Research Guide: 20th Century History: Germany 1918-1939: Creation of Nazi Culture

An outline of cultural life in the Third Reich. Links to other articles, artists and indoctrination.

The stories and first-hand accounts of people under Nazi control.

Following the Nazi seizure of power in 1933, Hitler established a Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda headed by Joseph Goebbels. The Ministry's aim was to ensure that the Nazi message was successfully communicated through art, music, theater, films, books, radio, educational materials, and the press.

Seven primary source documents published by the GHDI.

German cartoonists and illustrators of this time.

An account of the Exhibition with information about artists and links to works of art.

An overview of the Nazi approach to music.

An article on the prominent role music played in the rise of Nazi culture in Germany, used extensively in Nazi propaganda and indoctrination. The Nazi Party brought music and politics together and sought to shape their ideal culture by elevating their ideas of pure music to the highest status and outlaw what they defined as inferior.

Cabaret in 20th century Germany was a distinctive art form - a combination of ... “Like musical theaters and variety shows, wartime cabarets faced major obstacles. ... The Weimar Republic is perhaps, the most interesting time period for ...

An account of Riefenstahl’s life and influence as a film maker.

This site accesses Nazi propaganda pre-1933 and 1933-1945 material. It provides examples of the theory and practice of propaganda and links to various speeches, posters, photos, cartoons, and documents.

Seven documents published by the GHDI.

A Ph.D thesis on the Nazi Party's efforts to control the film industry.

Login to the National Library of Australia to access this excellent article by David Welch from the 'Journal of contemporary history', (2004). Vol 39(2), 213-238, about the concept of Volksgemeinschaft.