Goebbels and propaganda in Nazi Germany
I can describe how the Nazi Party used propaganda to attempt to control and influence attitudes in Germany.
Goebbels and propaganda in Nazi Germany
I can describe how the Nazi Party used propaganda to attempt to control and influence attitudes in Germany.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Nazi propaganda aimed to build belief, not just obedience, by saturating daily life with its message.
- Joseph Goebbels created a simple, repeated narrative to shape public perception and loyalty.
- Spectacles like the Nuremberg Rallies and films like "Triumph of the Will" mesmerised and unified audiences.
- The Reich controlled all culture - music, art, media - through censorship and state approval to silence opposition.
- Propaganda shaped public behaviour; dissent was rare as people feared punishment and social isolation.
Keywords
Propaganda - information or ideas that are spread with the intention of influencing people's opinions; media that is designed to promote a particular political agenda
Censorship - the act of banning ideas, books, or media from reaching the public, because they are seen as offensive, harmful, or politically dangerous, or because someone wants to keep certain information secret
Narrative - a structured story or a particular way of explaining or understanding events
Reich - meaning empire, under the Nazis, it referred to the Third Reich, their name for Hitler’s regime, which they saw as the third great German empire after the Holy Roman Empire and the German Empire
Common misconception
Everyone in Germany fully believed the Nazi propaganda.
While some people genuinely believed, many conformed due to fear, peer pressure, or habit. Propaganda created surface unity - not universal belief.
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: Goebbels and propaganda in Nazi Germany, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: Goebbels and propaganda in Nazi Germany, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
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Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Germany 1890–1945, Democracy and dictatorship unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
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- Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
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Adult supervision recommended
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