The Nazi party seized control in Germany in 1933 and began to implement a series of changes which would revolutionise German social and cultural life. The Nazi ideology focused around the principles of Volksgemeinschaft (the people's community), lebensraum (gain more living space), totalitarianism, anti-Semitism and the supremacy of the Aryan race. The application of Nazi ideas and ideology depended on two types of force against individuals. One took the form of propaganda and indoctrination and the other was based on terror.
Propaganda was an important tool used by the Nazi's to revolutionise German social and cultural life and was significant in the creation of a society which conformed to and embraced Nazi ideology. The Ministry of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda set up by the Nazi's and was headed by Goebbels and was responsible for directing "all tasks in the spiritual direction of the nation" and the overall co-ordination of the transmission of Nazi ideology and influences.
Persuasion and fear were the key elements of Goebbels propaganda machine and promoted the themes of racial purity, fear and hatred of Jews/communists, the cult of the Fuhrer and "the people's community". Nazi propaganda was achieved through a variety of mass communication methods as well as control over cultural output in the form of literature, music and art. Radio was the most significant tool of propaganda and increased the impression if personal contact between the people and their leader, further enhancing the effectiveness of the Fuhrer cult. The Fuhrer myth/cult was one of Goebbels greatest achievements which succeeded in mobilising support for the Nazi's as Hitler was projected as a leader who was moderate and reasonable, above the more radical elements within the Nazi regime and a man who put the national interest before his own. The press was subject to heavy censorship which...