What was the role and significance of Joseph Goebbels in the Nazis regime 1933-45?

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What was the role and significance of Joseph Goebbels in the Nazis regime 1933-45?

Within the Fuhrer circle was a small group of 12 men, a “Kitchen” cabinet, whom Hitler had personally promoted to high office at national level. Nazis such as Goebbels had personal relationships between Hitler, which were mostly based on loyalty, and fear. They were also rewarded for their loyalty to Hitler rather than their abilities.

Policies he contributed of the regime

Goebbels became a secretary to a nationalist politician; it was here that he came into contact with the National Socialists. As a collaborator of Greg Strasser, he belonged to the social revolutionary North German wing of the party first.

Goebbels joined the Nazis party in 1922, then became the party’s expert on propaganda and was appointed Gualeiter of Berlin in 1926. Goebbels invented the “Hitler Myth”, and published pamphlets and organised demonstrations and election campaigns.  

In January 1933 he was appointed Minister of propaganda and Popular Enlightenment. He included propaganda in every aspect of media such as newspapers, films, radio and arts. Goebbels used publicity to exploit the Reichstag fire in February 1933, the burning of books in May 1933 and the Berlin Olympics in 1936.

Goebbels was anti-Semitic and introduced the Nuremburg Laws of 1935 and organised the Kristallnacht attack on the Jews in November 1938. As part of his propaganda campaign he organised the “Eternal Jew” exhibition in Berlin and produced anti-Semitic film Jud Suss in 1942.  

He lost favour with Hitler because of his affair with Lida Baarova and his opposition to war in 1939. However, he restored favour with Hitler by 1942 because of his successful war propaganda and anti-Semitism.

Relationship with Hitler

Hitler and Goebbels had much in common even though they had differences of characters. Through politics they become experts in terror: “Either the enemy walks over our dead bodies or we over his?” It was their differences rather than their similiarties that enabled them to further each other’s progress. Hitler was intuitive rather than intelligent and Goebbels was intelligent, this had a decisive influence on the development of his characters. They both obtained unlimited power over a nation. Without Hitler Goebbels would have become a successful journalist or parliamentary orator. Without Goebbels, Hitler would never have gained total power. He created the Hitler myth and “...offered the masses the saviour for when they yearned, endeavoured with the grace of God...” said Victor Reinmann.

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Toward the end of the war they could not exist without each other, as they strengthened and confronted each other. Hitler was sombre, had complex-determined visions and had an ecstatic relationship with the masses. Goebbels used techniques like persuasion, slogans, myths and images.

Propaganda

As the Minister of Propaganda, Goebbels contributed to the rise of Hitler. In the Face of the Third Reich by Joachim Fest it says: “In the view of its capacity for mediumistic communication with the “mind” of the masses..” Goebbels was able to get through to people on a deeper level, perhaps spiritually, getting ...

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