Making of the Modern World: Fascist Propaganda
Introduction
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Why a special lecture on fascist
propaganda?
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Why could fascism appeal to
people (focus on Nazi Germany)?
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Context: propaganda ‘war’ in
Weimar Germany
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Analysing examples of
propaganda
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 1: Hitler Youth Quex
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Film was based on a 1932 novel,
released in 1933; celebrating the
life (and death) of a young
working-class boy who joined the
Hitler Youth
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 1: Hitler Youth Quex
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 1: Hitler Youth Quex
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Communists represent disorder on
multiple levels: violence, sexual
morals, social organization: this
was the threat Germany was facing
if Communists would prevail
•
Nazis present order, restraint,
inclusiveness and a positive
outlook towards the future
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 2: Goebbels’s Radio Speech (1932)
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Nazis skilfully employed radio
propaganda, especially after they
came to power, to directly address
their audience; people would listen
to the radio in groups, which
created a sense of community
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 2: Goebbels’s Radio Speech (1932)
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 2: Goebbels’s Radio Speech (1932)
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Germany as being enslaved by
foreign powers
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German workers are suffering
under this situation; appeal to the
working classes!
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Call for a ‘government of national
labour’; glorification of physical
labour
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 2: Goebbels’s Radio Speech (1932)
Communist and Nazi posters
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 2: Goebbels’s Radio Speech (1932)
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Germany as being enslaved by
foreign powers
•
German workers are suffering
under this situation; appeal to the
working classes!
•
Call for a ‘government of national
labour’; glorification of physical
labour
•
Expansionism; living space for
Germans to settle
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 3: Song
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Hitler Youth Song, from Hitler
Youth Quex
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Collective singing as a way to
create a community (‘Singing
Dictatorship’)
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 3: Song
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 3: Song
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Future oriented ideology: we will
create a ‘new age’
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Celebration of the youth as the
dynamic and relentless generation
that would accomplish this future
(the Nazi movement as the largest
youth movement in German
history)
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Reversal of age hierarchies
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 4: Triumph of the Will
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Documentary of the NSDAP Party
Congress in Nuremberg, 1934;
produced by Leni Riefenstahl
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Shows how the ‘community of
soldiers and workers’ was
produced and staged
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 4: Triumph of the Will
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 4: Triumph of the Will
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Joyous elements of community
building
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Inclusiveness of the nation beyond
regional or class differences
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Glorification of WWI soldiers and
the ‘trench community’
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Glorification of physical labour as
a prerequisite for belonging to the
nation
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 5: Violence as Propaganda
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Nazis (and Italian Fascists)
celebrated violence and frequently
engaged in violent street battles
with their opponents
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Violence created the impression of
a looming civil war, and only the
Nazis would be able to provide
order in this situation
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Example 5: Violence as Propaganda
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Violence provided the Nazis with
an opportunity to prove themselves
strong, virile, and willing to take
radical action to solve problems
Making of the Modern World: Nations and Nationalism
Conclusion
What was appealing about National
Socialism?
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A force of order in times of chaos
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A force for the future, willing to do
whatever it took (young, dynamic,
violent)
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A force of unity in a situation of
social and political ruptures