Bending Spines - The Propagandas of Nazi Germany and the German Democratic Republic (Paperback)

Why do totalitarian propagandas such as those created in Nazi Germany and the former German Democratic Republic initially succeed, and why do they ultimately fail? Outside observers often make two serious mistakes when they interpret the propaganda spawned by these authoritarian regimes. First, they assume their rhetoric worked largely because they were supported by a police state, that people cheered Hitler and Honecker because they feared the consequences of not doing so. Second, they assume that propaganda really succeeded in persuading most of the citizenry that the Nuremberg rallies were a reflection of how most Germans thought, or that most East Germans were convinced Marxist-Leninists. World War II Allies feared that rooting out Nazism would be a very difficult task. No leading scholar or politician in the West expected East Germany to collapse nearly as rapidly as it did. Effective propaganda depends on a full range of persuasive methods, from the gentlest suggestion to overt violence, which the dictatorships of the twentieth century understood well. In many ways, modern totalitarian movements rest upon worldviews that are religious in nature, Nazism and Marxism-Leninism presented themselves as explanations for all of life-culture, morality, science, history, recreation. They provided people with reasons for accepting the status quo. Bending Spines examines the full range of persuasive techniques used by Nazi Germany and the German Democratic Republic, and concludes that both systems failed in part because they expected more of their propaganda than it was able to deliver.

General

Imprint:	Michigan State University Press
Country of origin:	United States
Series:	Rhetoric and Public Affairs Series
Release date:	April 2004
First published:	July 2004
Authors:	Randall L. Bytwerk
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 17mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	192
ISBN-13:	978-0-87013-710-5
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political ideologies > Fascism & Nazism Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > War & defence operations > Battles & campaigns Books > Humanities > History > World history > From 1900 > First World War Books > Humanities > History > World history > From 1900 > Second World War Books > Humanities > History > European history > From 1900 > First World War Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political control & freedoms > Political control & influence > Propaganda Books > History > European history > From 1900 > First World War Books > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > History > World history > From 1900 > First World War Books > History > World history > From 1900 > Second World War
LSN:	0-87013-710-7
Barcode:	9780870137105

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!