Amy Shaw

Professor Lolene Blake

HIST 1510

3/1/18

"Nazi Propaganda Pamphlet" by Joseph Goebbels

This pamphlet entitled 'Those Damned Nazi's' (or 'those cursed swastika lads'), written

by Joseph Goebbels on behalf of the National Socialist German Workers' (Nazi) party, was

originally published in 1929, and republished in 1930 and 1932. Throughout its reissuing, the

words changed slightly, but the message remained the same. It tells the German people of the

importance of Nationalism and Socialism, and reminds them that the Jews are their true enemy,

and the cause of all their misfortune. This excerpt of Goebbels's pamphlet begins with a section

entitled 'Why are we Nationalists?', which explains, in the mind of the Nazi party, how important

it is to believe and support your country. Goebbels argues that "because we love Germany, we

demand the protection of its national spirit and we battle against its destroyers." Following this is

a section entitled 'Why are we socialists?'. It is here, that Goebbels explains, like Nationalism,

Socialism is important to the rebirth of the German state. He also goes

into why Socialism is superior to other styles of government, primarily,

Bourgeois and Marxism. Lastly is the section 'Why do we Oppose the

Jews?' This section hammers home the idea that Jews are the source of

all of Germany's misery. It states that the Jews are to blame for the

failure and results of the First World War, that they are thriving while

the rest of the Germans suffer, and that they are driving the country

Cover of Pamphlet apart. In the full pamphlet, there is also a section on why they are a
'Workers' Party', and a section covering their revolutionary demands and how they plan to restore

Germany to its former glory. Also included in this pamphlet are 5 cartoons by Hans Schweitzer,

who was responsible for many of the Nazi's famous propaganda posters.

Joseph Goebbels, the author of this Nazi propaganda pamphlet,

was born on October 29, 1897 in Rheydt, Germany. He was exempt

from serving in the First World War due to his club foot. Instead, he

studied literature and philosophy at various German universities. After

the war ended, he tried to start a career as a journalist, playwright, and

novelist, but was rejected. This led him to joining the National Socialist

German Workers’ (Nazi) Party in 1924. He quickly became friends with Joseph Goebbels

the leader Adolf Hitler. Hitler was impressed with Goebbels's writing abilities. Goebbels rapidly

rose through the ranks, becoming a party district leader in Berlin, and established a weekly Nazi

newspaper called Der Angriff (The Attack). And, in 1928, Hitler made him the Nazi Party

Propaganda Director. It was his job to host rallies, arrange photos, print pamphlets, everything he

could to spread Nazi ideology, and to make Hitler out to be Germany's Savior. (History.com) It

was during this time that Goebbels first released this particular propaganda pamphlet.

Germany, at this time in history, was in an abysmal

state after losing World War 1. Germans were humiliated

that they had lost the war. And with the Treaty of

Versailles, they were forced to take full credit for it, as well

as pay massive amounts in reparations. This combined with

the hyperinflation of the German Reichsmark sent Germany

Cartoon used in pamphlet into a catastrophic depression. The number of unemployed

soared, and many people were starving. And in the midst of this, many people feared a

Communist takeover.

All of these misfortunes for Germany certainly

created a perfect storm for Hitler and Joseph Goebbels,

making it easy to manipulate the people. Germans were

tired of feeling worthless. They were tired of being

blamed for World War 1. So, when they started seeing

Nazi propaganda like this pamphlet telling them that

it's not their fault, and that they should be proud to be

Cartoon used in pamphlet
German, they believed it, and wanted more. And with that, came hatred for the Jews. Joseph

Goebbels and the Nazi's turned the blame for the losing the war from Germany as a whole to the

Jews, as part of the Dolchstoßlegenden, or stab-in-the-back theory. This is the theory that states

that Germany didn't lose the war on the battlefield, but from contentions and revolutions on the

home front. The Nazi's strongly pushed this as fact, because it saved German pride, and they

were able to point the hand of blame instead on Jews at home who didn't support the war effort.

He also assigns blame to the Jews for

Germany's economic crisis by pointing out

that while the German people suffer and

starve, many Jews were still succeeding

economically. Goebbels knew exactly what

the people wanted to hear, and he gave it to

them, while playing on their preexisting

prejudices and fears.

Cartoon used in pamphlet
 This pamphlet, working in tandem with Goebbels's other forms of propaganda were

extremely successful. This success can be seen in the election numbers following Goebbels rise

in the Nazi ranks and the printing this pamphlet. In the 1930 election, the Nazi party won 18.3

percent of the vote, making them the second largest party

represented in the German parliament. This was a huge increase

from the 1928 election where they only received 2.6 percent.

Then, in 1932, the Nazi's increased their numbers even further to

37.3 percent, making then the largest party in Germany. And in

the following year, 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor. ("The

Nazi Rise to Power")

Joseph Goebbels is a master of propaganda, and I found it

quite easy to see how/why the German people in the 1930's so

readily accepted his words. Although some of the power behind

Cartoons used in pamphlet
them is lost in translation, I can see why the German people would so desperately want to believe

what Goebbels, Hitler, and the Nazi's were telling them. It's hard to admit, but if I was living in

Germany at this time, I probably would have gone along with it, at least a first. He used subtle

repetition and the use of powerful slogans to get the audience's attention, and convince them that

he and the Nazi's know what's best for the country.

In summation, Joseph Goebbels was one of the most persuasive propagandists during

World War 2, and possibly all time. He played off of the German people's feelings of

hopelessness, fear, and anger; and tricked them into following Hitler and his insane plans for

seizing power and eradicating the Jewish people.

 Citations

Joseph Goebbels and Mjölnir, Die verfluchten Hakenkreuzler. Etwas zum Nachdenken (Munich:

Verlag Frz. Eher, 1930).

History.com Staff. “Joseph Goebbels.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2010,

www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/joseph-goebbels.

“The Nazi Rise to Power.” United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, United States Holocaust

Memorial Museum, www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10008206.

“Those Damned Hooked Cross Lads: Something to Think About.” Nationalsozialistische

Umerziehung (National-Socialist Reeducation), 8 Oct. 2016,

nationalsocialistreeducation.wordpress.com/2016/10/08/those-damned-hooked-cross-lads-

something-to-think-about/#comments.