An evaluation of two primary sources in Nazi Germany Essay

An evaluation of two primary sources in Nazi Germ either - Essay ExampleGoebells can be trusted to paint an surgical and reliable picture of the Ministrys aims. Goebbels was knowledgeable on the media/manipulating press, in the full speech Goebbels points out that he is from the press2 and goes on to say that he wants the press to be involved in the ministry. Goebbels is persuasive, he claims alignment to the press, suggesting hes one of them then stresses the high importance and value of their role fundamentally bolstering the troops and thus he comes across as an informed authority on the subject. The speech is represented slightly differently in different textbooks presumably due to the translation from German to English. Whereas the Noakes and Pridham version says work on people until they have capitulated to us3 the David Welch version says work on people until they ar addicted to us.4 There is a subtle difference in meaning between these two translations, the first suggestin g surrender, the latter suggesting devoted, and this must be borne in mind when interpreting the source. The final line of the document gobbet states tell the masses what they want,5 this applies Antonio Gramscis term hegemony, whereby the masses of society give their consent to the teaching imposed on social life by the dominant fundamental group.6 Its highly significant to the way in which propaganda works and influences. Goebbels is bang-up to make the distinction between heaven and propaganda, by defining propaganda in more positive terms as being active, something that persuades people to believe whereby enlightenment is more of a passive process. The source has a wider significance when the events that occurred afterward are considered in hindsight. In March 1933 the Nazis were beginning to encourage a political foothold, theyd achieved 288 seats, but had still failed to win a majority vote7. Propaganda was intended to forge Nationalism, so that people would put aside any other separate defining social groups such as class or religion and instead focus upon the Nation. Goebbels was effective in setting up and directing the Nazi propaganda Ministry. In Goebbels speech he talks of wanting to put across propaganda in a current fashionable manner, radio was a key factor in this. Dr. Brian Currid in his chapter called Radio, Mass Publicity and National Fantasy explains how German radio had begun 10yrs earlier than Goebells article, in 19238, and at that time in the main consisted of music and songs. Currid charts the change or reform of radios usage by the Nazis into something nationalized and states After the so-called Gleichschaltung, or consolidation, of the radio the power of the Nazis to manipulate domain opinion had reached unimaginable heights seemingly overnight.9 Nanny Dreschler also suggests that the radio meant that indoctrination and entertainment could be extended into the private sphere without difficulty.10 On the 30th June, following Go ebells speech, Hitler himself gave a speech which is a very similar source. This served to corroborate the Nazi partys stance and lend erect to Goebells, stating that as Minister, Goebells was responsible for all influences on the intellectual life of the nation, public relations for state culture11 The second source is a local newspaper report from March 16 1934, a primary source from the time of the events