Rising Through Propaganda

I would just like to post a few comments about some propaganda material from the Nazi era. Based on the criteria of O’Shaughnessy, there was an enormous amount of propaganda released during the Third Reich. From dramatic posters engraving into the minds of people an image of a powerful leader; to videos that contain no words, but an array of propaganda techniques; to speeches which have that eerie effect to be able to change the viewpoint of the listener if delivered in a certain way.

There seemed to be many posters circulating in the Nazi era. To pinpoint one dominant feature these posters had, I would look at the way color was used. For example, red backgrounds were used to excite and individuals or people they desired to exalt were iron-tinted. Color could have a powerful yet sub-conscious effect. Two scientists, Russel Hill and Robert Barton, published an article in a 2005 issue of Nature (435). They compared results of various sports of the 2004 Olympic Games at Athens and concluded that the contestent wearing red was more likely to win that the one wearing blue. They explained this conclusion using the theory that red increases the emotions of passion (anger, love, hate) and blue is a more cooling and relaxing color. In addition, observing the political ad that Professor Pimpare had on his blog, the creator uses color cleverly as well. When portraying his opponent, he uses a purple background – purple is a color that could represent guilt. But in the end, it is red – as a sign of “pay attention – go and vote!”

"We chose red for our posters, since it is vivid and was the color that most aroused our opponents. It forced them to notice and remember us."

Who is talking? A congressional candidate or the Fuhrer of Germany?

One thing the Nazis were good at was re-shaping history. There was one poster I came across that quoted Grzesinski as saying that Hitler isn’t fit to lead Germany since he wasn’t German, but Austrian. And the text at the bottom “debunks” that myth and proves that he is now a dedicated German, high ranking in the Army.

The video on Professor Pimpare’s website is a great example of Nazi propaganda. It contains no words, and yet the meaning is extraordinarily powerful, enough to arouse even a non-German to the feelings of Germany at that time and their hope upon Hitler as “the savior”. The video is also a great example of the use of architecture as propaganda as was discussed in O’Shaughnessy. Many scenes in the first part of the film are of the grandeur of Nuremberg. The video also uses music in a very propagandistic way – as hailing Hitler. So that, combined with the scenes of cheering crowds and loving mothers and children (much more so than men), with the music is quite influential. There is also towards the end of the scene an image of an “iron-faced” soldier which gives the viewer a sense of security that all he is seeing can be backed up by a powerful and dedicated military force; it instills fear.

And moving to speeches:
"This is [an excerpt of a] speech delivered by Dr. Walter Groß, the head of the Nazi Party's Office of Racial Policy. He was speaking to a women's meeting at the Gau party rally in Cologne on 13 October 1934. The text was widely distributed. This is an interesting example of Nazi racial propaganda early on in Hitler's regime. It does not mention the Jews directly, but lays the foundation for anti-Semitism. Groß (1904-1945) in a later speech said: "As far as the historical appearance of the Jew in Europe is concerned, we believe that the hour of his death has irrevocably arrived."

“That is what made the movement strong, and great, and powerful from its first days. It is also that which the enemy on this side of the border and the other cannot understand, and which it hates with deadly strength. As this great and beautiful people's movement began, so too began a hard and bitter struggle between enemy and German forces, between an old world that is really long dead and buried, and the new world that is struggling to reach the light through us."

Just to focus on a few points of propaganda implicit in Dr. Grob’s opening paragraph; when he says “which it hates with deadly strength”, I believe he is, in effect, playing on the emotion of national loneliness and strengthening in-group solidarity. As O’Shaughnessy brought the example of Dr. Sigmund Freud that he would address his audience kindly at the outset, which is what every great speaker is supposed to do. So too here, Dr. Grob opens with, “As this great and beautiful people…”, he is talking to women, so they appreciate the comment “beautiful” more so than men. The symbolism, imagery and myth here are clearly apparent and we haven’t even gotten into the heart of the speech:

* “Deadly strength”
* “great and beautiful people”
* “hard and bitter struggle”
* “between an old world that is really long and dead”
* “and a new world that is struggling to reach the light through us”

The opening statement is littered with influential and imagistic comments:
“The world finds it difficult to understand that which is at the center of our endeavors:
the value of blood and race.”

One of the primary motivational tactics of the Germans was getting the people to believe that they were in some way inherently special and unique compared to the rest of the world. This of course, is duly false, and is just said to make people feel good about themselves, in this case, a little too good. Hitler thought that Germany was descended from the Germanic tribes, but that has been proven false. But it doesn’t matter because people believe what they wish to believe; and all the more so in a state of depression. Germany had reached an all time low when Hitler came to power, so, that fact combined with the power of persuasion and propaganda, infused the people with a love for Germany and Hitler.