Nazi Propaganda

1.     1.      What political messages are these pictures trying to convey?

Nazi Volkswagen propaganda

These pictures show how Nazi’s ideology was ‘sowed’ throughout Europe, trying to impose these beliefs on everybody’s minds. Hitler’s principles were like ‘seeds’ that would grow finally to turn into actions supported by him against what he confronted. This metaphor illustrates Hitler’s care for his future army, young people who would believe the ideas he proclaimed, trusting them.

Other posters show Hitler like a unique figure that represents one only Germany, without allowing other leaders to guide it, imposing controversial ideas. Others, tried to communicate who were Germany’s enemies, cartooning them while the approved life-style was exalted. Germans could afford Volkswagen cars, without having enough money, which was given by the government.  

2.      What image of Germans are these images trying to convey?

The image transmits a strong perception of Germans, as if they were united by the Nazi ideology supported by Hitler, a unique leader that cannot be stopped.  

3.      What colours are used?

       Colours used are red and yellow. These are primary colours that, as marketing proves, stimulate the amygdale catching its audience’s attention and producing a shocking impression on it.

4.      How do people look?

People, who were on favour of Nazi’s regime, look happy. But, those who were victimized by it, didn’t look fine at all.

5.      What characteristics of these men are similar?

They all look intimidating and serious, whether they are Nazi’s protected people or those victimized by them.

6.      How do artists convey these characteristics?

These features are accomplished, as colours are selected to catch the audiences’ attention. Besides, the emotion projected through people’s faces, transmits feeling depending on who is represented on the images. The way people is dressed, also determines who belongs to the regime and who doesn’t.

Nazi Human Experimentations

Nazi human experimentation was a series of medical experiments on large numbers of prisoners by the Nazi German regime in its concentration camps mainly in the early 1940s, during World War II. Typically, the experiments resulted in death, disfigurement or permanent disability, and as such can be considered as examples of medical torture. At Auschwitz and other camps, under the direction of Dr. Eduard Wirths, selected inmates were subjected to various hazardous experiments which were designed to help German military personnel in combat situations, develop new weapons, aid in the recovery of military personnel that had been injured, and to advance the racial ideology backed by the Third Reich. Dr. Aribert Heim conducted similar medical experiments at Mauthausen. Carl Vaernet is known to have conducted experiments on homosexual prisoners in attempts to cure homosexuality. After the war, these crimes were tried at what became known as the Doctors' Trial, and revulsion at the abuses perpetrated led to the development of the Nuremberg Code of medical ethics.

Experiments on twins: Experiments on twin children in concentration camps were created to show the similarities and differences in the genetics of twins, as well as to see if the human body can be unnaturally manipulated. The central leader of the experiments was Josef Mengele, who from 1943 to 1944 performed experiments on nearly 1,500 sets of imprisoned twins at Auschwitz. Only 100 individuals survived these studies.

Bone, muscle, and nerve transplantation experiments: From about September 1942 to about December 1943 experiments were conducted at the Ravensbrück concentration camp, for the benefit of the German Armed Forces, to study bone, muscle, and nerve regeneration, and bone transplantation from one person to another. Sections of bones, muscles, and nerves were removed from the subjects without use of anesthesia. As a result of these operations, many victims suffered intense agony, mutilation, and permanent disability.

Sea water experiments: From about July 1944 to about September 1944, experiments were conducted at the Dachau concentration camp to study various methods of making sea water drinkable. At one point, a group of roughly 90 Roma were deprived of food and given nothing but sea water to drink by Dr. Hans Eppinger, leaving them gravely injured. They were so dehydrated that others observed them licking freshly mopped floors in an attempt to get drinkable water.

Sterilization experiments: The Law for the Prevention of Genetically Defective Progeny was passed on July 14, 1933, which legalized the involuntary sterilization of persons with hereditary diseases that were claimed to be: weak-mindedness, schizophrenia, alcohol abuse, insanity, blindness, deafness, and physical deformities. The law was used to encourage growth of the Aryan race through the sterilization of persons who fell under the quota of being genetically defective. These experiments were conducted by means of X-ray, surgery and various drugs. Also, intravenous injections of solutions speculated to contain iodine and silver nitrate were successful, but had unwanted side effects such as vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, and cervical cancer.

Incendiary bomb experiments: From around November 1943 to around January 1944, experiments were conducted at Buchenwald to test the effect of various pharmaceutical preparations on phosphorus burns. These burns were inflicted on prisoners using phosphorus material extracted from incendiary bombs.

Mustard gas experiments: At various times between September 1939 and April 1945, many experiments were conducted at Sachsenhausen, Natzweiler, and other camps to investigate the most effective treatment of wounds caused by mustard gas. Test subjects were deliberately exposed to mustard gas and other vesicants (e.g. Lewisite) which inflicted severe chemical burns. The victims' wounds were then tested to find the most effective treatment for the mustard gas burns. (Wikipedia is this document's soource, I don't own it.)

Refugee Blues

1. The victims are Jews, the perpetrators are Nazis and the bystanders are German citizens.

2. The factors that determine to which group it belongs are race, in Jews’ case, as it was just how they were discriminated. But, there could be laws that specified who was a Jew under Nazi’s beliefs. To be considered a Nazi, you had to share what they thought about Jews, without being part of their army, necessarily. The passer-bys of Nazi’s actions were added to this group, as they did not try to save Jews, just watching silently. However, they may be considered also Nazis, due to their silent-agree attitude.

3. The largest was the group composed by those who attested Nazi’s fight against Jews. They were called the silent majority, as they did not try to avoid what happened in a very first beginning, just watching these crimes without raising their voices.

4. Between those groups, it was developed an alliance. Those who attested Nazi’s actions, tried to save Jews from them, due to this war was mainly related to race. They helped the Jews to be hidden, and gave them what they need to survive.

5. They were not allowed to live in the city nor in Germany. Also, Jews’ passports couldn’t be renewed. They were not able to get into new places. And, as they had no places to go, they were captured by Nazis easily.

If all those things were stolen to me, I would feel unprotected and as I being captured anytime by my greatest fear.

6. For the author, the objects that represented this aspect were Jews’ passports, the Consul, the committee, etc.

7. A refugee is a person who has escaped from their own country because of political, religious or economic reasons, or as in this case, wars. On your own home, you could be also considered a refugee if you do not deal with the ideas being practiced. For you to not being a refugee, you must feel belonging to the place in which you live in.

8. Creating laws to make Jews being accepted. For instance, they could be allowed to obtain their countries’ nationality. Besides, propaganda could be extended to avoid possible actions of discrimination against them, who could also be employed by the government.

9. They should, as refugees’ lives cost the same than any other, so they must be helped to get through their situation, to solve it. It is an obligation to any government, nowadays, and then they could be penalized if it is not accomplished. But, it is also a task attributed to society, because by incorporating them they may help them from turning into refugees.