hitler’s germany social impact 1 (propaganda, censorship, ss)

Social ImpactPart One

Hitler’s Germany

Propaganda: AimsReich Ministry of

Public Enlightenment and Propaganda established Led by Goebbels

1. Use all forms of media to secure people’s loyalty to Nazism

2. Convince Germans that Nazism was the only way to restore order in Germany

3. Stir up hatred for Jews and communists

Propaganda: StrategiesPublic

displays of power – rallies, marches, public meetings

Watch video:Describe

the paradeHow is

Hitler depicted?

Films controlled by Nazis and had to carry pro-Nazi messages

Propaganda: Strategies

Leni Riefenstahl

Alfred Hugenberg

Posters also used to glorify Nazi achievements and to attack opponents

Propaganda: Strategies

Any information hostile to Nazis were kept away from German peopleAnti-Nazi newspapers put out of businessBook-burning and banning of ‘unacceptable’

publicationsReich Chamber of Commerce (est. 1933)

scrutinised all forms of media

Censorship

Radios made affordable – why?Listening to foreign radio stations banned –

why?Loudspeakers placed in the streets for people

to listen to Hitler’s speeches

Censorship

White Rose MovementThe group became known for an anonymous

leaflet and graffiti campaign, lasting from June 1942 until February 1943, that called for active opposition to dictator Adolf Hitler's regime.

Censorship

‘How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause. Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go, but what does my death matter, if through us, thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?’- Sophie Scholl

Lack of freedom of expression and ideasEasier for Nazis to enforce doctrine and

control public opinion

Results – Propaganda + Censorship

1. Schutz-Staffel (SS)Established in 1925 as an elite force of

‘Aryan’ Germans who were Hitler’s bodyguardHimmler appointed SS leader

Responsible for destroying Nazis’ enemies and carrying out its racial policies

Rise of the Secret Police

Rise of the Secret PoliceDeath’s Head Units

Responsible for concentration camps – torture and hard labour

Responsible for ‘Jewish Solution’

SS Verfuegunstruppe (SS-VT)Nazi Party’s armed

force – important role in fighting during WWII

2. GestapoNazi Secret Police

Finding and removing threats to the NazisSpied on German citizens and arrested those

who were suspected to be against the government

1935: Gestapo responsible for setting up concentration camps for ‘undesirables’

Rise of the Secret Police

Climate of FearNo one knew who the Gestapo informers wereDiscontented people were less willing to speak

up for fear of punishment

Results?

Form 4 groupsEach group will be assigned to study a

particular social group in Hitler’s Germany:JewsGypsies, disabled, homosexualsHitler YouthWomen

Spend 10 minutes reading the relevant pages in the TB and take note of key pointsHow were these groups treated?What role did they play in Germany?

Group Activity