by Adja Roznic

Created on: January 15, 2009   Last Updated: August 07, 2009

Imagine, you are a Jewish person in 1941 Europe and for years you have been unjustly discriminated against by people of all walks of life, regardless of whether they have ever met, seen, or spoken to you. You are wondering, "Why and how is this message of denunciation of our people being spread throughout the world." Well, the answer is through propaganda.

Propaganda is the spreading of a message to help or damage a cause or organization and it is everywhere you look. It was one of the key aspects to the Nazi Party's reign. Whether it was purveyed through a magazine, one of the multiple posters hung by the Nazis, or even through children's books. The Nazis were letting the world know of their presence.

Anti-Semitic ideas were only one of the things that they were trying to spread through their propaganda.

Propaganda was a very valuable asset to the Nazis. Another asset of theirs was their Reich Minister for Propaganda and Public Enlightenment. If only the Nazi Party did not have the advantage of expertise in propaganda would they of lasted as long they did and would anyone of listened to their ideas? (Nazi Propaganda: 1933-1945)

The name of Reich Minister for Propaganda and Public Enlightenment was Joseph Goebbels. Goebbels was born in Western Germany in the year 1897. Although he did not fight in WWI because of a bad limp, he later joined the Nazi Party. He himself was attracted to the Nazi Party by propaganda. He had a doctorate of philosophy from Heidelberg University, which he received in the 1920's.

Because Goebbels had a great understanding of psychology, he was an extraordinary propagandist. He was quickly moved through the ranks and became one of the most prolific leaders of the Nazi Party. He gave speeches, wrote articles, and gave direction to all of the other propagandists under him. The other propagandists had many other various ways of getting into the minds of the masses of people. (Ross 35)

They used practically anything and everything they could gain control of to use as propaganda. The most widely used methods of propaganda that were used were those that could be seen visually. Not just through common visual mediums like posters or photographs, though. They used many items to promote themselves. For example, the yellow Star of David patches that had to be worn at all times. This showed that the Nazis had control of the Jews and it also promoted their anti-Semitic ways because whenever someone would see a person wearing

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