Figure 1.--Here a German family is listening to Hitler on their home radio. Hitler and Goebbels were very skilled at
using the radio, at the time still a very new instrument for political purposes. Here we have a middle-class family who could aford a nice radio set. The NAZIs set out to manufacture an inexpensive radio that the average worker could aford--the Volksempfänger. (A similar dynamic behind the Volkswagen.) Hitler gradually disappeared from German radio as World War II progressed, especially after the Allied bpmbing intensified. In the later years of the War, it was Goebbels the German people heard on the radio. This photograph is notable as to how similar it looks to American families listening to President Roosevelt. The photograph shows the parents and their son, about 11-12 years old. The boy seems to be wearing a Hitler Youth uniform but with brown long stockings instead of knee socks. This is from a film clip dated around 1937-38.
As in the rest of Europe, radio rapidly developed in Germany after World War I in the 1920s. We do not yet have much information on the nature of German broadcasting in the 1920s, both the commercial development and the government role. We do know that several companies began making home radios. The Germans made very good radios. They tended to be rather expensive. As in many other industrial areas, German companies did not develop the mass production of inexpensive sets. Thus many workers could not afford a radio. German radio beginning in January 1933 was under the control of NAZI Minister of Propaganda Josef Goebbels. Thus during the 1930s and 40s, the so called Golden Age of radio, all German radio was under the strict control of the NAZIs. We know that programing was tightly controlled and censored by the NAZIs. We know nothing, however, about actual programming. After Kristalnacht in 1938, Jews were forced to turn in their radios. During World War II, the Germans took many measures to control radio listening in the occupied countries. Nazi propaganda was everywhere and whenever the Germans conquered a country or a place the radio played 'Les Préludes' with all those fanfares by Franz Liszt. Then the voice: 'Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt' (the Upper Command of the Wehrmacht announces). After we heard what city was taken from the enemy we had to listen to some stirring Prussian marches until the next victory." [Stueck]
Early German Radio
As in the rest of Europe, radio rapidly developed in Germany after World War I in the 1920s. We do not yet have much information on the nature of German broadcasting in the 1920s, both the commercial development and the government role. We do know that several companies began making home radios. The Germans made very good radios, but they tended to be rather expensive. As in many other industrial areas, German companies did not develop the mass production of inexpensive sets as began to occur in America. Thus many German workers could not afford a radio.
Government Policy
Joseph Goebbels from the beginning of his involvement in politics was attuned to the importance of mass media. Hitler chose him as his Minister of Propaganda (1933). Goebbels was a first disappointed, he wanted a more important position. Hitler's choice was of course brilliant. Goebbels set out to make the Ministry of Propaganda and Enlightenment an important part of the NAZI Government. In this regard, radio was seen as key. Goebbels viewed radio as second only to the press as the 'most effective weapon in our struggle for existence'. [Bergmeier and Lotz.] After the NAZI seizure of power, the NAZIS could control all German radio programming. Any program, entertainer, or music that the NAZIs did not approve of was banned. Very quickly programming appeared, both new programs and entertainment programs appeared with NAZI ideological content. Thus during the 1930s and 40s, the so-called Golden Age of radio, all German radio was under the strict control of the NAZIs. Germans at first could listen to foreign radio broadcasts, but most people wanted to listen to local radio, it was in German and the reception was best. And there was a lot of excellent programming, especially the music.
Volksempfänger Radio Sets
The NAZIs came up with something called a Volksempfänger VE 301 GW (NAZI People's Radio). This was an inexpensive, easy to operate radio set that all Germans could afford and one that was built to receive only German broadcasts. The industrial "rationalization" conducted by the NAZIs affected everyday objects, as well as architecture, art and armaments. The most famous such item is probably the Volkswagen, although relatively few were actually produced during the Third Reich. Radio sets (receivers), like many other other products, were closely analyzed to determine how they could be most useful to the NAZI regime. Goebbels was very interested in radio and he realized that as he controlled the broadcasting, an inexpensive People's Radio would be like putting a loud speaker in every German home in the Reich. Industrial design was not pioneered by the NAZIs. Walter Maria Kersting was a pioneers of German industrial design well before the NAZIs seized power. Kersting in 1932 published The Living Form in which he described how the task of the designer was to create "... simple and cheap objects, which must not appear to be more than they are... and which can be bought anywhere". He felt that operation of these devices should be intuitive so that they could be understood by an ordinary person "who does not have a technical mind". He also felt that these items should be designed such that they are "foolproof in the event of mistreatment". Following these principles, Kersting in 1928 designed a radio set. There were several hundred thousand produced in the 5 years before the NAZIs seized power (1933). Kersting's designed fit perfectly with what Goebbels wanted. In fact, Kersting, only one change was made to the original design before the NAZIs ordered mass production--a swastika was added to the front. Goebbels ensured that the receiver had a limited range so that only NAZI frequencies could be picked foreign broadcasts would not interfere with Hitler's and other other NAZI political broadcasts." The Volksempfänger was this during the 12 years of the Third Reich a chillingly effective NAZI propaganda device. The concept of the Volksempfänger, did not end with the War. The Communists in Eastern Europe were impressed with the concept. The Telsa company in Czechoslovakia for 25 years manufactured radios looking rather like the Volksempfänger whose only frequency was a conduit for Party propaganda. [Mezel]
The Volksempfänger Radio Sets were a small, but important part of the NAZI Volksgemeinschaft. Not only did it bring Hitler's voice and Goebbels's propaganda into every German home, but it meant that many families who could not afford a radio, mow could have one. ll of this was an important part of the puzzle as to how NAZI thuggery could win over the hearts of a modern, educated people. The NAZI Volksgemeinschaft began to look more and more attractive to the German people, including working class Germans that had supported left-wing Communist and other Socialist parties. The NAZIs proved to be the perfect recipe--a socialist party with a nationalist orientation. And for many workers largely thanks to Goebbels propaganda, Hitler was delivering on what they wanted--a better life.
Programming
We know that programing was tightly controlled and censored by the NAZIs. We know very little, however, about actual programming during the Third Reich.
Music
The NAZIs seized power in January 1933. The new Propaganda Minister Goebbels ordered that American jazz music be banned from German radio. The NAZIs believed that jazz music represented decadent American society. Jazz was apparently seen as threatening the racial purity of the Aryan race. The origins of jazz of course lay with American blacks. This did not endear jazz to the NAZIs and the fact that American Jewish musicians and band leaders like Benny Goodman were involved with swing as jazz passed into American white culture further alienated the NAZI purveyors of culture and taste. Jazz was seen as not only black, but Jewish music because many well-known band leaders like Benny Goodman were Jewish. Jazz and swing were considered dangerous because so many young Germans were drawn to the music. Swing was seen as an element of modernism, "the refuse of a rotting society" and the NAZIs charged that Jews were using jazz to corrupt the Aryan race through "musical race defilement". The music played on German radio followed the traditional tastes of Hitler and the NAZI. [Bergmeier and Lotz]
Adventure series
Restrictions
After Kristalnacht in 1938, as part of further anti-Semitic measures, Jews were forced to turn in their radios.
Radio was used as part of the Hitler Youth indoctrination program. Er xxhave few details, but images show HJ boys at meetings seated in a circle. listening to the radio. We know of no specific HJ programing. Presumably they were listening to one of Hitler's speeches or perhaps a speech by some other NAZI official.
World War II NAZI Broadcasting
Under Goebbels, the Propaganda Ministry rapidly expanded the foreign-language broadcasting division in the 1930s, well before World War II. Goebbels set up "Secret Stations" which were ostensibly run by opposition groups broadcasting from inside target countries, but were actually located in the Berlin Olympic stadium. Roderich Dietze was the wartime head of German radio's English-language service. While the NAZIs refused to play American swing and jazz music for domestic radio listeners, they employed such music for their overseas propaganda broadcasts to foreign listeners during World War II. In these broadcasts, swing and jazz seemed the perfect bait. Much of the repertoire was standard jazz music. Some had a NAZI twist. A jazzy rendition of "Onward Christian Soldiers" was broadcast with anti-Semitic lyrics replaced. Goebbels' Propaganda Ministry hired a swing band fronted by the crooner, Karl ("Charlie") Schwedler. Goebbels also ordered the establishment of Radio Arnhem which, for several months in 1944-45 broadcast as a Allied forces station. [Bergmeier and Lotz.] Nazi propaganda was everywhere and whenever the Germans conquered a country or a place the radio played 'Les Préludes' with all those fanfares by Franz Liszt. Then the voice: 'Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt' (the Upper Command of the Wehrmacht announces). After we heard what city was taken from the enemy we had to listen to some stirring Prussian marches until the next victory." [Stueck]
Occupied Countries
During World War II, the Germans took many measures to control radio listening in the occupied countries.
Denmark
Danes, like many other Europeans, lived through German occupation -- and Nazi-controlled radio -- from 1940 to 1945. The Danish Government in 1996 grudgingly granted a broadcast license under Denmark's liberal freedom of speech laws to the National Socialist Movement of
Denmark (DNSB) which began broadcasting its message of racial purity and ethnic hate, ranting against Zionism and big business in phrases borrowed from the NAZI era.
Luxembourg
German forces invaded Luxembourg in 1940. Radio Luxembourg which had a dedicated international audience was used for propaganda. Lord Haw Haw broadcast from the station in English during the NAZI occupation.
(The) Netherlands
The Germans invaded the neutral Netherlands in May 1940. The Dutch Army surrendered after Rotterdam was bombed. Queen Wilehmina, who had provided a haven to Kaiser Wilhelm after World War I, fled to England to set up a Government in exile. The country was totally under NAZI control within a few days. The Dutch people kept their ears glued to their radios to listen to BBC war reporting as well as broadcasts from the Dutch Government in exile. The NAZIs of course desired to cut the Dutch people off from the outside new media and their Government in exile which soon established Radio Oranje. THE NAZI occupation forced in 1940 prohibited the Dutch people from listening to foreign broadcasting. Dutch broadcasters were heavily censored by the Germans. VARA was the first Dutch broadcaster which openly protested against the German occupation broadcast controls when they had to report about a march of the Dutch NSB NAZI-organization. The NAZIS prohibited the broadcasting of English and American songs in January 1941. (This was almost a year before America entered the War.) The NAZIs as the occupation progressed steadily increased their control over Dutch programming. Dutch broadcasters were ordered to increase the use of German mass-produced programming. They were ordered to broadcast Arien
"Auflagesendungen" (mass-produced programs) like the music programs with German titles: "Gruss aus der Heimat" (greetings from the fatherland) and "Wunschconcerte" (request concert). The Dutch people attempted to protest against the brutal German occupation and persecution of the Jews with the 1941 "February-strike". The strikers were brutally suppressed. The Germans decided to prevent any uncontrolled Dutch broadcasts. The Dutch broadcasting groups were disbanded on March 9, 1941. In its place the German occupation authorities set up a NAZI German propaganda-station "De Nederlandse Omroep" (Dutch Broadcasting Organization). The personal and property of the previous Dutch broadcasters were taken over by "De Nederlandse Omroep". A German engineer, Herwijer, was put in charge. He appointing Dutch collaborators (NSB members) to all executive posts, ensuring that Dutch broadcasting was totally in NAZI hands. The NAZIs with "wire-broadcasting" could control the programs which were actually carried on Dutch radio stations. Wire-broadcasting ("Draadomroep" or "Radio-distributie") was the only radio allowed by occupation authorities. NAZI Occupation authorities in spring 1941 introduced a radio registration and a listening fee, purportedly to finance broadcasting. This fee replaced the previous membership-fee of the former Dutch broadcasting organizations. The Dutch people registered about 1.3 million sets. Of course, foreign broadcasts especially the BBC and Radio Oranje from the Dutch Government (in exile in London) were very popular with the Dutch people. The Germans tried to stop the broadcasts, especially after the War had turned against them by 1943. Occupation authorities prohibited the Dutch to listen to foreign broadcasts and there were severe penalties. There were also efforts to jam the broadcasts. These measures were sufficiently effective to please the NAZIs, so on May 13, 1943 they ordered the confiscation of all radios. Here as most Dutch citizens had registered their radios in 1941, the NAZIs were very quickly able to get most radios out of Dutch hands. The NAZIs managed to collect about 1.1 million sets. Only 55,000 Dutch citizens were exempted from the order to turn in their radios. These were collaborators such as NSB members. A few other Dutch citizens continued to listen on hidden radios. Thus the Dutch quickly learned of the June 1944 landings in Normandy and by September they had reached areas in the southern Netherlands. The rest of the Netherlands, however, was not liberated until early 1945. During the last months of the war the Dutch in the still occupied areas could listen to "Radio Herrijzend Nederland" broadcast from the areas of the country already liberated from the NAZIs.
Sources
Bergmeier, Horst J. P. and Rainer E. Lotz, (Contributor). Hitler's Airwaves : The Inside Story of Nazi Radio Broadcasting and Propaganda Swing (Yale University Press, Book & Cd edition August 1997).
Mezel, Eric. Edited by Jocelyn de Noblet, Industrial Design: Reflecyions of a Century (Centre de Recherche sur la Culture Technique Flammarion/APCI, 1993). 168p.
