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Goebbels: Nazi Master of Illusion: The Destructive Power of Joseph Goebbels’s Propaganda and the Holocaust
What does it take to control the minds of millions of people—and influence their thoughts and actions into complete devastation? After years of historical research, Dr. Daniela Ozacky Stern —a third generation survivor—reveals her discoveries in Nazi Master of Illusion .
During the fateful final year of World War II, Nazi Germany suffered severe military defeats and massive bombings by the Allies on the home front—turning cities into ruins. Relations among Nazi leadership deteriorated, and rifts appeared within the inner circle of Adolf Hitler.
Although the situation was catastrophic for Germany, the mass extermination of the Jews—Hitler’s "Final Solution”— never halted. In fact, it heavily accelerated, breaking into new territories.
One of the people closest to Hitler—who directly influenced the events—was Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Minister of Propaganda. He preached to Germans over and over to continue fighting—in a struggle already lost.
What was Goebbels’ tactic in controlling the Germans’ minds and influencing The Führer Hitler? How did the propaganda machine—he created—control millions of people and alter their fates?
Dr. Ozacky Stern answers those questions plus examines the connection between the nearing German defeat and the Third Reich’s push to continue the mass extermination of Jews.
During the fateful final year of World War II, Nazi Germany suffered severe military defeats and massive bombings by the Allies on the home front—turning cities into ruins. Relations among Nazi leadership deteriorated, and rifts appeared within the inner circle of Adolf Hitler.
Although the situation was catastrophic for Germany, the mass extermination of the Jews—Hitler’s "Final Solution”— never halted. In fact, it heavily accelerated, breaking into new territories.
One of the people closest to Hitler—who directly influenced the events—was Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Minister of Propaganda. He preached to Germans over and over to continue fighting—in a struggle already lost.
What was Goebbels’ tactic in controlling the Germans’ minds and influencing The Führer Hitler? How did the propaganda machine—he created—control millions of people and alter their fates?
Dr. Ozacky Stern answers those questions plus examines the connection between the nearing German defeat and the Third Reich’s push to continue the mass extermination of Jews.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 27, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 8, 2022
‘I wrestle with myself to find a different God’ – profound insights into Goebbels’ life
Israeli author Daniela Ozack Stern PhD, earned her degree in Jewish History from The University of Haifa, and serves as an historian, researcher, and lecturer on World War II, the Holocaust, Genocide, survival, and resistance. She has published works on these subjects, and now shares her Master’s thesis on Nazi propaganda led by Joseph Goebbels during the last year of WW II in this book form – GOEBBELS: NAZI MASTER OF ILLUSION.
While there are many memoirs and novels written about the horrors of the Holocaust, this book offers insights into the core of concept and evil plan that initiated that heinous period of history. Dr. Stern explains the origins in her Preface – ‘In gatherings held at the Hofbräuhaus, one of the breweries in Munich, Adolf Hitler would deliver energetic, sweeping speeches. In February 1920, he introduced a new movement, National Socialism, aimed at fighting against those responsible for Germany’s defeat during the war (WW I). He referred obviously to Jews, Communists, Democrats, and those who had signed the Treaty of Versailles. Supporters flocked to Hitler’s side, including one of the figures who would later be at the center of the transformation of the nascent Nazi party into a general German movement that appealed to the masses. This was Joseph Goebbels, a young intellectual and a native Rhinelander, a scholar well-versed in philosophy, political theory, history, and literature…Goebbels managed to pull the German masses together to support goals he presented before them, and when they stood at a dramatic turning point during the war, they continued to blindly follow him to their ruin…’
Referencing her intensive research into the diaries that Goebbels kept, she writes – ‘The importance of Goebbels’ diaries lies in their providing World War II historians with a complete an extensive personal record, written as the events were taking place, by a man who belonged to the elite of the Nazi party and was close to Hitler.’ He created the salute ‘Heil Hitler’ and even the title der Führer, and Dr Stern states, “This book will focus on the last year of WW II, which was also the last year of Goebbels’ life…May 1944, when nearly half a million Hungarian Jews were sent to be exterminated in Auschwitz, to May 1, 1945, the day Magda and Joseph Goebbels committed suicide, taking with them their six children, the day after their admired leader, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bunker in Berlin.’
In a scholarly, sophisticated, yet completely accessible manner, Dr Stern provides a fine historical overview of the ‘concept’ of he Nazi Party, then examines the life of Goebbels and each step of the moves he took in creating the horrors of the Holocaust. ‘Hitler was a great prophet in the eyes of Goebbels,’ This is a fine study of Goebbels’ mind, orientation, and perceptions that finally brings light to the nidus that became the Holocaust. Excellent research and writing – important to all of us. Highly recommended.
Israeli author Daniela Ozack Stern PhD, earned her degree in Jewish History from The University of Haifa, and serves as an historian, researcher, and lecturer on World War II, the Holocaust, Genocide, survival, and resistance. She has published works on these subjects, and now shares her Master’s thesis on Nazi propaganda led by Joseph Goebbels during the last year of WW II in this book form – GOEBBELS: NAZI MASTER OF ILLUSION.
While there are many memoirs and novels written about the horrors of the Holocaust, this book offers insights into the core of concept and evil plan that initiated that heinous period of history. Dr. Stern explains the origins in her Preface – ‘In gatherings held at the Hofbräuhaus, one of the breweries in Munich, Adolf Hitler would deliver energetic, sweeping speeches. In February 1920, he introduced a new movement, National Socialism, aimed at fighting against those responsible for Germany’s defeat during the war (WW I). He referred obviously to Jews, Communists, Democrats, and those who had signed the Treaty of Versailles. Supporters flocked to Hitler’s side, including one of the figures who would later be at the center of the transformation of the nascent Nazi party into a general German movement that appealed to the masses. This was Joseph Goebbels, a young intellectual and a native Rhinelander, a scholar well-versed in philosophy, political theory, history, and literature…Goebbels managed to pull the German masses together to support goals he presented before them, and when they stood at a dramatic turning point during the war, they continued to blindly follow him to their ruin…’
Referencing her intensive research into the diaries that Goebbels kept, she writes – ‘The importance of Goebbels’ diaries lies in their providing World War II historians with a complete an extensive personal record, written as the events were taking place, by a man who belonged to the elite of the Nazi party and was close to Hitler.’ He created the salute ‘Heil Hitler’ and even the title der Führer, and Dr Stern states, “This book will focus on the last year of WW II, which was also the last year of Goebbels’ life…May 1944, when nearly half a million Hungarian Jews were sent to be exterminated in Auschwitz, to May 1, 1945, the day Magda and Joseph Goebbels committed suicide, taking with them their six children, the day after their admired leader, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bunker in Berlin.’
In a scholarly, sophisticated, yet completely accessible manner, Dr Stern provides a fine historical overview of the ‘concept’ of he Nazi Party, then examines the life of Goebbels and each step of the moves he took in creating the horrors of the Holocaust. ‘Hitler was a great prophet in the eyes of Goebbels,’ This is a fine study of Goebbels’ mind, orientation, and perceptions that finally brings light to the nidus that became the Holocaust. Excellent research and writing – important to all of us. Highly recommended.
March 10, 2022
Masterminds at there best
This book explains a lot about propaganda and the holocaust and the men who in my opinion brainwashed all of these people into doing what they wouldn't do otherwise mostly the jews. It explains a lot about what happen when the holocaust was going on and how they got them poor people to do what they wanted them to do. This book explains a lot in great detail the historian did a great deal of research in this book I highly recommend it to anybody who wants to know more about what happened in the holocaust.
This book explains a lot about propaganda and the holocaust and the men who in my opinion brainwashed all of these people into doing what they wouldn't do otherwise mostly the jews. It explains a lot about what happen when the holocaust was going on and how they got them poor people to do what they wanted them to do. This book explains a lot in great detail the historian did a great deal of research in this book I highly recommend it to anybody who wants to know more about what happened in the holocaust.
October 15, 2022
I wanted to learn more about Goebbels. I didn't know much about him other than he had something to do with the propaganda machine of the German Nazi party. This is the first biography I have read about him. This was a great introduction for me. The book is essentially only 135 pages long, with additional pages for a timeline of Goebbels life and for the bibliography, labeled as "Notes". I want to understand how people can do evil, for evil is always present. I know evil can be a complicated subject, but it seems it very basically boiled down to three things for Goebbels. One was the zeitgeist of his times; two was hate; and three was fantasy. I made my own timeline of events in a spreadsheet. In retrospect, the downfall of Germany in the 2nd World War was their defeat at Stalingrad by Russian forces in January/February 1943. Even so, there was a feeling in both Hitler and Goebbels that the war would miraculously turn in Germany's favor. Much of this stemmed from other events such as Hitler surviving the attempt on his life on July 20, 1944. There was some sense, in the minds of Hitler and Goebbels, that he was saved by providence. This seems to be a common theme throughout history. I think this book is worth a read as an introduction. The book emphasizes Goebbels influence in the last year of the war as Hitler withdrew and became more isolated, suffering from health problems and problems of depression and delusions due to his self-imposed isolation.
April 14, 2022
Despite the unpleasant subject matter, this is a well-researched historian's look at the final year of World War II. Germany suffered one military defeat after another, and German cities were constantly bombed by the Allies. At the center of it all was Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda, who kept telling the German people to fight on, even though the war was lost.
Goebbels was born with a clubbed foot, and constantly limped, so he would never become a battlefield commander. Instead, he learned how people operate, and was able to use that skill to control an entire country. During the last year of the war, the Final Solution, the extermination of European Jews, actually sped up.
This is a very interesting book that is well worth reading. It is certainly recommended for its historical perspective, along with plenty of footnotes for those who want to learn more about that time. It is also recommended for its look at propaganda, and how finding the truth is more important than ever.
Goebbels was born with a clubbed foot, and constantly limped, so he would never become a battlefield commander. Instead, he learned how people operate, and was able to use that skill to control an entire country. During the last year of the war, the Final Solution, the extermination of European Jews, actually sped up.
This is a very interesting book that is well worth reading. It is certainly recommended for its historical perspective, along with plenty of footnotes for those who want to learn more about that time. It is also recommended for its look at propaganda, and how finding the truth is more important than ever.
March 19, 2022
The good thing about this book is that it's very short. The bad thing - it is pretty shallow. It stays on surface level of description of events. Without serious attempts of analysis of whys and hows.
I was hoping to read more about techniques designed by Joseph Goebbels. To learn about how and why they worked.
But none of this can be found in this book. The description of the propaganda machine is again pretty shallow: list the branches, list 5 main principles, that's it. At the end it still feels like a black box that magically worked somehow. Even though the book emphasis that this was the most important weapon of the third Reich.
It's short biography of the man. Even description of Holocaust is pretty much disconnected from the main narrative and reads like a "bonus chapter". I don't know. You can just read wiki page about Goebbels. You'll be good.
I was hoping to read more about techniques designed by Joseph Goebbels. To learn about how and why they worked.
But none of this can be found in this book. The description of the propaganda machine is again pretty shallow: list the branches, list 5 main principles, that's it. At the end it still feels like a black box that magically worked somehow. Even though the book emphasis that this was the most important weapon of the third Reich.
It's short biography of the man. Even description of Holocaust is pretty much disconnected from the main narrative and reads like a "bonus chapter". I don't know. You can just read wiki page about Goebbels. You'll be good.
November 29, 2022
A toxic book on many levels. It seem to be made very recently. Meaning: most probably it's more propaganda than history.
G. was no master. He was nuts. He was ambitious. He was relentless. Master of Illusion? It just makes a god out of a short man.
The blurb seems to imply once more than the Germans were mere objects, in the grasp of a wizard. Which is toxic on two different levels:
- it takes away the willingness to participate in the show of the Germans and their personal gains.
- it opens the road to ”ethical” engineering from a State bureaucrat like Stern, or Goebbels. And just like the two: it would be for the good ”of all”.
Still, I am curious about the arguments.
G. was no master. He was nuts. He was ambitious. He was relentless. Master of Illusion? It just makes a god out of a short man.
The blurb seems to imply once more than the Germans were mere objects, in the grasp of a wizard. Which is toxic on two different levels:
- it takes away the willingness to participate in the show of the Germans and their personal gains.
- it opens the road to ”ethical” engineering from a State bureaucrat like Stern, or Goebbels. And just like the two: it would be for the good ”of all”.
Still, I am curious about the arguments.
April 9, 2022
This book kept me captivated from start to finish. I found it fascinating to read this book in these times, when fake news and propaganda are still rampant.
August 9, 2022
good book
This book would have been more on Goebbels life and a little on propaganda he put out to the German people.
This book would have been more on Goebbels life and a little on propaganda he put out to the German people.
June 11, 2023
Excellent book and well written
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews