Nazi Party's Use of Artistic Propaganda Led To The Ascension and Dominance of German Culture

Throughout history, government and culture have proven to be inextricably linked . During the early twentieth century, the Nazi Party's use of artistic propaganda through multiple forms of media directly led to its ascension and dominance of German culture. The Nazis' success can be directly attributed to its careful planning, ruthless implementation, and clear results.

The Nazi's use of propaganda was meticulously planned by party leaders. In Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler very clearly outlined his intended use of propaganda to manipulate public opinion. He stated, “...by clever and persevering use of propaganda even heaven can be represented as hell to the people, and conversely the most wretched of life as paradise...” (276).

According to Hitler, there were three types of newspaper readers: those who believed everything, those who believed nothing, and those who analyzed and judged what they read (240). Hitler unequivocally believed that the majority of people belonged to the first group (240). He firmly asserted that in order for any movement, political or otherwise, to be successful, it must first win the support of the masses (101). Therefore the most important aspect of an idea is not the idea itself, but how easily the masses can understand it (342). By following these ideals, Hitler created propaganda geared toward the common man, rather than the intellectual elite.

Propaganda should focus on a few key points tha...

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...his appeal would help the Nazis acquire popularity in the late 1920's, when the Great Depression caused widespread unemployment and poverty.

“... this man, who was formerly so hard-working, grows lax in his whole view of life and gradually becomes the instrument of those who use him only for their own base advantage. He has so often been unemployed through no fault of his own that one time more or less ceases to matter, even when the aim is no longer to fight for economic rights, but to destroy political, social, or cultural values in general.”(27).

Hitler also used propaganda to manipulate and control public opinion. He believed that the public was afraid to take on more than one enemy at a time (117). Thus it was best to make one enemy and focus on it (117). Hitler chose the Jews as his one enemy, and applied all of his “rules of propaganda” in his assault.