State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda

The public history exhibit I chose to look at is titled "State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda." The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum uses this online exhibition to inform readers about the power of propaganda and how the Nazis used it to their advantage. It presents a multitude of sources to show this point in history. The purpose of this exhibit, according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, is to "encourage us to think about what propaganda is, how it works, and how to respond when it aims to divide people and promote violence." Through this exhibition, readers not only understand how the Nazis used propaganda to rise to power, but they can also see the signs of dangerous propaganda in today's world. 

This exhibition is divided into five categories: What is propaganda?, 1918-1933:Democracy, 1933-1939:Dictatorship, 1939-1945:War, and 1945-Present: Legacy. I think the way the museum chose to split this exhibit was the best way to do it. They have a section for each major talking point, which helps with navigating through the exhibition. The organization also provides the reader with an easier way to understand the purpose, importance, and message of the exhibit. I also loved how the exhibition focuses on every aspect of propaganda in regard to how it was crucial during the Nazi regime. Looking at before, during, and after the Nazi regime, the exhibition provides an overall picture of how propaganda changed through the time of the regime. It also shows the reader how a leader can use any form of propaganda to fit their intended message. 

This exhibition was very detailed. For each category, the writers provided a lot of information. However, they were conscious not to give too much to overwhelm the reader. As I mentioned, the exhibition did a fantastic job of describing the propaganda used by the regime during each critical time period. The amount of detail and information the exhibition used in each category was terrific. 

In the category of 1933-1939, which was before the war, the exhibition showed how the Nazis used terror and propaganda to their advantage. They explained each point, from how they used newspapers, radios, films, indoctrination of their youth, and even exhibitions to spread their purpose. The Nazi regime opened one of the exhibitions used for propaganda in 1937. The exhibition showed the Jews as a foreign, destructive force in Germany. The Nazi regime even used the concentration camps as a form of propaganda by showing that the prisoners were well treated. The exhibition even includes videos from survivors who talk about how they felt during this time period, experiencing all the propaganda. Using different types of sources is essential. Various sources let the reader know that the information is accurate. 

Propaganda during the war can arguably be the most important for the Nazis. In the category 1939-1945:War, the exhibit discusses the multiple techniques used by the Nazi regime in order to excuse the violence they were enforcing. One method that the Nazis used was demonizing the enemy. This exhibit provides a lot of primary sources, including actual propaganda cartoons and images created by the Nazi regime. I think providing the reader with these images and going into detail about each helps the reader see how effective propaganda was during the regime and during the war. Even as the war was turning against Hitler, the Nazi regime still used intensified propaganda and terror to spread hope for their followers. During the war, the use of propaganda allowed the regime to hide its wrongdoings and excuse its wrong doings. It also allowed the regime to continue growing its followers with promises of success. 

The exhibition does a remarkable job of making this point in history relatable. As the exhibition comes to an end, the museum touches on how propaganda is existent today. In the category of the exhibit 1945- present, the exhibition explains how this affects everyday life. While we may not realize it, propaganda happens all the time, and as the exhibit says, social media is a vital transmitter of this. By mentioning this, the museum keeps this history current and relates it to the viewer. Whether we realize it or not, we are surrounded by social media every day, and information, whether true or false, spreads like wildfire. I liked the questions that the exhibit presented, such as how we can deal with misinformation and dangerous propaganda. Even if someone is reading this exhibit and is not interested in the information, how it is wrapped up leaves the reader with something to think about in their everyday life. 

Overall the exhibition was created very well for its intended purpose and audience. I think everyone would be able to understand the exhibition and would be able to take something away from it. Reading the exhibition myself, I learned a lot from it. I think the exhibition was very informative. Using videos, oral histories, images, and other primary sources on every page helped present a visual without overwhelming the reader with information. The information that was given to the audience was descriptive and well-written. I think the best part of this exhibition is where they tie it into the real world. Doing this lets the audience see how history affects everyday life and is present in everything we do. Overall, this exhibition was a perfect example of how historians tell history and shows the importance of public history.

Resources

“State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda .” United States holocaust memorial museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Accessed December 15, 2022. https://exhibitions.ushmm.org/propaganda.