The Presentation of "Self" and "Other" in Nazi Propaganda

Abstract

Nazi propaganda was based on traditional German values and incorporated then contemporary psychological and biological theories. A first attempt to explain the role of the German population in the Holocaust was made by describing an authoritarian personality. Another theory, the psychology of the masses, explains group behaviour in terms of ingroup cohesion, feelings of superiority and a decreased sense of individuality. This paper analyses speeches by Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels using critical discourse analysis. In concurrence with the psychology of the masses, Nazi propaganda used different strategies in its presentation of self and other, which aimed to increase ingroup cohesion and also create fear towards other. Furthermore, these strategies encouraged a non-human view of other and, from the perspective of the Nazi´s, legitimized the treatment which the Jewish people endured. Alternative interpretations are also considered. Nazi propaganda was based on traditional German values and provided a complete explanation of the past and present events happening in the world (Bytwerk, 2008; Herf, 2006). Nazi propaganda therefore had a close relationship with economic disturbances and also incorporated prominent theories and problems of the time