Propaganda is the coordinated attempt to influence public opinion through the use of media, was skillfully used by the Nazis to spread their messages of hate across Europe. Propaganda was biased against Jews and portrayed Hitler and the Nazis in the best light, they were portrayed as the heroes saving people from the Jewish threat. Propaganda provided a crucial instrument for acquiring and maintaining power, for the implementation of the Nazi’s policies, and the extermination of millions of people in the Holocaust. Hitler himself writes in his book, Mein Kampf, "Propaganda tries to force a doctrine on the whole people... Propaganda works on the general public from the standpoint of an idea and makes them ripe for the victory of this idea." In 1933, after the Nazi seize of power, Hitler established the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. Its aim was to ensure that the Nazi message was successfully communicated through art, music, theater, films, books, radio, educational materials, and the press. Propaganda persuaded Europeans that Jews were inferior, and that they were taking their jobs and land away from them. The Nazi regime used propaganda to rally the German population to support its wars of conquest until the very end of the regime.
My book, The Book Thief, has many examples of the propaganda used by the Nazis during the Holocaust. One of the main examples is the recurring mention of the Mein Kampf, which many in the book describe as “great.” The Nazis also destroy propaganda from the enemy side. Jewish literature, poetry, and other banned material were destroyed in book burnings. One example of this in The Book Thief is on Hitler’s birthday banned material is burned in a festival. Nazi officials make speeches that say Jews are inferior and that they shouldn’t live among the German citizens.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “Nazi Propaganda.” Holocaust Encyclopedia http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005202http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/?ModuleId=10005143. Accessed on 12/1/11
You've discovered strong connections between your book and actual events. Good work! Also, great job citing your source.
ReplyDelete4/5 points.There are mechanical errors. Ex:"Propaganda is the coordinated attempt to influence public opinion through the use of media, was skillfully used by the Nazis to spread their messages of hate across Europe." This is an incomplete sentence.