Die Beeinflussung der Jugend durch den nationalsozialistischen Sprachstil

What is it about?

Every regime uses certain ways in order to spread its ideology. One channel to win people over for an organization is propaganda – an instrument which is aimed primarily at emotions and not at reason. Propaganda combined with music influences people’s perception of the world even more because their emotions are addressed in two ways. The ›Third Reich‹ practiced this method especially with the help of the Hitler Youth’s song repertoire. Singing songs contributed to the political alignment of the citizens. This paper demonstrates the emotionally persuasive character of the language in selected songs. The songbook "Junge Gefolgschaft" was the basis for the analysis. Linguistic theories that help to support the analysis come from Klaus Brinker and Christian Braun. With their help, this paper shows that the lyrics of these songs had a persuasive impact on the recipients in order to influence them deliberately to support a national socialist world view.

Featured Image

Photo by César Abner Martínez Aguilar on Unsplash

Photo by César Abner Martínez Aguilar on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The article offers valuable insights into the power of language to shape individual and collective beliefs and behaviors, and highlights the importance of critical analysis and resistance to manipulative and destructive forms of propaganda. It also serves as a reminder of the dangers of unchecked authoritarianism and the importance of safeguarding democratic institutions and principles.

Perspectives