Adolf Hitler on 'War Propaganda'

Published by carolyn on Sat, 2018-06-16 19:06

Continuing with passages from Mein Kampf, 2017 Thomas Dalton translation. See here.

Chapter Six is titled WAR PROPAGANDA. It contains the young Hitler's thoughts on Germany's failure to use effective propaganda against the enemy in the Great War, and compares it to the successful propaganda against Germany by the English in particular. This relatively short chapter contains great lessons for us in the fight against any enemy.

P347  6.1  THE PURPOSE OF PROPAGANDA

Germany was waging war for its very existence. The purpose of its war propaganda should have been to strengthen the fighting spirit in that struggle, and to help bring about victory.

But when nations are fighting for their existence on this earth, when the fateful question of “to be or not to be” must be answered, then all humane and aesthetic considerations must be set aside. These ideals don't float about in the air, but are the product of man's creative imagination; they disappear when he disappears. Nature knows nothing of them. Moreover, they are characteristic of only a small number of nations—or rather, of races—and their value depends on the degree to which they spring from the national or racial feeling. Humane and aesthetic ideals will disappear from the inhabited earth when those races that created and upheld them disappear.

[…]

Moltke [Helmuth von, 1800-1891, Prussian military chief of staff] stated that in time of war, one must reach the quickest decision, and that the most ruthless methods of fighting are also the most humane.

When people attempt to answer this reasoning with nonsense about aesthetics and so on, only one answer can be given: that the vital questions involved in the struggle of a nation for its existence must not be subordinated to aesthetic considerations. The yoke of slavery is and always will remain the most unpleasant experience that mankind can endure.

[…]

During the war, propaganda was a means to an end. And this end was the struggle for existence of the German nation. Propaganda, therefore, should have been regarded from the standpoint of its usefulness for that purpose. […] And only those methods were good and beautiful that helped secure the dignity and freedom of the nation. […] If those so-called responsible authorities had realized this, there would have been no uncertainty about the form and use of war propaganda as a weapon; it is nothing but a weapon, and indeed a most terrifying weapon in the hands of those who know how to use it.

P349  6.2  PROPAGANDA ONLY FOR THE MASSES

[…]

The purpose of propaganda is not the personal instruction of the individual, but rather to attract public attention to certain things—the importance of which can be impressed upon the masses only by this means.

The art of propaganda consists in putting a matter so clearly and forcibly that it creates a general conviction regarding the reality, necessity, and justice of a certain essential thing. […] It must appeal to the feelings of the public rather than to their so-called rationality. […] When it's a question of bringing a whole nation within the circle of its influence—as in the case of war propaganda—then great care must be taken to avoid a high level, which presupposes a relatively high degree of intelligence among the public.

P353 6.3 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PROPAGANDA

[…]

The receptive powers of the masses are very restricted, and their understanding is feeble. On the other hand, they quickly forget. Such being the case, an effective propaganda must be confined to a few bare essentials, and those must be expressed in stereotyped formulas. These slogans should be persistently repeated until the very last individual has come to grasp the idea that has been put forth.

[…]

It was, for example a fundamental mistake to riducule the value of the enemy, as the Austrian and German comic papers did. The very principle here is a mistaken one. When they came face to face with the enemy, our soldiers had quite a different impression. Therefore, the mistake had disastrous results. Once the German soldier realized what a tough enemy he had to fight, he felt that he had been deceived by the makers of his information. Instead of strengthening and stimulating his fighting spirit, this information had quite the opposite effect. Finally he lost heart.

On the other hand, British and American war propaganda was psychologically efficient. By representing the Germans to their own people as barbarians and Huns, they were preparing their soldiers for the horrors of war, and safeguarding them against illusions. The most terrible weapons that those soldiers encountered in the field merely confirmed the information that they had already received, and their belief in the truth of the assertions made by their governments was accordingly reinforced. And their rage and hatred against the vile enemy was increased. The terrible havoc caused by the German weapons of war was only another illustration of the 'Hunnish' brutality of the barbarians; and their soldiers had no time to consider the fact that their own weapons were capable of an equal degree of terror.

[…]

All this was the result of the idea that any old simpleton—or anyone who was intelligent about 'other things'—could be entrusted with propaganda work.

P355  6.4  SUBJECTIVE – ONE-SIDED – NECESSARY!

[…] Propaganda must not investigate the truth objectively and, insofar as it is favorable to the other side, present it according to the academic fairness; it must present only that which is favorable to its own side.

It was a fundamental mistake to discuss the question of who was responsible for the outbreak of the war, and to declare that the sole responsibility could not be attributed to Germany. Sole responsibility should have been laid squarely on the shoulders of the enemy, without any discussion as to whether this was true or not.

[…] The broad masses … are a vacillating, child-like crowd who are constantly wavering between one idea and another. […] The masses are in no position to discern where the enemy's injustice ends and where ours begins. In such a case, they become hesitant and distrustful, especially when the enemy doesn't make the same mistake, but heaps all the blame on the other side.

Could there be any clearer proof than the fact that our own people believed the enemy's propaganda, which was uniform and consistent, rather than its own? And that, of course, was increased by the German mania for objectivity! Everybody became so careful about doing an injustice to the enemy, even at the cost of seriously injuring or ruining his own people and state.

P359 6.5 PERSEVERANCE

Propaganda must be limited to a few simple themes, and these must be represented again and again. Here, as in many other cases, perseverance is the first and most important condition for success.

Tags 

Mein Kampf, MKVolI

Category 

Mein Kampf

Comments

If you apply for a disability claim from an insurance company or, especially, the government, you have to PROVE you have been injured, REPEATEDLY. The insurance companies and government do not just "take your word for it" and never question you again. Israel SOLD the Holocaust for Political Leverage and Monetary Reparations, Israel itself opened the Holocaust up to questioning when they SOLD it. Israel FEARS the TRUTH about the NON-holoCOST because the MONEY would dry up, or WORSE have to be RETURNED. “If everyone who claims to be a survivor actually is one, who did Hitler kill?” Someone with an actuarial chart should track back and see just HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO START OUT WITH, in order to have 600,000+ survivors 70+ YEARS LATER. And where do they get off with this "I survived 4-5-6 DEATH CAMPS" !? Seems to me those "notoriously efficient" Nazis were pretty sloppy, There had to be one heck of a LOT of "survivors" to begin with in 1945.

is finally dead. Many blogs are blocked, not acessible any more.
 
One blog - lupo cativo - was bringing chapters from "Mein Kampf" as you do. This blog was blocked as well. I suppose that it's not the for the fact that they published chapters of "Mein Kampf", but often very positive comments on it by the readers.
 
The critical internet seems as good as dead in Merkel/Maas-"Germany". Another blog, bringing increasingly critical articles and comments on our Jewish "friends", began pussyfooting around the topic, just to survive.
 
I doubt that German people will ever build a strong opposition or patriotic front being able to enforce change.
 
Sorry for lamenting.
 
Greetings
Klaus Borgolte

@Klaus: Does using the Tor browser or a VPN get around the blocks in Germany?

I have been reading DW.com for a long time and in the past 6 months I have noticed an increasingly obvious bias against any form of "populism" in Europe and the Donald Trump administration in the US. More stories on that theme, more attacks on those subjects based upon the flimsiest of occurances, in other words trying to make mountains out of molehills where they can.

This is because, in my view, they have very little good news to report in favor of their globalist cartel, and are fighting back kind of like a cornered wild animal. They even stopped allowing comments on their Opinion columns well over a year ago because they were mostly highly critical of DW! It is obvious to the readers who are not already on their side, I would think, since it's so obvious to me. Likewise, what you are noticing must be noticed by many others. A critical mass is building and our job is to help that along rather than to revert to wild nonsense such as some of these 'anti-Trumpers' that appear here often do. These same people are against the AfD, PEGIDA and other organizations because they're not screeching against Jews. Trump is currently being excoriated by Jews for having a friendly phone conversation with Victor Orban, who ran a campaign against George Soros in Hungary. Trump's "authoritarian" preferences in leaders is being pointed out as the latest complaint against him.

Conclusion: We must help to re-elect Trump and Republicans in the US and the AfD candidates in Germany,  even if they do not answer our every wish and hope. Times are changing and it's always darkest before the dawn.

@Carolyn: Can the AfD accept financial donations from U.S. citizens? What are the ways that non-German citizens outside of Germany can assist them?

I don't know, but here is the page on their website, if you can make it out. https://www.afd.de/geld-spenden/

They do have a paypal account.

"This is because, in my view, they have very little good news to report in favor of their globalist cartel, and are fighting back kind of like a cornered wild animal."
 
In other words, they can only maintain their power by attempting to misdirect the people's contempt. "Attack these new guys on the scene, not us. Here's reasons."
 
As for Trump, I'm one of those "anti-Trumpers" who sporadically post on these articles. Admittedly, I've been very harsh on him for not meeting my expectations of a Hitler. I still think that if he were truly genuine, he'd be regularly making deference to the American Founding Fathers. Does he still express an interest in Andrew Jackson?
 
Also, AfD, Pegida, etc. don't appear to have direct Jewish leadership (unlike the Alt-Right) so perhaps I was being irrational about their reluctance to confront the more long-term problem (Jewish question).

The crisis in Europe today is from the African and Middle Eastern Muslim pseudo-refugees, not from the Jews. This invasion does need to be addressed and stopped asap, and this can't be done if you're attacking Jews at the same time. Jews are a very protected race in Europe now. But the national populations must still see that Jews are in the forefront in welcoming these invaders! They just can't or won't say much about it.

I would say your youth and inexperience is showing when you make the kind of demands that you do in your two comments (above and below), and reveal you think you are smarter than Donald Trump. Trump's rich experience, including with Jews, trumps your speculations and anticipations based on mainly (false) news reports. He is no dummy and has done a very good job -- amazingly good! -- so far. The best course is to trust him because, as you know very well, he's all we've got, we will rise or not with him, and we should be grateful we've got him. I am, although sometimes it's difficult. After all, I can't see the road ahead, nor can you.

There is very little gratitude for Adolf Hitler, also. You love and honor him but most on the Right do not; they blame him for making a mess of everything "for our side." They are ingrates!

Another thing you should remember is not to expect the "next Hitler" to resemble in any way the original Hitler. Such a thing won't happen unless it were stage managed in Hollywood. I am NOT calling Trump the "next Hitler" but I do see parallels between the two. One is their strength to stand firm in their resolve and to dominate the crowd of political hyenas.

'The crisis in Europe today is from the African and Middle Eastern Muslim pseudo-refugees, not from the Jews.'
 
Here I'm reminded of Hitler's compare and contrast between the Pan-German and Christian Socialist parties
   Certainly race is important to emphasize, but one also should take the social aspect into account. Opening up a public discussion of race is harmful to the community. To make more people sympathetic to the racial question, they should be made to read certain literary works and if they are unwilling to put in the time and effort, then they have no right to partake in it.
   The Muslim elements can probably be appealed to. Hitler was sympathetic to their views. A lot of things he said in his private conversations and speeches can be backed up by the Quran.
 
'Jews are a very protected race in Europe now. But the national populations must still see that Jews are in the forefront in welcoming these invaders! They just can't or won't say much about it.'
 
Seems to me that the nationalist parties would consider it a victory if they managed to secure for themselves a place in the Parliament. They're still playing the democratic game.
 
'I would say your youth and inexperience is showing when you make the kind of demands that you do in your two comments (above and below), and reveal you think you are smarter than Donald Trump. Trump's rich experience, including with Jews,'
 
That could well be the case (and I never meant to suggest or boast that I was smarter than Trump, not at all), but at least I'm not a nepotist who gave his daughter over to a Jew. Back when I was a Trump supporter, I was under the impression that the Jew preferred to deliver over his own females and not the other way around so I considered it exceptional that Trump would do such a thing. Now I see that the Jew prefers to seduce the white women to secure their support for their cause. Such a case can be seen in the interview with Rochus Misch and his daughter Brigitta, who immediately turned to the Jewish cause when she was told that her mother was of Jewish descent.
   "Rich experience." He didn't take into account the mental aspect in two of his early partners, hence the divorces. There's a wise saying from antiquity, "men of my age flock together; we are birds of a feather," which can apply here. Has he learned from these mistakes in judgment?
    "He who sups with the Jew dies with the Jew." I'd wager that Trump has risked the most exposure to the infection through his business dealings. Sooner or later, he'll show his true colors, if he hasn't already...
 
'trumps your speculations and anticipations based on mainly (false) news reports.'
 
That's like saying the whole Old Testament can't be relied on for assessing Jewish history. Not all mainstream news reports are falsified. Arguably the alternative news is just as unreliable or biased. I pity every soul which ends up in the journalist career.
   My arguments aren't based on news reports (I rarely read the news, be it mainstream or alternative), but on selective reading and lessons learned from the 2016 elections. Besides, Sheldon Adelson's support for Trump is clearly documented. There are videos where he expresses his concern for the Jewish continuance.

Janus: "My arguments aren't based on news reports (I rarely read the news, be it mainstream or alternative), but on selective reading and lessons learned from the 2016 elections."

And it shows. You are uninformed but highly opinionated. You have nothing to lose. Your 'selective' reading leads you to whatever conclusion you choose with which you feel superior. It's okay, no one cares.

Sheldon Adelson has supported every Republican president. That doesn't mean Trump supports him but only that he welcomes the money. All political campaigns are built on money.

'at least I'm not a nepotist who gave his daughter over to a Jew.'

That sounds like what came from Lorenz Krause. You have no daughter. Until you do, don't say how you will control your daughter. Trump has five children, all of whom love him very much. He has 9 grandchildren so far who love him too. That's life experience. That's giving and taking responsibility. In contrast, you spin theories from your 'selected' reading, you quote from books you have read. There's a difference.

'Sooner or later, he'll show his true colors' 

Donald Trump has already shown his "true colors"; he's not hiding anything. That's just another expression you picked up in your 'selected reading.' Most of what you say here is just repetitions of anti-Trump language spouted by self-designated Jew haters who are afraid of losing their own small following by getting "fooled by Trump." I don't buy it.

I would add that I used to be ardently pro-Trump back in 2016. I assessed him from the standpoint that a man being attacked so viciously by the press was clearly recognized as an adversary by the Jewish community (see Mein Kampf). But suppose the "wise" men of the Jews also have read Mein Kampf and have reworked his advice for their advantage. Then it would be easy enough to sway the reactionary and nationalist elements to vote for a Trump over Clinton by systematically attacking him. I hardly need to remind readers that the Zionist Sheldon Adelson was the only newspaper pulpit which put it's weight behind Trump.

https://forward.com/news/403903/why-stephen-miller-is-the-most-hated-jew-in-america-by-fellow-jews/

This article appearing in The Forward is one of the sickest things I've ever read. Just sickening ... in what it reveals about how Jews deceive themselves. Anyone who can think this is all a huge, coordinated con job needs to get regounded in reality.

BTW, Stephen Miller is one of my favorite people, Jew or not. I also have good vibes from Stephen Mnuchin, Treasury Secretary. I wonder when they'll  go after him in this way.