A German Cartoon during the Blitz

Every now and then I come across something I don't add to the German Propaganda Archive, but is worth noting. Today it was a cartoon from the Völkischer Beobachter of 8 September, 1940: the height of the Battle of Britain. The Germans were optimistic, having no idea that far worse would descend on them.

New Music above the Parliament of Westminster

Goebbels is Optimistic (March 1945)

I’m interested in the propaganda of the last days of Nazi Germany. What does one say when there is nothing good to say? Today I add parts of a Goebbels speech of 10 March 1945. The Nazis had recaptured the city of Lauban from the Russians, and Goebbels visited the area, giving a speech in the nearby city of Görlitz. His dubious argument was that it proved that the course of the war could still be changed.

The Big Lie in 1945

I have added a rather mediocre article by Helmut Sündermann, a high official in the Nazi Party press department. The title is what attracted by interest: “The Big Lie.” In this case, Sündermann’s claim is that the Allies are using the “big lie” to falsely accuse Germany of being responsible for the war, when in fact he says it has only fought for its self-preservation. The Allies are the warmongers. Given the date, 21 January 1945, it is a weak effort. Given that Germany was being driven back on all fronts, it hardly seemed useful to argue that Germany’s cause was just.

Blacks in Central Europe

One of the pleasures of my archive is finding out how it is useful to others. Recently, some illustrations from my site were used for an interesting project on Black Central Europe. The site is worth a look.

Goebbels’s Penultimate Speech

 Goebbels delivered his penultimate speech over the radio on 28 February 1945, which I am adding today.  His final speech was on 19 April on the occasion of Hitler’s birthday. 

The military situation was grim. The Soviets were charging in from the east, the Americans and British from the west. Goebbels had no good news to give, as he commented privately in his diaries.  He was forced to resort to what Earnest Bramsted called the “lure of historical parallels.” If Frederick the great had done it then, Germany could to it in 1945.

Last Call to Resist in Vienna (1945)

 For the last few months of World War II the main theme of Nazi propaganda was that if Germans kept fighting, their loyalty and bravery would be crowned with victory.  That began to look thin as time went on.  Today I add an article dated 3 April 1945 that suggested without too much confidence that victory was still possible, but the basic theme was that Vienna was a lost cause, so the Viennese may as well die fighting.

Goebbels on British Propaganda (April 1941)

 In April 1941 the war was looking good from the Nazi perspective.  Goebbels published the article I am adding today that gloated over the failures of British propaganda.

Goebbels mentions a British Ministry of Information campaign on the theme “How Not to Do It.” I’ve tried to chase down that campaign, with limited success. The MoI did began a campaign in June 1941 with the theme “Mend and make do.” Professor David Welch tells me that one element of that campaign was advice on “How not to do this,” which is close to the theme Goebbels provides.  Perhaps information on the campaign was released before it began?

If anyone has more information I would surely appreciate it.