‘We are the victims!’: the impact of Third Reich radio broadcasts on the political and ideological horizons of German society Cover Image

„To my jesteśmy ofiarami!” Wpływ radiofonii III Rzeszy na politycznoideowe horyzonty społeczeństwa niemieckiego
‘We are the victims!’: the impact of Third Reich radio broadcasts on the political and ideological horizons of German society

Author(s): Sebastian Fikus
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Instytut Studiów Politycznych PAN
Keywords: crimes of National Socialism;, the fate of Jews; radio broadcasting in the Third Reich; Hans Fritzsche; propaganda; monitoring society; Stalingrad

Summary/Abstract: The article contributes to the discussion about the reasons why National Socialism was accepted in Germany. The author analyses German society’s knowledge of the surrounding world. The society had only access to information created by the ministry of propaganda on pain of capital punishment. Foreign newspapers were unavailable and even the highest state officials, military officials and decision-makers in the terror apparatus were not permitted to listen to foreign radio stations. These regulations were so effective that German society was convinced until the end of the war that their state waged a defensive war. The news about crimes against Jews and occupied nations were treated as exaggerated and sensational rumours. The author discusses manipulation strategies used by the Third Reich to mislead German society during the war. He also concludes that the communication aspect should play a key role in discussions about the responsibility of German society for the crimes committed by the Third Reich.

  • Issue Year: 46/2018
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 171-188
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Polish