NAZI PROPAGANDA.

Evening Star, Issue 23369, 12 September 1939, Page 6

NAZI PROPAGANDA.

Goebbels and his associates who conduct the Nazi propaganda headquarters have two functions. One is to circulate lies to all the world; the other is to see that the truth does not reach the German people by means of radio. The second aim is helped by an intense system of spying under which listeners to foreign stations suffer dire penalties if caught. So carried away by the frenzy of Nazism are many of the people that they even give information about members of their own households. The shroud of darkness that covers Nazi activities is illustrated by a cable message which states that German prisoners were astounded to learn that the Allies had entered the war. The further the struggle goes the greater will he the efforts of the Nazi propagandists to keep the people ignorant of developments that are unfavourable to the German arms. There are two sides to the Nazi mentality. One is astuteness combined with unscrupulousness; the other is crass stupidity, which is illustrated by Nazi allegations in connection with the sinking of the Athenia. There is no shadow of doubt that this was the work of a German submarine, yet a German short wave broadcast declared that it had been “ proved beyond question that a British submarine sank the Athenia on Mr Churchill’s orders.” Such a statement shows the characteristic Nazi contempt for the intelligence of the people of the world outside the borders of the Reich.

No effort has been spared to rouse the fears of the German people. Dr Ley, the German Labour Minister, gave an example of this particular form of propaganda when he said: “England wants to use her moneybags and her economic supremacy in order to conquer you, German workmen, to let you starve, to force you to the ground. England will kill off to-day onr old men and women and children, just as she did during the World War. England buys Boland as cannon fodder and would love to buy Russia if she could.” When falsehoods such as these are pressed home to the people in a constant stream, and they have no chance of hearing the other side, it is not difficult to understand why Hitler and his associates have gained such a hold on sections of the German people. It would appear that the Nazi chiefs have had a real fear that if war occurred America would be found on the side of the Allies. Otherwise it is impossible to account for their espionage and propaganda in that country. The highly-organised spy system as exposed by Mr Leon G. Turrou, in a remarkable trial in the United States, revealed a network of espionage throughout the length and breadth of the land. The amazing thing was that it got so far without a check. Every service was honeycombed by men and women in Nazi pay, and the most audacious and unscrupulous methods were revealed, with Nazi agents passing freely between America and Germany. Four persons were convicted and sentenced to terms of imprisonment. Many escaped to Germany. , At the conclusion of the case Mr Turrou said he got the impression that there was an ingrained feeling among Nazis that America was a potential enemy—or victim. He admitted that that point in Nazi philosophy had him stumped; “ I can’t figure it out,” he said, “ unless the Hitler doctrine that they are destined to conquer and rule the world, without mercy or pity to their foes, has driven them berse,rk.” The Nazi newspapers in the last two years have been concentrating their fire on America with elaborate accounts of the persecution of the Indians, of the Mormons, or of the Mexicans. A favourite topic has been Jynchings, with drawings showing the distorted features of Negroes hanged or burnt at the stake, one story explaining that lynchings were a recognised form of public entertainment, including bus services to the scenes. The Nazi way in wartime will be to redouble their efforts in sending out the most extravagant and ridiculous stories, and to see that nothing detrimental comes in. It was predicted that one of the first decrees would be the confiscation of all private receiving sets in the Reich, and that the people would be commanded at stated times to gather around public loud-speakers to hear official propaganda.