The impact of war on Nazi propaganda

The impact of war on Nazi propaganda

1. overview of the war

   • war began on 1st September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland
     • 2 days later, the conflict became more widespread when Britain and France declared war on Germany
     • over the course of the next 2 years, German forces achieved a series of victories and occupied countries in northern, western and southern Europe
   • by summer 1940, only Britain remained at war with Germany
     • after failing to defeat Britain in 1940, Hitler turned his attention to the east
       • in June 1941, he ordered German forces to invade the Soviet Union
         • after initial successes which took German forces to outskirts of Moscow, the Soviet Union's Red Army succeeded in halting German advances (Dec 1941)
           • also month that USA entered war on Allied side
   • during 1942, German forces in the USSR advanced to the south and east towards the oilfields in Caucasus region
     • attack halted at Stalingrad
       • struggle lasted from 1942- Jan 1943, Red Army inflicted a severe defeat on German forces- proved to be decisive turning point in the war
   • after Stalingrad, German forces were on the defensive and war became struggle for survival
     • at this point, the Nazi regime adopted 'total war' strategy to try and stave off defeat
     • change to total war strategy radicalised Nazi regime, and placed increasing burdens on the civilian population- and so impacted propaganda

2. the impact of total war on propaganda

   • During the 1930s, one of the aims of Nazi propaganda was to instil a 'military spirit' into German people
   • while the majority of Germans undoubtedly supported nationalist aim of foreign policy to overturn the Treaty of Versailles, the effort to arouse general enthusiasm for war met with limited success
   • there was no cheering crowds spontaneously welcoming the outbreak of war in Sept 1939
     • unlike in August 1914 when WWI began
   • the easy victory over Poland, and the entry of German troops into the Polish capital (Warsaw) greeted with much flag-waving and rejoicing, mostly response to local Nazi Party offices' directions
   • in the early years of the war (1939-41) Nazi propaganda aims were to maintain public morale and mobilise the energies and commitment of German people to the war effort
     • with a series of quick victories, maintaining morale was easy
       • but, Hitler still showed that he didn't take Germany's commitment for granted by making sure that the are didn't put too much strain on civilian population
         • no major squeeze on civilian consumption of food and manufactured goods
   • the emphasis in propaganda was on the claim that Germany was fighting a defensive war, one Germany itself had not chosen but couldn't avoid
   • the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 didn't bring immediate change in tone of Nazi propaganda
     • the success of the German armies in the first weeks and months of the campaign led to German confidence that the war would be over soon
       • but, by Dec 1941, German advance was halted and the campaign became a long, bitter and costly war of attrition, through the depths of the Russian winter
         • Goebbels ordered a more sober and realistic tone in Nazi propaganda
         • heavy air-raids and cuts in food rations also damaged civilian morale
   • the defeat of the German armies at Stalingrad had a much more profound effect to morale
     • also a disaster for Nazi propagandist
       • having confidently predicted victory in the early stages of battle,, the propagandist had an almost impossible task in explaining away a devastating defeat
   • after the Stalingrad defeat, Goebbels recognised the need to prepare the German people for the long, drawn-out struggle which had now become one for the survival of German Reich
     • Goebbels used propaganda to justify the increasing sacrifices being demanded from German people and to enlist their support for a strategy of total war
       • in the new climate, Nazi propaganda focused on a number of themes
         • Anti-Bolshevism
         • Anti-Semitism
           • anti-Jewish campaign became a major preoccupation
         • strengthening resolve
         • retaliation
           • belief of a secret weapon- bombing of London 1941 weapon named V1 (series of secret weapons)
   • Goebbels task in the final 2 years of war was to sustain German morale
     • despite all his efforts, there was growing war weariness and disillusionment for regime
       • Hitler myth still sustained at beginning of 1943, however Stalingrad defeat boosted the decline
         • still dangerous to criticise Hitler in 1945, but few probably mourned his death (April 1945)