Triumph of the Will: Nazi Propaganda Deconstructed

Triumph of the Will The Nazi propaganda film, Triumph of the Will, is an excellent propaganda film that has many images that are meant to inspire, encourage, and invigorate the German people to be reborn. The film was made in 1934 during the rise of Adolf Hitler as the fuhrer of Nazi Germany. Hitler rose from the rank of a corporal in the German army to an inmate in a German jail. Hitler, once released, used fascist propaganda to promote the Nazi party. The propaganda promised to restore Germany as an economic leader in Europe while improving the lives of the German citizen. This pretense of a better life for German people won Hitler the dictatorship of Germany. Triumph of the Will is a good example of how propaganda entices the masses into

A light appears to illuminate another eagle clutching a swastika. Then camera switches to an ocean of uniformed Nazi men standing at attention for the speech given by the congress. The opening speaker is Rudolf Hess. The use of swastikas and Nazi standers is constant and they are abundant. Throughout the speech, regardless of speaker, the message is that Germany will rise to being a prosperous nation with proud citizens. The German citizens will have their civil rights safeguarded by the Nazis. Goebbels ensures that the Nazi power will be strengthened by the hearts of its citizens.

The coliseum like the scenes before is filled with an ocean of men dressed in Nazi uniforms who are all very proud to be German. They stand erect at attention with the stern look of determination on the faces of those men chosen to be in the film. During the pass in review of the brown uniformed men, there is a change in music. The Nazi SS troopers appear goose stepping into the pass in review of Adolf Hitler. They are led by Himmler. There is a difference in these men. They are wearing black uniforms with helmets. They are not armed with firearms but wear bayonets and swords. Hitler then yells his speech to the SA brown uniformed men and the SS black uniformed men. The speech is the same as the others. Hitler demands unification and loyalty to the German cause which is the Nazi party. During Hitler’s inspection of the SA and SS an artillery piece fires round after round. The camera films stern faced men standing tall and erect while a stern faced Hitler embraces them. (1:08:20-1:12:14)

The parade starts again in the streets where there are citizens cheering the uniformed men as they pass by armed with shovels carrying back packs. The men are stern faced with determination while they march by the saluting women who are smiling and cheering. The parade leaves the light of day to a final ceremony inside what looks like a giant