This documentary about Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Minister of Propaganda, is car-wreck fascinating. Kenneth Branagh reads Goebbels’ diary entries over archival film footage and a mood-setting soundtrack. There is no additional commentary. Goebbels’ own words tell the story of his childhood, his rise in the National Socialist movement, the rise of Hitler and the Nazis to power, his family life, and the Nazi’s eventual downfall.
Goebbels has long been considered an evil media genius and the perfecter of the “Big Lie” principle of propaganda. He embraced and mastered the newest technologies available for spreading propaganda at the time- film and television. And I have often heard it said that modern advertising and political campaigns use techniques Goebbels perfected. His diary entries reflect his study and criticism of these mediums. However, he originally didn’t want to be propaganda minister and felt being assigned the position was an insult, but his loyalty to national socialism (not Hitler interestingly) and his extreme work ethic led him to an eventual totalitarian control of all media in Germany.
Later he argued that propaganda was an art form essential to the success of the Nazi party and the war effort. His work certainly helped lead the National Socialist movement to political power in the 1930s, spread antisemitism, and promoted a god-like reference for Hitler among the Germans. When things began to go wrong on the Russian front in 1943, Goebbels’ diaries reflect that he didn’t agree with telling the German people unrealistic lies, as other Nazi leaders were, and even called doing so embarrassing. He questions Hitler’s leadership in his diaries. He pushed for “total war” and his propaganda attempted to steel the German people for the sacrifices that would be necessary to drive back the Russians. As we now know, it was too late.
The film includes bits of Goebbels’ home movies and diary entries about his relationship with his wife. His home movies of his children are the most chilling. The children put on elaborate shows for their father’s birthdays- singing songs and reciting poetry. Spoiler Alert: Goebbels and his wife poisoned their six children before committing suicide themselves when Berlin was lost.
The only thing I felt missing from the film were more entries from those last days in the bunker. The film goes eerily silent towards the end, which I’m sure is symbolic. Maybe he stopped writing in his diary towards the end? I don’t know.
It is obvious from his diaries that Goebbels was prone to fits of manic depression shuttling between feverish ecstasy at Nazi successes to feeling “tortured” and thinking he could not go on. He is egotistical in that way that all mad geniuses are. He calls the British and American attempts at propaganda amateurish and criticizes plays and films throughout. He had a lame leg from a botched surgery as a child, which always challenged his self-esteem. He judges leaders by their physical stature several times in the film.
What I found especially interesting is how much modern political parties in the U.S., both Republican and Democrat, emulate Goebbels’ principles of image control for the masses. He created the image of the Nazis as the saviors of Germany (which had a ruined economy) through social programs. He presented them as the party of hope and change. He was especially good at demonizing the enemies of the party so that they appeared to be the enemies of the people. He mastered the cutting edge technologies, which appealed to the youth and made the Nazis appear advanced. Last but not least, he made his candidate, Hitler, who Goebbels did not always trust or like, appear as a god beyond reproach. Godwin’s law states “As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.” This is especially true in political discussions on social websites, and most of the time the statement deals with the party lying or warmongering. But what Goebbels did with propaganda, minus the genocide and eugenics, is emulated by ALL political campaigns today.
He’s still evil. Just saying.
