Khoury 1

Andrew Khoury
Mr. Hawkins
Modern World History P, Period 4
21 March 2016
Hitler is notorious for his use of political propaganda. Why do you think he was so successful at
this?
Hitler attained power in 1933 as the result of a complex set of factors. He was the right
man at the right time to take advantage of the problems that had arisen in Germany in the post
war years.
Germany lacked faith in democracy. The reason being was the corruption and
mismanagement, which characterised the Weimar Republic (inflation). The Democrats were
reasonable and well-meaning men, representing the inflation impoverished middle class and
businessThey relied on chronic credit inflation (which put them more and more into debt.
The Germans were also upset by the loss of World War 1, but the thing that made them
the maddest, is the punishment enforced on them as a result of the Treaty of Versailles. Such as
redistribution of territory, reduction of Germany's fighting power and imposition of harsh
conditions, which meant Germany had to pay 6600 million-pound to the Allies in 1921. Germany
thought that the punishment was too harsh.
As I have said, Hitler was a manipulator. What he said, people believed, and those who
didn't, were killed. Propaganda works on the general public from the standpoint of an idea
and makes them ripe for the victory of this idea (Website 1). He also believed that Germany

Khoury 2
had to have more land to safeguard itself if needed. The people of Germany listened and they
turned against the Jewish people killing them and sending many to concentration camps where
they lived and died amid great suffering and hardship. The Nazi regime used propaganda
effectively to mobilize the German population to support its wars of conquest until the very
end of the regime (Website 1). The effect of Hitler's speeches caused alarm in the other
European countries. Most didn't believe what he said and when he went into office, thought he
would be more restrained.
The Propaganda of the Nazi's made Hitler appear strong, autocratic and firmly committed
to his beliefs. That the German people loved uniforms, parades, and military formations and
submitted easily to authority was no secret and Hitler played on this with displays of military
prowess and the strong symbols eg. the Swastika. Hitler gain power and formaking the
policy changes that were made without being questioned by the general public (Website
2). He used propaganda to spring fear into people by using emotional harangues. Germany lost
World War 1 only because of British propaganda (Website 2).Another way used, to show
his power was to send "Stormtroopers" or "brown shirts" onto the street causing a lot of violence,
often against communists and Jews. They were also used to break up rival meetings. Hitler was
the 'man of the year' in 1938 and the German people loved him.

The other nations of Europe were scared of Hitler, but they were also uncertain.
general public from the standpoint of an idea and makes them ripe for the victory of this
idea (Website 3).They didn't know whether he meant what he was saying, whether he would be
more restrained once in power. At the core of the Holocaust we find modern anti-Semitism,
the current version of Jew Hatred - that same phenomenon which appeared throughout the

Khoury 3
centuries, perhaps finding its most blatant manifestation with the medieval Church
(Website 3).They allowed Hitler too much freedom by ignoring the regulation of the treaty of
Versailles.
Britain did nothing until Germany attacked Poland in 1939, which heralded the start of
World War 11. The French did become apprehensive earlier though. In 1935 they held formal
conversations with Italy (under Mussolini) seeking a common Franco-Italian front when it was
seen that the League of Nations was doing nothing. The Nazi ideal of a community of the
people tapped into German traditions that lauded social harmony over conflict and in
addition valued hard work, clean living, and law and order. For the Nazis, this idealized
community could never see the light of day unless it was based on racial purity (Website
3). The French continued to form an alliance against Hitler. They tried with Britain at Stresa and
the USSR in Paris and also a similar pact with The Soviet Union and Czechoslouvakia. Once
social enemies were targeted, the police, the judges, and any number of civil servants were
quick to take the initiative and swing into action, even trying to outdo one another in their
fealty to the cause of making the new order (Website 3). However Hitler showed complete
disregard for this tightening ring around Nazi Germany. I believe the lack of effective control
over Hitler, by the surrounding European Nations was a factor in allowing German expansion,
which lead to World War 11.
Hitler was a vital part of the Nazi Party. The Nazi party needed Hitler for his ideas and
his ability to con people into believing him, his skills as a public speaker and his overall plan to
gain power in Germany.