deification” of Hitler.

Considered to be the best propaganda Considered to be the best propaganda film ever made, it is studied today in film film ever made, it is studied today in film schools as the supreme example of the schools as the supreme example of the documentary form.documentary form.

Leni Riefenstahl’s Nazi documentaries Leni Riefenstahl’s Nazi documentaries were hailed as groundbreaking film-were hailed as groundbreaking film-making because, among other things, she making because, among other things, she pioneered techniques involving:pioneered techniques involving:– CranesCranes– Tracking railsTracking rails– Many cameras working at the same timeMany cameras working at the same time

Leni Riefenstahl’s masterpiece earned her Leni Riefenstahl’s masterpiece earned her a Cultural Achievement Award from Joseph a Cultural Achievement Award from Joseph Goebbels’ Propaganda Minstiry.Goebbels’ Propaganda Minstiry.

The film also won a gold medal for its The film also won a gold medal for its artistry at the 1937 World Exhibition in artistry at the 1937 World Exhibition in Paris.Paris.

• For one of her films, For one of her films, TieflandTiefland, (, (the Lowlands, the Lowlands, which she did not finish until after the war in which she did not finish until after the war in 1954) she used slave labor from 1954) she used slave labor from concentration campsconcentration camps

• At the end of the war, Riefenstahl was At the end of the war, Riefenstahl was arrested and spent four years in a French arrested and spent four years in a French concentration camp, but was not found guilty concentration camp, but was not found guilty of war crimes.of war crimes.

• After the war, because of her association After the war, because of her association with the Nazi Party, each time she attempted with the Nazi Party, each time she attempted to make a film she could not get funding and to make a film she could not get funding and was met with criticisms and protests.was met with criticisms and protests.

Leni Riefenstahl died in Leni Riefenstahl died in 2003 at the age of 103, 2003 at the age of 103,

maintaining to the end that maintaining to the end that she was politically naïve she was politically naïve

and not aware of Nazi war and not aware of Nazi war crimes.crimes.

Here is a scene from her Here is a scene from her film, film, Triumph of the WillTriumph of the Will