Propaganda in WWII
Objectives for This Activity
identify the basic
elements of effective
propaganda
techniques.
make generalizations
regarding the purpose
of War time
propaganda
Directions: Set-up Section
You should be in a
computer lab or another
location with access to
computers.
You will need to be in
groups of three.
You need several handouts:
Checklist of instructions (for the
director)
Scribe Worksheet (for scribe)
BCR Paper (for everyone)
Directions: Group Roles
Computer Person:
This person will manipulate the computer.
Scribe:
This person will log in the responses of the various team
members to be submit to the teacher.
Director Person:
This person will have a checklist of the steps the group must
follow in order to complete the assignment. This person, as the
groups leader, will be responsible for presenting the findings of
the group to the rest of the class.
Directions: General
Follow the directions listed on each page.
You can often find more information or detailed
instructions by clicking on the sound buttons found
in the lower left hand corner of this and other pages.
Make sure to keep track of the information you
discern as your complete the activity.
Use the buttons in the lower right hand corner to
navigate through the investigation.
If buttons are not found, you must correctly answer
any questions or complete any tasks in order move
forward.
"Propaganda has only one object - to conquer
the masses. Every means that furthers this
aim is good; every means that hinders it is
bad. "
-Joseph Goebbels
"Use photograph as a weapon!"
-John Heartfield
You will now begin to
investigate how to make….
Warfare Without Bullets
Propaganda Portal
You will now analyze the
propaganda commissioned by
Joseph Goebbels the rise of
the Third Reich
Who was Joseph Goebbels?
Nazi Reichsminister for
propaganda and national
enlightenment
He worked diligently to
promote the image of Hitler
as a “god-figure” and worked
to convince the German
people that it was their
rightful place to be rulers of
the world.
Why was Goebbels so Important?
You will gain a
greater
understanding of
why Gobbels was
so important,
once you
understand the
importance of
Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels delivers a
speech at an SA gathering for the Hoerst Wessel propaganda in
brigade in the Berlin Lustgarten. (August 25, 1935)
Photo courtesy of: history1900s.about.com waging war!
Investigating Goebbels Work
•You will view a student created
power point presentation about
Nazi propaganda
•Dissect at least two of the
propaganda posters found within
the power point using the WJHS
Political Cartoon Analysis Sheet.
•You will be able to return to this
Activity by clicking on the J.
Gobbels Section Button found in
the frame.
Click on the plane to be taken to
the student created power point
about German Propaganda
Note: Some analysis of the propaganda found in the power point has already
been done. You will be expected to develop upon these ideas in order to
come to a more sophisticated understanding of the propaganda pieces.
Response Questions
There was a common anti-Semitic
theme to the pieces of propaganda.
Beyond the similar theme were their
common elements to the pictures
(exaggeration, caricatures, symbols
etc...)?
Scribe: Please record a detailed answer!
Response Questions
What was the goal of the propaganda?
In other words what did the Nazis hope
to achieve through the use of the
propaganda?
Scribe: Please record a detailed answer!
Response Questions
How effective could the forms of
propaganda you saw be on an
uneducated population that was already
pre-disposed to anti-Semitic beliefs?
Scribe: Please record a detailed answer!
Response Questions
Was there anything else that struck you
and your group members as you
dissected the propaganda? Note any
comments, questions or concerns that
came up.
Scribe: Please record a detailed answer!
Propaganda Portal
You are now going to apply
what you know about the
propaganda of Joseph
Goebbels to the Photomontage
propaganda of John Heartfield
Who was John Heartfield?
Photomontage artist who
protested against the
“blind nationalism” of the
Germans during W.W.I
and the Third Reich and
Hitler during WWII.
Was one of the founders
of the DADA movement
www.towson.edu/Heartfield/2.html
Why was Heartfield so Important?
You will gain a greater
understanding of why
Heartfield and
Goebbels were so
important, once you
understand the
importance of
propaganda in waging
1962 Heartfield Gertraudern
war!
Cemetary in Güstrow in Germany
Investigating Heartfield’s Work
Complete a Political
Cartoon Analysis form for
the following Cartoon.
To see a larger version of
this picture, simply click on
it.
Click here
to see the
cartoon
analysis
sheet
Investigating Heartfield’s Work
•You will now view a collection
of Heartfield’s pieces.
•Dissect one of the propaganda
posters found within the power
point using the WJHS Political
Cartoon Analysis Sheet.
•You will be able to return to
this activity by clicking on the J.
Heartfield Section Button found
in the frame at the top of the
page.
Click on the plane to be taken to a
collection of Heartfield’s Work
Response Questions
There was a common theme to the
pieces of propaganda. Beyond the
similar theme were their common
elements to the pictures (exaggeration,
caricatures, symbols etc...)?
Scribe: Please record a detailed answer!
Response Questions
What was the goal of the propaganda?
In other words what did Heartfield hope
to achieve through the use of the
propaganda?
Scribe: Please record a detailed answer!
Response Questions
Was there anything else that struck you
and your group members as you
dissected the propaganda? Note any
comments, questions or concerns that
came up.
Scribe: Please record a detailed answer!
Generalizations & Propaganda
What common elements did both men’s
propaganda share?
What did is the purpose of all
propaganda?
How would you define propaganda?
Scribe: Please record a detailed answer!
Definition of Propaganda
BCR Writing Assignment
Some scholars would argue that Propaganda is
the “un-bloody” weapon of war. Some might
even purport that it is more effective than
traditional fighting weapons. Each member of
your group should individually asses the
importance of propaganda to a war effort in a
well written Brief Constructed Response
Paragraph.
What is a BCR? Where can I find BCR Writing Paper?
What is a BCR?
Brief Constructed Response (BCR)
is similar to a short answer
question. You should address the
question posed in one paragraph.
The first sentence should be a
thesis. Statement in which you
discuss you topic. The next 3-5
sentences should include factual
information proving your thesis’ Back to the BCR
validity. The last sentence should Question
be a conclusion.
Warfare Without Bullets Checklist
Did you view the student created Power
Point on Nazi Propaganda?
Did you complete 2 Political Cartoon
Analysis sheets for Goebbels work?
Did you answer four response questions
based upon J. Goebbels work?
Warfare Without Bullets Checklist
Did you view the Burn Sites collection of
Heartfield’s work?
Did you complete 2 Political Cartoon
Analysis sheets for Heartfield’s work?
Did you answer three response
questions based upon Heartfield’s
work?
Warfare Without Bullets Checklist
Did you answer the following Questions:
What common elements did both men’s
propaganda share?
What did is the purpose of all propaganda?
How would you define propaganda?
Did every member of the group create a
BCR based on the given writing prompt?
Congratulations, you have
completed the Warfare
Without Bullets Activity!
Please hand in your BCR’s and
if requested the Scribe
Worksheet!