Answer to Question #260527 in History for Dsc

Question

1. In Mein Kampf, Hitler acknowledged his reliance on propaganda to persuade the uneducated masses. Why does he believe propaganda works so effectively? Does it? Can we see propaganda in our society, in particular serving the same aims that Hitler laid out in this excerpt? Does propaganda explain the support for Mussolini and Hitler in the 1930s?
2. Oftentimes, historians recall the Versailles Treaty and the “stab in the back” myth to find cause for WWII, but do you think the explanation is so simple? We know that Hitler employed anti-Semitic rhetoric and generally hate speech towards marginalized peoples; do you think that this kind of speech was effective due to the outcomes of WWI for the German people? Was the Treaty of Versailles the prime reason for the anti-Semitism and economic hardships that allowed Hitler to rise to power? Consider the fact that there was a rise in nationalism in Europe in the 1930s?

Answer 1

1) After imprisonment,Hitler decided to rise to power through democracy without use of paramilitary tactics. He developed an impression of using propaganda which had worked for Lueger and Schonerer. He used it to implement the lessons learnt from Vienna. It worked because he gained support from magority who believed in his myth. In our current society propaganda is used by politicians to change the ideologies and beliefs of the followers. Propaganda was used by Mussolini, a friend of Hitler to rise to power in Italy using National Fascist Party.

2) The explanation of the Versailles Treaty and the Hitler's myth was not simple since it held Germany responsible for cause of war, forgetting the main underlying issues including economic distress and resentment. Hitler's party avenged the Germany's defeat and the part of the legacy was targetting the Jews. This was made effective by the Hitler's anti-semitic and hate speech. The 'stab in the back' narrative was believed to be a blame to the Jews thus making legacy effective for the German people. The treaty was the prime reason for the anti-semitic and economic hardships that enabled Hitler to rise to power. After Germany was held responsible for the cause of war,purnishment was imposed on them hence a need arised for Hitler and Nazi party to solve the problems facing Germans. This was an opportunity for him to rise to power.