The Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda was established under Joseph Goebbels to control information and secure loyalty to Nazism through media like films, posters, and radio. The Nazis banned anti-Nazi publications, scrutinized media, and made radios affordable to spread propaganda while banning foreign stations. They also suppressed freedom of expression and the White Rose resistance group. The SS and Gestapo enforced Nazi policies, operated concentration camps, were responsible for the Holocaust, and created a climate of fear through surveillance and arrests of dissidents.

1. Social Impact
Part One

2.  Reich Ministry of Public
Enlightenment and
Propaganda established
 Led by Goebbels
1. Use all forms of media to
secure people’s loyalty to
Nazism
2. Convince Germans that
Nazism was the only way to
restore order in Germany
3. Stir up hatred for Jews and
communists

3.  Public displays
of power –
rallies, marches,
public meetings
 Watch video:
 Describe the
parade
 How is Hitler
depicted?

4.  Films controlled by Nazis and had to carry pro-
Nazi messages
Leni Riefenstahl
Alfred Hugenberg

5.  Posters also used to glorify Nazi achievements and
to attack opponents

6.  Any information hostile to Nazis were kept away
from German people
 Anti-Nazi newspapers put out of business
 Book-burning and banning of ‘unacceptable’
publications
 Reich Chamber of Commerce (est. 1933) scrutinised all
forms of media

7.  Radios made affordable – why?
 Listening to foreign radio stations banned – why?
 Loudspeakers placed in the streets for people to listen to
Hitler’s speeches

8.  White Rose Movement
 The group became known for an anonymous leaflet and
graffiti campaign, lasting from June 1942 until February
1943, that called for active opposition to dictator Adolf
Hitler's regime.
‘How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly
anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause.
Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go, but what does
my death matter, if through us, thousands of people are
awakened and stirred to action?’
- Sophie Scholl

9.  Lack of freedom of expression and ideas
 Easier for Nazis to enforce doctrine and control public
opinion

10. 1. Schutz-Staffel (SS)
 Established in 1925 as an elite force of ‘Aryan’
Germans who were Hitler’s bodyguard
 Himmler appointed SS leader
 Responsible for destroying Nazis’ enemies and
carrying out its racial policies

11.  Death’s Head Units
 Responsible for
concentration camps –
torture and hard labour
 Responsible for ‘Jewish
Solution’
 SS Verfuegunstruppe
(SS-VT)
 Nazi Party’s armed force
– important role in
fighting during WWII

12. 2. Gestapo
 Nazi Secret Police
 Finding and removing threats to the Nazis
 Spied on German citizens and arrested those who were
suspected to be against the government
 1935: Gestapo responsible for setting up concentration
camps for ‘undesirables’

13.  Climate of Fear
 No one knew who the Gestapo informers were
 Discontented people were less willing to speak up for
fear of punishment

14.  Form 4 groups
 Each group will be assigned to study a particular social
group in Hitler’s Germany:
 Jews
 Gypsies, disabled, homosexuals
 Hitler Youth
 Women
 Spend 10 minutes reading the relevant pages in the TB
and take note of key points
 How were these groups treated?
 What role did they play in Germany?