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Great reference book about Goebbels One of Hitlers Leading Henchmen
158 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 16, 2020
*UPDATED; CORRECTS SPELLING*
3⭐
Ballantine's series of short, well illustrated paperbacks always struck me as the Coles Notes version of World War Two. This book again proves you should never judge anything by its cover or its binding.
Wykes paints a brief but vivid portrait of the man who was instrumental in selling Hitler's program to Germany. A few things stick out, the first being the aptly described "banality of evil." Goebbels was no great genius, although he had a talent for political infighting and he understood the principles of modern advertising very well, especially the use of broadcasting and film.
Surprisingly, this alleged master of propaganda was hopeless when it came to dealing with a free press, a major failing in Nazi Germany's efforts to win support in the western democracies. He dealt with the German press brutally, through edicts and forced closures and seizures of dissenting newspapers. There wasn't much subtlety to Goebbels, or the Nazis in general, and his propaganda was heavy handed. He was also a serial philanderer, so much so that Hitler almost fired him as an embarrassment.
It's a quick, engaging read that gives a good glimpse into the the key figure behind the Nazi's message.
3⭐
Ballantine's series of short, well illustrated paperbacks always struck me as the Coles Notes version of World War Two. This book again proves you should never judge anything by its cover or its binding.
Wykes paints a brief but vivid portrait of the man who was instrumental in selling Hitler's program to Germany. A few things stick out, the first being the aptly described "banality of evil." Goebbels was no great genius, although he had a talent for political infighting and he understood the principles of modern advertising very well, especially the use of broadcasting and film.
Surprisingly, this alleged master of propaganda was hopeless when it came to dealing with a free press, a major failing in Nazi Germany's efforts to win support in the western democracies. He dealt with the German press brutally, through edicts and forced closures and seizures of dissenting newspapers. There wasn't much subtlety to Goebbels, or the Nazis in general, and his propaganda was heavy handed. He was also a serial philanderer, so much so that Hitler almost fired him as an embarrassment.
It's a quick, engaging read that gives a good glimpse into the the key figure behind the Nazi's message.
January 19, 2020
A brief overview of the life of Joseph Goebbels. A man who in his youth tried to find fullfillment but had to overcome his physical limitations. He broke with his religious back ground and discussed the communist ideals. In the summer of 1922 (age 25) he went to Munich to find the starting point of his life as he called it in his diary. He tried to live as a writer but did not find papers and magazines willing to print something. The occupation of the Ruhrarea by French troops made him very angry and he turned to the nazis and started visiting their meetings. That is were he found his place according to his diary. In 1925 Strasser offered him a job because of his skills in public speeking and in that year he meets Hitler for the first time and comes under his spell.
He puts the principles in practice which Hitler describes in detail on propaganda in ‘Mein Kampf’ and starts as Gauleiter in Berlin of the NSDAP and when Hitler takes the power he gets the post of minister of propaganda (in 1933 age 36). The truth is what I make the truth he said. He started using the radio as an important communication tool.
This all is a firm warning. In times of conflict, economic down turn and uncertainty people can be influences more easy to an extreme side with easy solutions which imply large cost as would become clear in WWIi.
He puts the principles in practice which Hitler describes in detail on propaganda in ‘Mein Kampf’ and starts as Gauleiter in Berlin of the NSDAP and when Hitler takes the power he gets the post of minister of propaganda (in 1933 age 36). The truth is what I make the truth he said. He started using the radio as an important communication tool.
This all is a firm warning. In times of conflict, economic down turn and uncertainty people can be influences more easy to an extreme side with easy solutions which imply large cost as would become clear in WWIi.
May 27, 2025
another good book by Ballantine
May 22, 2023
🖊 My review: An excellent history book.
🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
📕 Media form: Read from my private library.
✿●▬●✿●✿●▬●✿
🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
📕 Media form: Read from my private library.
✿●▬●✿●✿●▬●✿
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews