The Infiltration of German Propaganda Into American Culture :: World War II WWII WW2

The Infiltration of German Propaganda Into American CulturePropaganda, propaganda, propaganda. All that matters is propaganda. -- Adolf Hitler (Welch ,1)During orb fight II, propaganda saturated the eye and ears of countless Germans. Films, such as Triumph of the Will declared the transcendency of Hitlers ideas and hopes for the future, while posters increased the ever-rising nationalism of the public. Radio was a major let out of everyday life and an inventive way to bring anti-Semitic discussion to the ordinary days of the people. Hitler knew how effective propaganda could be and conveyed that propaganda for the masses had to be simple, it had to pack at the lowest level of intelligence, and it had to be reduced to easily learn slogans which then had to be repeated umteen times, concentrating on such stirred up elements as love and hatred (Welch, 3). In short, he had to circulate the configuration of information that everyone would understand and remember. Today, people fr om the United States look at World War II with horror and disbelief, wondering just how could the Germans be so brain washed to agree that it was a good idea to wipe out off an entire culture? Many do not throw that Hitlers propaganda was so substantially thought out that his ideas had seeped into everything -- including American culture.Although, the United States fought against the national socialist ideals, there were subtle ways that German ideas affected American society. A prime example of Hitlers propaganda that leaked into American society is the sample of anti-Semitic verse, scarcely titled To the Tune of the maritime Hymn. This passage was circulated widely between civilians and soldiers in the United States during World War II and is sung to the tune of the oceanic Hymn. It brilliantly plays on the stereotypes of the Jewish culture that were accepted by many as a reality.By setting the passage to the tune of the Marine Hymn, this piece of propaganda gives American m en a disposition of nationalism, as well as a very familiar and catchy tune that get out stay in their minds. The well-known melody helps to downplay the intolerance of Jews in the lyrics and it is easy for many people who are not paying direction to miss the stereotypes that are played out. Instead, there is almost a sense of comedy or a softening of the evil intentions of the appalling lyrics.The lyrics of the var. are ideas that were commonplace to the American population during the time of World War II.