explain why the Nazi propaganda was effective in creating a hatred for Jews
Answers
(i) Nazi hatred of Jews had a precursor in traditional Christian hatred of Jews.
(ii) Many in Germany blamed the Jews for defeat in World War I and for all the miseries of the German people.
(iii) Germany was faced with economic crises which were accentuated by the Great Economic Depression. This led to high unemployment and price rise. The Jews were mainly involved in trade and money lending activities and constituted the affluent section of society. Nazi projection of Jews as pests and rodents living off society struck a chord with the deprived and the unemployed.
(iv) Jews lived separately in marked areas called ghettos they therefore became easy targets.
(v) Through the effective use of propaganda, images of Jews were stereotyped, mocked and abused. Example: Propaganda films were made to create hatred for the Jews. The most famous was 'Eternal Jews'.
The propaganda machinery cut across all sections and ages of society. It worked on the minds and emotions of the people.
The Nazis were quite effective in using propaganda to great effect. They made propaganda films to fan hatred for Jews with the most infamous being The Eternal Jew. Orthodox Jews were stereotyped and marked. They were shown with flowing beards, wearing kaftans and were referred to as rats and vermins who fed off from good Germans.
Jews were also blamed for Germany’s defeat in World War I, despite the fact that a large number of them served with distinction in the conflict. The propaganda by the Nazis effectively worked on the minds of the people, making use of the centuries of anti-semitic feelings and tapping their emotions. This turned their hatred and anger at those who were blamed for all of Germany’s past and present ills. And the Nazis would be the remedy for these ‘ills’.