There was one particularly egregious feature of Italian fascism and Nazi Germany: its attempt to brainwash its citizens. This program was founded on two basic components, education and propaganda.
In Mein Kampf, Hitler wrote, "Propaganda is a means and must therefore be judged with regard to its end... Propaganda in the War was a means to an end, and the end was the struggle for the existence of the German people; consequently, propaganda could only be considered in accordance with the principles that were valid for this struggle. In this case the cruelest weapons were humane if they brought about a quicker victory... All propaganda must be popular and its intellectual level must be adjusted to the most limited intelligence among those it is addressed to. Consequently, the greater the mass it is intended to reach, the lower is purely intellectual level will have to be."35
Mass Hypnosis On June 21, 1939, more than 120,000 Germans enjoyed a neo-pagan summer solstice celebration in the Berlin Olympic Stadium. The event was organized by the SS and the Ministry of Propaganda. The aim was to instill the Nazis' ideology of paganism on German society.1- "The German student fights for the Fhrer and the people" 2- "I have no other desire than to be the first soldier of the German Reich." 3- "Victory for Germany means freedom for Europe."Mass Rallies: The Fascist Brainwashing Method Crowded Nazi rallies were held with rousing anthems and pomp, and were specifically intended to awaken a feeling of awe and fear, thus enthralling the ignorant public. Effectively, fascism was an ideology based on emotion, not reason.
Hitler was certainly effective in his use of propaganda. For instance, the well-known director Leni Riefenstahl was requested to produce a Nazi propaganda film, Olympia. In Triumph of Will, another film by Riefenstahl, Hitler was shown as an almost divine being. Pagan Nazi ideology was praised in all these films, and ultimately imposed upon society. Olympia was one of the old centers of ancient Greek pagan culture. The city, with its famous statue of the Greek god Zeus, was a fitting symbol of the pagan ideology of Nazism.
All fascist regimes, not just Hitler's, used propaganda in a most effective way in order to impose their will on the public. Mussolini openly stated this:
For me the masses are nothing but a herd of sheep as long as they are unorganized... The Roman greeting, songs and formulas...all are essential to fan the flames of the enthusiasm that keeps a movement in being...Everything turns upon one's ability to control the masses like an artist.36
Propaganda methods were also employed by Mussolini. Above are some examples of publications reflecting Italian fascism and its pagan roots. Below is a slogan employed by Mussolini which reveals the thinking adopted by the educational system. It reads, "Believe, obey, fight," which even primary schoolchildren were forced to learn by heart."The Duce, The Perfect Man" Propaganda In Italy Images and publications trying to portray Mussolini as the perfect man were widespread in fascist Italy. Images of him with farmers in their fields, or with children in schools, were everywhere. The picture above typifies Mussolini propaganda. Propaganda posters (left) were also used for the purpose of inculcating fascist ideals into society.The War-Cry Of Fascism: "Believe! Obey! Fight!" Fascist propaganda portraying Mussolini as a noble Roman commander. Special attention must be drawn to the pagan symbols placed behind him (the axes and the legionary SPQR). Fascism tries to interfere with people thinking for themselves. All it tolerates is obedience to the leader, rallied by contrived emotions, and a ready willingness to fight. These themes dominate the above propaganda posters from Mussolini's time.
