propaganda As generally understood, propaganda is opinion expressed for the purpose of influencing actions of individuals or groups. More formally, the Institute for Propaganda Analysis has defined propaganda as "expression of opinion or action by individuals or groups deliberately designed to influence opinions or actions of other individuals or groups with reference to predetermined ends."

Propaganda thus differs fundamentally from scientific analysis. The propagandist tries to "put something across," good or bad. The scientist does not try to put anything across; he/she devotes his/her life to the discovery of new facts and principles. The propagandist seldom wants careful scrutiny and criticism; his/her object is to bring about a specific action. The social scientist, on the other hand, is always prepared for and wants the most careful scrutiny and criticism of his/her facts and ideas. Science flourishes on criticism. Propaganda crumbles before it.

In our age of advanced technology (with so much information), it is often difficult to distinguish truth from opinion. As Anthony Pratkanis and Elliot Aronson point out, "every day we are bombarded with one persuasive communication after another. These appeals persuade not through the give-and-take of argument and debate, but through the manipulation of symbols and of our most basic human emotions. For better or worse, ours is an age of propaganda." (Pratkanis and Aronson, 1991)

German/Nazi Propaganda Posters Posters were an important propaganda tool. The imagery helped “plant” suggestions in people’s minds. Effective propaganda almost always works below the level of consciousness, leaving its target feeling a powerful belief that he/she “knows” the position is true; a position that he/she is certain was arrived completely on his/her own. It also does not exist in a vacuum. Much of its effectiveness comes through constant repetition.

You are about to see TEN (10) classic posters from the Nazi era. You are to work in small groups to see if you can spot the messages that they were trying to suggest HINT: Nothing was ever put in the posters by accident. Everything carried a message They were carefully crafted distortions and misrepresentations in an orchestrated campaign of misinformation.

Slide #1 [The Eternal Jew: grand political exhibition at the German Museum in Munich beginning November 8, 1937]

Slide #2 'Your Own KdF- Car' poster, 1939 ©©

Slide #3 “The seed of peace, not dragon's teeth” cartoon of Hitler, from the magazine Kladderadatsch, 22 March 1936 ©©

Slide #4 German Students Fight for Hitler and Nation

Slide #5 Support relief for mother and child This poster probably dates to the mid-1930's.

Slide #6 "[If] You need advice or help, turn to your 'local group.” “The Nazi Party safeguards the People of the Nation”

Slide #7 "We build body and soul" “Country, Work, Service” Poster from mid to late 1930's

Slide #8 "Long live Germany!" Poster after 1936

Slide #9 Germ (April 15, 1943, issue of Der Sturmer) …from Julius Streicher's Der Stürmer. Streicher, one of Hitler's earliest followers, published the paper from 1923 to During the Third Reich, Stürmer display cases were found all over Germany. The Jew carries the poison of the weak. A syndrome (sickness) emerges and is causing this downward spiral. However our blood is pure. We (true Germans) are healthy! (loose translation)

Slide #10 The caption: “The Jew: The inciter of war, the prolonger of war.” This poster was released in late 1943 or early Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.

OK – go to work! In groups, try to “find” what messages are being conveyed.

Here is an example…

The Crusader w/ cross – based in the belief that Christ would return to earth for a 1000 year period. (the white saint?) Multi-headed red snakes – stars of David, Protocols of Zion, KDP=Christian Democratic Party, SDP=Social Democratic Party, RF=Republican Front? The white countryside with a cross on its side – Nazism found its roots in the peasantry/agriculture The soldier (uniform - authority, Swastika on belt) “draped” in the robe w/ the Swastika (powerful symbol) Crusader = St. Michael slaying the 3-headed dragon (direct/saintly connection to God ???) The connection of the Nazi soldier and the Crusader Arm around Nazi soldier The Multi-headed dragon is a well-known image from Christianity – St. George and the Dragon (good v. evil/Satanic forces). Nazi propaganda often portrayed WWII as a war for Christianity.

Your turn… Look for all the blatant and subtle messages.

Eternal Jew The hand is begging for money – Jews were accused of greed (money lenders w/ extortionist interest rates)(gold coins – selling out Germany?) The print type is somewhat hieroglyphic, occult, and satanic-looking (Hebraic form of German – implying Jewish control of Germany) He is holding a whip. He is a ‘slave-driver’ (cruelty, suspicion that the gold coins were ill-got). There is a hammer and sickle on a map of the western part of the USSR – suggests a link between Jews and Communism * He is hunched over/physically different/misshapen – suggests Jews are not normal (demonic in appearance – “spawn of the devil; killers of Christ) The poster for the 'Eternal Jew' exhibition, 1937 ©© * There is some debate what is in his hand...some have said land, others have said a heart (look at the shape)...in other words taking the heart out of good loyal Germans. Jews – inherently disloyal, perpetrators of foreign plots.... #1 The Jew is infecting the country w/ Communism

Your Own Car 'Your Own KdF-Car' poster, 1939 ©© The woman is blond haired and dressed conservatively. This is a typical Nazi view of women (no make up/natural look – white teeth) They are obviously happy with this lifestyle The mountains suggest a link between Germans and the rural ideal (also symbolize the pure Nordic roots of Nazism) Nazi policies are associated with wealth and a good lifestyle The VW beetle was designed by Otto Porsche & Hitler #2

The seed of peace not dragon’s teeth “The seed of peace, not dragon's teeth” cartoon of Hitler, from the magazine Kladderadatsch, 22 March 1936 ©© There is an angel. This suggests that German greatness is a positive thing and not a threat The imagery is quite deliberate. It is based on a parable in the Bible in which a man sows seeds. Suggests a link between Hitler and God Hitler = Jesus Hitler is walking on a map of Europe, eastward The archangel Gabriel – announcing a new order? #3

German Students Fight for Hitler and Nation Blonde hair, athletic, fit, strong, good looking This young man is blonde haired and well- dressed. This is a typical Nazi view of young men The Nazi flag is prominently displayed. A sense of power is conveyed. The word “VOLK” (folk) (people) is used. The word, “Kampft”- struggle or fight. All students were forced to join the Hitler Youth – Boy Scouts declared a Jewish plot. #4

Farming in background – church in background Role of the woman is to be a mother (blonde, strong, bear children) Nazi party Symbol (NJ = National Socialist Jugend – youth movement) It promotes the Nazi charitable organization (the NSV). The text: "Support the assistance program for mothers and children." Hitler pointed out that unemployment in 1933 was equivalent to the number of women who came into the workforce since Average family size was supposed to have 4 children. Peasants were the backbone of society. Sun = halo #5

The caption loosely translates as, "The National Socialist Party will save the people's community. The people's community will then turn to you and the party." Posters of this type illustrate the disconnect between the party rhetoric and the reality of party policy. The Aryan Family (white, blonde, attractive, blue-eyed, happy) (farm family) – without the German inscriptions, this image might be mistaken from a Norman Rockwell painting. The “strong” eagle (power) – almost a “wing of an angel?” (protecting this wholesome/ideal German family) The idea of a "Volksgemeinschaft," a community of the people, had a very powerful, very idealistic appeal, comparable to the idealistic appeal that some communist groups were attempting to make at the same time. The analogy is suggested by the use of the word "Volksgenossen," literally "comrades," a term widely used by the Soviet Communist Party at the time. The slogan on the poster reads "[If] You need advice or help, turn to your 'local group.” In other words, the suggestion is "We are here to help." #6 The family is engulfed by the Nazi party (their guardian) – the eagle towers over them, and stares intently off in the distance. Only the little girl isn’t looking at the baby but rather looking at us – in a way INVITING us into the circle.

Strong/fit youth (blonde, blue-eyed) – the future of Germany Conveys the message of Germany being united It promotes the Nazi labor service, for which men were expected to volunteer. The caption: "We build body and soul." The goal of the Reich Labor Force was to train and teach through regimented exercise, work and sports (train young men for the military). #7 “Country, Work, Service”

This poster makes a direct Christological comparison. Just as a dove descended on Christ when he was baptized by John the Baptist, so what looks to be an eagle hovers against the light of heaven over an idealized Hitler. The text: "Long live Germany!." A strong, numerous, and united Germany – power granted from God. Oak leaf border = symbol of strength and longevity in Nazi iconography Sun = halo #8

Der Stürmer was probably the most infamous newspaper in history. For twenty-two years every issue denounced Jews in crude, vicious, and vivid ways. Although Streicher employed a large staff by the end of the 1930s, he always had the final say, "Streicher and the Stürmer, they are one and the same," he would say proudly. #9 Jew = a germ (or) a sickness! Jews = root of all evil Microscope = indication that Jews were “hiding something.” If you examine them closely, you will find that they are really poisoning the good German! Jews (Stars of David), Capitalists (dollar signs), and Communists (hammer & sickle) are ALL part of the disease under inspection! Jews = bad blood Scapegoat for the decline of Germany? Remember that Germany was the leader in science and medicine – microscope legitimizes that Jews are contaminating Germany!

The individual is portrayed as ugly, grotesque, and somewhat demonic. The Jew is behind the curtain (hiding) (scheming against the state). The fire in the background – they are destroying our way of life – or – this is what should happen to them?????? Large nose, protruding chin, sinister eyes…. The Jew is a traitor/serious threat to the homeland. Clenched fists…power in numbers #10 What is revealed behind the curtain?

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it people will eventually come to believe it." -- Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Propaganda Minister

“We have made the Reich by propaganda.” ~ Joseph Goebbels ( ) German politician, minister of propaganda, member of Hitler’s cabinet council

Two propaganda versions of Adolf Hitler show the German dictator from opposite viewpoints. A pro-Hitler poster, left, portrays him as a heroic warrior crowned with a halo of light. An anti-Hitler cartoon, right, pictures him as a ridiculous, loudmouthed tyrant. (U.S. Army Center of Military History; National Archives, Collection U.S. Office of War Information)

Courtesy Fleming 1984 SCOTT. FORESMAN & COMPANY Fleming, which has distributed the posters to IGA, Thriftway, Piggly Wiggly, United Super and hundreds of other supermarkets across the country, said that the striking resemblance is only coincidence. “We’re not trying to send out any subliminal Nazi messages,” says spokesperson Cheryl Hudak. Red Meat and Red Faces Newsweek, June 27, 1988 Propaganda today?