Hitlers Propaganda and Principles of Fascism - Essay Example

IntroductionAdolf Hitler acted as German’s political and military leader between 1933 and 1945. His unwavering power exceeded to the German society. He was a despotic leader who assumed the title ‘Lord’ giving him supreme authority over German. Interestingly, his supreme authority introduced ‘Hail Hitler’ not only as an official legislation but also as a binding greeting (Kershaw, 2001). Even though he portrayed actions picturing excessive punishment, the public rated him highly and deemed his behaviors as courageous.

His actions were also believed to uphold and maintain morality. This reflection paper will use a propaganda poster to analyze Hitler’s success in using the principles of fascism to promote his rise to power during World War I. Hitler’s Principles of FascismFascism is the extreme dictatorial political ideology. It has several defining principles and characteristics. This study will mainly focus on Hitler’s use of nationalism, authoritarianism and social solidarity. Nationalism aims at viewing a nation as of one single organic entity bonded together by the same ancestry as the natural unifying force.

According to Zimmer (2003), this force often manifests itself in a nation purification desire of all foreign influences resulting to racism as depicted in the Nazi rule of Germany. Fascism also supports social unity and collective national societies. The poster presented in Figure 1 will be used to analyze Hitler’s use of fascism to promote his rise to power during World War I (WWI). It was portrayed during the people that help themselves Winter Fund in 1933. It projects a genetically healthy family as the nucleus of the nation.

Source: http://guity-novin.blogspot.com/2010/05/chapter-29-propaganda-posters.html#TenThe consequences on the Great Depression of early 1930’s negatively affected the economic and political environments of Germany causing them to collapse. This presented Adolf Hitler with a spanking political aptitude to develop and instill political power through taking advantage of the weakened political and economic systems (Kershaw, 2001). Hitler devised the use of his Nazi Party as the main tool of leading Germans into the mass movement.

He hoped that the strategy, together with the combination of the popular support he enjoyed from the masses would thrust him to enjoy political power and authority.In Nazi Germany, Hitler introduced a campaign against food and hunger through the winter relief charity that operated under Joseph Goebbels, the propaganda minister. This fund mainly aimed at popularizing the Nazi’s national community ideal by bringing people together and creating a healthy nation as illustrated in Figure 1. Under Goebbels, Germany also introduced the Mother and Child organization with the aim of increasing birth rates through supporting mothers.

This effort was aimed at increasing German’s native population. Additionally, the natural duty of women was defined as that of bringing up as many radical and healthy children to the world in order to expel foreigners who had invaded Germany.His coming to power worsened the situation of Jews in the country. His Nazi Party applied racial, political and civil doctrines that were, met with some resistance. His continued determination to paint German as a ‘master race’, he worked closely with National Socialist propagandists to unite the country against their common enemy: the Jews.

His dictatorship fostered and created stereotypes and unattractive images of Jews and other races. This was aimed at promoting fear and hatred of the supposed ‘enemies’.ConclusionThe loss of the German monarchy during the First World War precipitated the adoption of the constitution that equipped the president with extensive military and political power. Hitler’s actions after he gained office became harsh He introduced totalitarian dictatorship by using ruthless measures to crush his opponents (Kershaw, 2001).

The spirit of National Socialism led him to the definition of a ‘civilized’ country through fascism and communism. This resulted to the creation of war ideologies in wiping out modern dictatorship through struggle.ReferencesA History of Graphic Design: Chapter 29 -- Propaganda Posters. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2014, from http://guity-novin.blogspot.com/2010/05/chapter-29-propaganda-posters.html#TenKershaw, I. (2010). The Hitler Myth: Image and Reality in the Third Reich. London: Oxford University Press.Zimmer, O. (2003).

Nationalism in Europe, 1890–1940. London, Palgrave Publishers.