Hitler & the Manipulation of Language
Have you ever wondered how Hitler was able to convince a whole nation that the eradication of an entire race was okay? Language. Out of all political leaders in history, I feel that Adolf Hitler was one of the most effective orators due to his successful use of the power of words and manipulation of language. Hitler’s speeches and propaganda used a manifold of techniques that allowed him to rally an army that was ready to carry out any action - no matter how obscure it may be - and consequently gain the support of German civilians.
As words left Hitler’s mouth and were projected into the microphone that echoed his voice around the arena, everyone present was flabbergasted by what a persuasive leader he was. He wore different masks of emotion and vocalized specific words and phrases throughout his speeches. His character on stage
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was extremely animated; this helped him persuade the population that he was their savior. Through his demeanor, he convinced the German society that he was the one who could save them from all evil that may stand in their way. Just as Hitler’s spoken regime was effective, his visual tactics were just as successful.
Every way that the German people turned their heads, their eyes fell upon a new piece of propaganda. Hitler utilized slogans on posters throughout Germany. He combined imagery with phrases to instill anti-semitism throughout the nation. These constant waves of information would orbit the minds of the German civilians like moons of a planet. Henceforth, Hitler’s plans were always present and rotating through daily activities.
In addition to propaganda, Hitler also had control over daily activities by controlling what citizens read. Hitler ordered all Jewish writings to be destroyed, in order to eradicate the culture. Hitler understood the power of literature; it was his best quality that helped him almost win the war. He also understood that words could be used against him, which would put a dent in his iniquitous plan. In order to stop this from happening, he controlled what the eyes of the population read by extinguishing any words that went against him and replaced them with what he wanted the people to
see. Furthermore, another tactic he used that helped make his monstrous scheme a reality was repetition. According to the dictionary, repetition is “the act of repeating, or doing, saying, or writing something again; repeated action, performance, production, or presentation.” The German citizens were persuaded in all aspects: seeing, hearing, and reading anti-semitic information. This validates the idea that “If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed” (Hitler, Adolf). In summation, language is a powerful tool that can be used on the minds of humans; Hitler knew this and capitalized on the opportunity to influence his nation. His animated character on stage revealed a powerful leader that could lead the people into only success in the future. Last but not least, propaganda convinced them that what was happening was right. The controlling of public reading stopped anyone from being exposed the truth. The constant repetition of all these methods allowed Hitler gain control of Germany, invade other European countries, and set to complete his plan of world domination.
“Hitler is a monster of wickedness, insatiable in his lust for blood and plunder” (Churchill). These are the words of Winston Churchill, who was the British Prime Minister. Churchill, in my opinion, is the most effective political leader when it comes to power of language, manipulation, and words. Despite being known as a great speaker, the speech he made after Germany invaded Russia was what really showed how powerful he is. He used the elements language, words, and manipulation to make the people understand his side.
Everything that Hitler did from speeches to drives through town and even Hitler youth events everything was made to be dramatic. Hitler was very successful in making himself and the Nazi party look like they were above the rest of the people and the ones to lead Germany out of struggles and that all faith and pride should be given to him as he is the savior. The ways Hitler were able to gives speeches and, start off slow and yell passionately resonated with the German people and would captivate them. Hitler was a charming man who was able to inspire morale and give the people hope of Germany rising from the embarrassment of World War I. “You do not want to let yourself be morally corrupted by hate and suffering, you just want to remain good-natured, peaceful, amiable, and nice. But how to avoid hate and suffering if you are daily bombarded with things that cause them?” Hitler was able to lead such a campaign by starting off slowly and then building it to the level it got while right in front of everyone. . “There was not one single example of energetic defense, of courage or principle. There was only panic, flight and desertion” (p132). When Germany realized at what had happened it was already to late to stop it. Hitler had successfully brought the Nazis from nothing to a ruling
The first power language possesses is manipulating people. In the book, a character named Max Vandenburg wrote a book called Standover Man, in which the main character symbolizes Hitler, to bravely emphasize his thoughts on Hitler. The first page of the book quotes: “The young man wandered around for quite some time, thinking, planning, and figuring out exactly how to make the world his. Then one day, out of nowhere, it struck him- the perfect plan. (omit) ‘Words!’ He grinned.” (pg. 349) This example clearly suggests that Hitler used words to make the world his. He brainwashed people, and massacred Jews, just by using words. He realized that he wouldn’t have to use guns to lure people to his side. Eventually, Hitler’s conniving plan to use words marked an unforgettable event in the history. This left many grieving and dead, but he succeeded in making a strong impression and making the world his. Although his decisions and actions were manipulated by words, he could control people by his words as well. Thus, when Hitler knew that words would give him power to create ...
Hitler used propaganda and manufacturing enemies such as Jews and five million other people, to prepare the country for war. This shows Hitler’s attempt of genocide toward the Jewish race and other races.
...se through means of persuasion. Propaganda was the second most powerful means of getting support within Germany, but it was most effective in getting foreigners to stand bye idly while the Nazi's committed their crimes against the Jews and other minorities. Germany received respect from the foreign press for its efficiency in the Olympics, which was a precursor to the `efficiency' they showed in slaughtering millions of innocent captives in concentration camps. Yet the Nazi's, lead by their charismatic leader, were able to pass their laws in a legitimate fashion, and persuade the world to look the other way. The world stood by in fear and awe, hoping the storm would just blow over, but by September 1939 Hitler and the Nazi's had progressed too far, and there was no stopping them from undertaking in what would be the most lethal war in the history of the world.
Control of the media was another very effective means of controlling a population. The Nazis established a ministry of propaganda on March 13, 1933 (Sauer 678). This office controlled all media, such as books, newspapers, and films ("Modern World History: Nazi Germany"). The Ministry of Truth was an essential factor in perpetuating the beliefs of the Party and did the same as the Nazis' propaganda ministry (Orwell 39). By controlling any and all mass media, both governments more easily controlled the ideas of the people. If someone were never exposed to a certain idea or belief by the media, most likely he or she would not imagine that idea on h...
Introductory Paragraph: Propaganda is a tool of influence that Adolph Hitler used to abuse the German population by brainwashing them and completely deteriorating an entire race. How does one person get the beliefs of an entire country? Hitler put Joseph Goebbels in charge of the propaganda movement. Goebbels controlled every element of propaganda, there were many varieties of Nazi Propaganda. Propaganda was also being used as a tool to gain the support of the German population for the war, and supporting their government. The Jew’s were the targeted race and were completely pulverized by the Nazi’s. Hitler not only tried to destroy an entire race, he gained complete control of an entire country.
People in Nazi Germany could not talk, write or even think freely. Goebbels used every known technique of propaganda to make sure of this. The Germans, with the encouragement of the Nazis, were enthusiastic newspaper readers. Germany had over 4700 daily newspapers i... ... middle of paper ... ...
Firstly I will talk about Propaganda. Hitler was very aware of good propaganda. Propaganda had played a key role. Joseph Goebbels was made ‘Minister of popular enlightenment and propaganda’. He was the head of propaganda. In March 1933 Goebbels main responsibility was to control the media to make the Nazi as popular as possible.
The speech that Hitler gave on the radio in Berlin on the 26th of April, 1942 was the most calculated speech Hitler had given up to that time. It set the foundation for possible peace offerings in the event that Germany was to lose WWII. To the normal person the speech sounded like Germany is losing and will not survive much longer. However, this technique that Hitler uses shows how calculated his speech was. Every factor in Adolf Hitler’s speech that seems different compared to his past speeches was done so intentionally and with a clear purpose behind it.
It is 1921, and Hitler gains leadership over the German Worker's Party after threatening to quit. Hitler is an unlikely leader; he is short-legged, and has a hollow chest. He has a nervous tic in his face and is not a very imposing figure. When he speaks, he begins very nervously and his speeches are rambling (Nizkor). Nevertheless, Hitler is able to captivate his audience by controlling their emotions (Nizkor). He always speaks in the late evening when people are tired and their defenses are down. He makes dramatic entrances, usually escorted by storm troopers and a band playing a fanfare (Nizkor).
Hitler was able to convince and almost brainwash people into believing that what he told them was the truth. He was a very skilled public speaker and he used this skill to distort the truth as it suited him, this was to his advantage. A twenty-five point programme was set up by the nazi party and was designed to appeal to all german people and all sections of their society; it included racist ideas and conveys hatred of non germans. He used the jewish people as scapegoats and blaimed them for all the problems in germany, he encouraged the german public to take on this opinion also. He used the method of force to make people belive he was powerful and his
Hitler’s words caused many of his fervent followers to spread his message throughout the country. In the speech, a Nazi speaker denounced the “disease” of the Jews, the immoral, and the Communists, spreading Hitler’s influence throughout Germany. These powerful words caused the people to support the book burning of Jewish ideas and other ideologies to get rid of anything that opposes Nazi ideology. The example of book burning further shows that these actions were likely initiated by the moving words of the party speakers. However, Hitler’s words are not the only ones that impacted his actions in The Book Thief.
...tish, etc., but rather in the strength and the unity of his own nationality” (Hitler 384-385). Hitler bluntly states that German’s were mistreated and are “clearly” the most distinguished race, but have the blunders of the inferior people to thank for the loss of the first world war. This book was the start of his influence, with the printer press still on the rise, it helped spread his word. Hitler, a great orator, gave speeches, ran politically, connected with people, used the economy as an argument for his ideas, spread propaganda, and used the guilt of the harsh punishment to receive appeasement. Death narrates some statistics, “ In 1933, 90 percent of Germans showed unflinching support for Adolf Hitler. That leaves 10 percent who didn’t,” (Zusak 63). Hitler had taken control, and no one had been able to stop him, he had used a simple tool to take on the world.
This is what had made Hitler one of the greatest public speakers that the world had ever seen from his time and in history. "The German people and it 's soldiers work and fight today not for themselves and their own age, but also for many generations to come. A historical task of unique dimensions has been entrusted to us by the Creator that we are now obliged to carry out." Hitler, the Fuhrer of Germany, was a very talented spokesman in ways that leaders today could not even begin to compare with. He was charismatic and bold, making it easier for him to win over the minds of many Germans with these two traits. He believed that during his rise to power, he and the people of Germany had been given a duty by God to purify the nation of its imperfect races and weaker people so as to make the mother country strong again for future generations. "Those who want to live, let them fight, and those who do not want to fight in this world of eternal struggle do not deserve to live." In many ways, Hitler felt he was justified in what he was doing, and in some