"The most important reason why there was little opposition in Germany towards the Nazi regime was its use of Propaganda" How far do you agree with this statement?

Essay by c_emelle September 2006

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During World War 2, propaganda was used by nations on both sides to shape public opinion and build or increase loyalty. The Nazis used propaganda to promote Nazism, anti-Semitism and the ideology of the Aryan race as the master race. In my opinion they took it to a new and perverse level.

"Propaganda attempts 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."

Adolf Hitler (Mein Kampf)

Hitler, who was well aware of the value of good propaganda appointed Joseph Goebbels as minister of Propaganda and National Enlightenment in 1933. Joseph Goebbels saw he's duty as twofold. He had to ensure that nobody in Germany could see, hear or read anything that was hostile or damaging to the Nazi party. While also making certain that the views of the Nazis were put across in the most persuasive and convincing manner possible.

To ensure success, Goebbels formed the Reich chamber of commerce in 1933. The organization controlled the Radio, the Press and all aspects of culture such as films, literature, art and the theatre. Goebbels said "The essence of propaganda consists in winning people over to an idea so sincerely, so vitally that in the end they succumb to it utterly and can never escape." Only those belonging to the Reich chamber of commerce could produce or publish anything and the Nazis decided who joined and who didn't.

However, this meant that Goebbels had to work with the SS, Gestapo and Albert Speer. The latter helped Goebbels with public displays of propaganda while the former hunted out those who could print or publish items defamatory and against the Nazis or Hitler. This meant that the German public could only read,