1. Nazi Government: Propaganda
Lesson starter:
The Nazi government only wanted people to have certain information.
Make two lists;
Things the Nazis wanted to keep secret from the people
Things they wanted to publicise (wanted everyone to know about)

2. Today we will…
Explain how the Nazis used propaganda to stay in power

3. I can…
Complete a table analysing how these groups helped the Nazis

4. Propaganda
The Nazis controlled all information in Germany to convince people they were a good government.
Propaganda was used to make people dislike certain groups such as Jews.
It was also used to make people like the Nazis more and help keep them in power.

5. In Nazi Germany it was almost impossible to hear any anti-Nazi views
Hitler knew propaganda was very important

6. “The intelligence of the masses is small. Their forgetfulness is great
“The intelligence of the masses is small. Their forgetfulness is great. They must be told the same thing a thousand times”.

7. Radio Newspapers Rallies Posters Books Film
Task: Construct a table or spider diagram explaining the ways in which the Nazis were able to use propaganda.
Radio
Newspapers
Rallies
Posters
Books
Film

8. Task: Watch the video and try to get as many points on how the Nazis used propaganda whilst in power

9. Dr Josef Goebbels
Now he had helped the Nazis into power his job was to convince people they liked living in Nazi Germany
‘Minister for Public Enlightenment’
He also censored anything anti-Nazi

10. The Radio was the most important form of communication at the time
The Nazis produced cheap radios so that 70% of German homes had one
These radios could only receive Nazi stations
They were also in workplaces and on street corners
All work was to stop when the Fuhrer spoke on the radio

11. The Nazis also controlled all newspapers, all cinemas and every other source of information
This meant that most Germans only read good things about the Nazis
For example – the Nazis had done so well in reducing unemployment

12. The role of Films
Goebbels controlled all films made in Nazi Germany
The Nuremberg rallies were turned into a movie called Triumph of Will.
What do you think this the purpose of this film was? Think back to what the rallies showed…
Foreign visitors were dazzled and afraid of the size of the German Military. How could have it got so strong? How could any foreign powers stand up to the Nazis?
In reality however… Some of the military equipment on show at the rallies was fake. Carefully painted cardboard outlines of tanks were placed on top of small cars that raced around the arena.

13. Leni Riefenstahl Born in 1902 in Berlin
Started her career as an actress, but moved into directing in 1932.
Is best known for her films The Triumph of the Will and Olympia – they were given worldwide acclaim.
She was never a member of the Nazi Party. At the end of WW2 she was arrested, but was released without charge.
Died aged 101 in Remains one of the most acclaimed female directors.

14. The Triumph of the Will Funded entirely by the Nazi Party
Covers 4 days of the September 1934 Nuremberg Rallies. 700,000 Nazi supporters attended these rallies.
Released in Won awards in France, America and Sweden.
Today: banned in Germany

15. On September 5, 1934
20 years after the outbreak of the world war
16 years after the beginning of our suffering
19 months after the beginning of the German Renaissance
Adolf Hitler flew again to Nuremberg to review the columns of his faithful followers

16. Discuss…
Think of three words to describe the scene. For each word give an example from the video that makes you think this.

17. Discuss…
Who do you think the audience were – who might have gone to see this film? What do you think they would have felt when watching this?

18. The role of books All books had to be censored by the Nazis.
The Nazis were worried about independent thinking.
Official book – burnings were common place to rid Germany of books published by...
Communist and Socialist
Jews
Anyone they disapproved of
Or containing ideas they disapproved of.

19. Unscramble the words below:
nlie eeirfalhsnt
faderl nggbeerhu
ppaaaordgn
htelninmntege
ssphircneo
What do all of these words have in common?

20. 1936 Berlin Olympic Games
All anti-Semitic propaganda was removed temporarily
Anti Semitic laws were relaxed
All Roma people (gypsies) were arrested and sent to a nearby camp
The new Olympic stadium held 100,000 spectators
The Nazis used it as an opportunity to show how fantastic Germany was to live in

22. Nuremberg Rallies
These had been held annually since 1923 but became huge propaganda events once the Nazis were in power
By the 1930s ½ a million people attended
Sport and military displays
Mock battles
Torch parades at night

24. Nuremberg Rallies
People were dazzled by the sheer strength of the Nazis
Foreign visitors were perhaps intimidated by how strong the Nazis had become
Hitler’s speeches had the crowd in an emotional frenzy

25. Propaganda, either in films or posters or rallies, all had the same purpose. It was to make people believe that life was so much better under the Nazis, and for many people it was.