Hitler Propaganda

What methods did Hitler use to rise to power?

Tauseef Manj

Mr. Illes

Pre IB Government

May 19, 2014

Part A: Plan of the Investigation

Adolf Hitler was the Fuhrer of Nazi Germany from 1932 to 1945. In a little over a year, one man completely manipulated an entire government and legal system to acquire a totalitarian regime. What many are not aware of is how Hitler’s strategy arose. He single-handedly took control of Germany using many different types of propaganda and oratory skills to appeal to the German people. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the primary methods Hitler used to rise to power. This will be accomplished by researching the types of propaganda Hitler used, his political skills and the impact of his oratory skills on the German people. To research this, the paper will assess academic journals from institutions such as Ithaca and Michigan, works of eminent historians such as Frank McDonough and also Hitler’s own book Mein Kampf.

Word Count: 137

Part B: Summary of Evidence

1) Propaganda used by Hitler

• The Nazi regime created a Ministry of Propaganda and Popular Enlightenment, under Joseph Goebbels (the original ‘spin doctor’) to unite the nation behind the aims of the regime. Goebbels was a brilliant speaker and his radio broadcasts reached into every German home. (McDonough 49)

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• In 1933, there were 4.700 regional newspapers, but only 2.4 per cent of them supported the Nazi Party. By 1944 there were fewer than 1,000 regional newspapers and 82 per cent of them swore ‘total allegiance’ to the Nazi Party, with the remainder ‘loyal’ to the regime. (McDonough 50)

• On coming to power, the Nazi regime closed down all socialist and communist newspapers. All newspaper...

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...r thoughts in the heads of the German people, the Nazi party had wiped out all other newspapers that did not support the Nazi regime. In 1933, there were 4,700 regional newspapers, but only 2.4 per cent supported the Nazi Party. By 1944, there were fewer than 1,000 newspapers and 82 per cent of them swore total allegiance to the regime, with the rest loyal to the regime. To put thoughts and images to the people’s heads, the Nazi’s used the radio as very important key for propaganda. The radio was the leading form of home entertainment. The radio was confined to a single outlet, the Reich Broadcasting Corporation, which was under Nazi control. In 1933, 4.5 million households owned a radio, but by 1942, 16 million households had one. Hitler often used to communicate directly to the German people. He was a brilliant speaker and his broadcasts reached into every home.