Nazi Germany
Nolan Crist
Who, What, When, Where and Why.
Nazi control over Germany began in 1933, as a dictatorship under the control of Adolf Hitler. The Nazi party came to have control over Germany because Hitler was trying to push the people and gain influence after World War I. Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933 and the Nazi government soon gained dictatorial power. Germany became a fascist totalitarian state and controlled nearly every aspect of day-to-day life for the population. The Nazis began eliminating individual freedoms as an effort to transcend class and religious differences. The first movement of this was the Reichstag Fire Decree on February 28, 1933.
Germany's expansion while under Nazi control.
The symbol of the Nazi party.
Hitler, the leader of the Nazi party.
Media Perspective #1
Mein Kampf, written by Adolf Hitler and published in 1926, is the first source of media to promote National Socialism in Germany. It was mass produced and nearly everyone in Germany had a copy. Whether or not it was a choice for them to have the book was unknown. It was the most common way for Hitler to spread his influence and ideas. The Nazis used it to promote themselves. From their perspective they were doing good, and bringing justice to their country by fighting against the sabotage that they think the Jews bestowed upon them.
Media Citation #2
In America, propaganda was used for the exact opposite effect as in Germany. It was used to support an Allied victory, and disapprove of German actions. Most of the US's propaganda was produced by the media in form of posters, with up to 200,000 different designs. The posters were used so that it wasn't only words that they were hearing to empower them, but the visual effect was just as great if not greater. With the different pictures on the posters the media was able to influence people more easily to be supportive of their actions in the war to stop Nazi Germany and the promotion of National Socialism.
Media Bias
The media in Germany is partial to support the people. In the dictatorship, all the media had to be approved by someone in the Nazi party, if not Hitler himself. This kept everything that was spread to be supportive of the Nazis and their actions. Whereas all of the media in the US was not supportive of the Nazis and were trying to tear them down. The media is partial to whatever the culture it is surrounded by. Since Hitler was in control of Germany, all of the media supported him.
Criticism #1
The surrounding culture affects all of the media. None of the media in Germany was pro-America. Just the same way that none of the media in America was pro-Germany. Whatever is popular in the culture at the time, like the war and takeover by Hitler, is what made it to the media. In Germany they had a lot of newspaper articles about Hitler's views on how everyday life should be, and how the Nazi's are going about limiting individual freedoms.
Criticism #2
In Germany they were trying to eliminate the "haves and have-nots." The Nazis were pushing for individual equality and limiting their freedoms. The population's lives were limited in nearly aspect, and taken control of by the Nazis. The media only printed and spread what they wanted. The Socialism aspect that was being installed in Germany during WWII eliminated classes among the general population. Everyone that wasn't in the military or a government official was considered the same and they all had the same opportunities.
Hitler's Second Man 1: Inside Nazi Germany [Full Documentary]
Citations
History.com Staff. (2009). Nazi Party. Retrieved April 29, 2016, from http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/nazi-party
Foundations of the Nazi State. (2016). Retrieved April 29, 2016, from https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005204