Propaganda as Eichmann’s Tool for Destruction

A thorough examination of both Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil and Leni Riefenstahl’s famous Nazi film Triumph of the Will leads to a variety of profound insights regarding the role of propaganda in encouraging unconscionable acts. While it is highly doubtful that the Nazi propaganda machine influenced Adolf Eichmann to commit his heinous crimes, it is impossible to discuss the execution of such atrocities without noting the role of this highly effective publicity arm of the Nazi movement. The vehement focus on the purity and power of the German people found in Triumph of the Will created an environment of nationalistic frenzy that Eichmann was able to exploit to pursue his psychopathic tendencies. Propaganda by its very nature does not influence the leaders of a movement, but rather inspires the masses to blindly follow the instructions of authority figures, which obviously led to catastrophic consequences in Germany. Only by understanding the true motivations for Eichmann’s actions and the effects of propaganda on the German people can we begin to illustrate the complex relationship between the two. Once that task is completed it becomes clear that Eichmann was not in fact influenced by Nazi propaganda, but rather expertly utilized it in order to facilitate the accomplishment and justification of his horrific actions.

While some may argue that propaganda has an effect on the actions of even the leaders of a political movement it is quite clear that this was not the case with Adolf Eichmann. On the contrary, as Arendt plainly states in Eichmann in Jerusalem “his was obviously no case of insane hatred of Jews, of fanatical anti-Semitism or indoctrination of any kind. He ‘personally’ never had anything whatsoever against Jews; on the contrary he had many ‘private reasons’ not to be a Jew hater” (26). Eichmann did not commit his atrocities out of a misguided notion that he was saving Germany from the clutches of the Jews, as Nazi propaganda would insinuate, but rather out of a purely sociopathic desire to murder and destroy and a selfish desire to further his own personal career. This cannot be overstated, as it provides definitive evidence that Eichmann was not influenced by Nazi propaganda, although he utilized it to further his own ends. He was willing to do whatever it took, even commit genocide, to keep himself in a position of power.

Eichmann joined the Nazi party and rose through its ranks not due to any sort of ideological conviction, but out of the simple desire to accumulate influence and respect. Arendt asserts that “From a humdrum life without significance and consequence the wind had blown him into History, as he understood it, namely into a Movement that always kept moving and in which somebody like him...could start from scratch and make a career” (33). Eichmann was clearly not an ideological believer in the propaganda of Nazism, but rather an unbridled careerist who saw his chance to make his mark on the world and seized it, despite the horrible ethical implications of his actions. No convincing was required to get Eichmann to be a loyal Nazi, simply due to his desire to further his own interests and rise to a position of power and reverence, despite his lack of intellectual agreement with the principles of the Nazi party. Furthermore, not only was Eichmann clearly uninfluenced by the arguments made in Nazi propaganda, he actually authored some of their materials himself, further proving he was an instigator rather than a victim of the propaganda bombardment of the Nazis.

In fact, Eichmann had a considerable role in producing Nazi propaganda and was therefore well aware of the falsities it contained. Arendt goes so far as to clearly state that “Eichmann and Hagen were forced to write for propaganda purposes” (62). Clearly someone who had seen the inner workings of the Nazi system of propaganda creation was unlikely to be influenced by the message of such works of agitprop. Instead he utilized them as a tool to help him accomplish his orders and curry favor with Hitler by rallying the German people around his perverted mission of genocide. To say that propaganda had any influence on Eichmann himself is to sell short the very nature of the heinousness of his acts. However, propaganda clearly allowed him to justify his actions and garner support for them amongst the populace.

Nazi propaganda created an environment where the orders of men like Hitler and Eichmann could go heeded without question, even in their shocking brutality. Arendt affirms this by stating that “from beginning to end, Nazi propaganda was fiercely, unequivocally, uncompromisingly anti-Semitic, and eventually nothing counted but what people who were still without experience in the mysteries of totalitarian government dismissed as ‘mere propaganda’ ” (60). Although it is clear that propaganda did not have an effect in Eichmann himself, it is also equally clear that he never would have been able to accomplish his horrible actions and rally people around his cause without the aid of propaganda. While Eichmann obviously had no moral qualms about exterminating European Jews to advance his position in society he needed to convince the masses to follow his heinous orders to keep him on his rising path within the Nazi party. The virulent anti-Semitism and vehement nationalism of these Nazi works of disinformation were what helped Eichmann justify his clearly unconscionable actions to the German people and make sure his social and professional progress were not impeded by the morals of the masses.

Joseph Goebbels gives another fine example of the importance of propaganda to the justification of Nazi actions in his speech in the famous Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will. As Goebbels states, “May the bright flame of our enthusiasm never be extinguished. It alone gives the creative art of modern political propaganda its light and warmth...It may be good to have power based on arms, but it is better and more joyful to win and keep the hearts of the people” (Triumph of the Will). Quite obviously the purpose of propaganda was to justify the appalling actions of the Nazi leadership to the people, and they were able to do so quite successfully. The Nazis were not shy about their embrace of propaganda as a tool to get the masses to do their bidding, and one they viewed as more effective than the use of physical force. Interestingly, there were several different tactics the Nazis synergistically utilized within their propaganda, each of which can be found within Triumph of the Will.

While Triumph of the Will mainly focuses on the virulently nationalistic aspects of Nazism, which were also instrumental to the justification of Eichmann’s actions, it contains anti-Semitic hate speech as well, packaged into a powerful film for the common people widely regarded as one of the most technically striking ever made. One of the moments where we can see how propaganda helped a man like Eichmann rationalize his actions to the masses is where Julius Streicher declares that “A people that does not protect its racial purity will perish” (Triumph of the Will). Statements framing anti-Semitism as a necessary element of the preservation of the German nation and people gave Eichmann immeasurable assistance in justifying his actions. The constant barrage of propaganda from the Nazi leaders to the German people made sure that Eichmann would find no shortage of followers to do his murderous bidding while he continued his quest towards the top of society. By framing his genocidal actions as necessary for the protection of the German people, Triumph of the Will was instrumental towards the validation of his murderous behavior.

The theme of racial purity is frequently mentioned in the film. Hitler himself states during his climactic speech that “because these are the racially best of the German nation, they can in proudest self-esteem claim leadership of the Reich and its people” (Triumph of the Will). The notion that racial purity is directly related to the ability to lead and be loyal to the nation is one of the key tenets of Nazi propaganda that allowed an opportunist like Eichmann to justify his actions to the public and garner support from his soldiers. Once again, we see how propaganda laid the foundation for Eichmann to build his opportunistic career. However, there are more subtle aspects of the message of Triumph of the Will that go beyond blatant statements regarding race that still proved to be equally destructive and manipulative.

Triumph of the Will portrays a rabidly nationalistic image of the German people and Nazi party, where the power and might of the nation come before all else. This goes far beyond ordinary patriotism into the realm of dangerous obsession with purity and uniformity. This is clearly illustrated through the imagery of vast numbers of identical soldiers, the numerous shots of large, faceless crowds, and the repeated phrase “One people, one Fuhrer, one Reich” (Triumph of the Will). It was this overwhelming focus on conformity that allowed Eichmann to rationalize his homicidal actions against groups thought to be different, such as Jews. In addition, the focus on military might and power as the sole measure of a nation’s worth also leads to a societal bloodlust easily exploited by a monster like Eichmann. Triumph of the Will advocates complete and total homogeneity as the one and only path to national success, and it was this message above all else that allowed Nazi leaders such as Eichmann to justify their atrocious crimes.

While propaganda was intricately tied into the grotesque actions of Adolf Eichmann, it also quite clearly did not inspire his behavior. He was instead driven by an insatiable desire to advance his career and societal status, even if it meant committing inhuman and horrific acts. However, the propaganda machine was what allowed him to make convince the masses to support his horrifying role in the Nazi government and ensure that the morality of the common people did not come between him and his goals. Triumph of the Will, with its focus on racial homogeneity, nationalism, and militarism is a prime example of the sort of propagandist work that allowed Eichmann to ensure the support of the common people on his personal mission for success at all costs. The relationship between Eichmann and Nazi propaganda is a classic example of how totalitarian elites use propagandist works to convince the masses to support them on their own private undertakings.

Works Cited

Arendt, Hannah. Eichmann in Jerusalem; a report on the banality of evil. New York: Viking Press, 1963. Print.

Triumph of the will. Dir. Leni Riefenstahl. Perf. Adolf Hitler. Synapse Films, 20062000. Film.