ultural and historic differences between Germanyand these other nations, it is clear that increasing German film attendance isamong the most important tasks of German film policy, and that doing sowould increase the effectiveness of film in propaganda and popularenlightenment. Hitler recognized films effectiveness early. Not only does itinfluence popular opinion but films relative great costs “pay off”: film stock,equipment, studios, the large technical and artistic staffs, ect., all cost a lot ofmoney, but the result, the finished film, may bring in tens of thousands whoseadmission fees not only cover the costs, but result in a good profit. Hitler’sanswer to the lack of attendance was to establish the extremely powerfulMinistry of Propaganda, and to nationalize the film making process. In this propaganda war Germany and its allies seemed to initially havea distinct advantage. Because their governments controlled all media, theycould largely seal off their peoples from Western propaganda. And onlyshow its people what they wanted them to see. Germany’s people could seenor hear no evil. At the same time, the highly centralized government couldplan elaborate propaganda campaigns and mobilize resources to carry outtheir plans. My making the renting fees low on some of their extra projectorsit gave incentive for the come business man to have his own showingsbecause he could make a little profit by doing so. This was a definite win winsituation for Hitler. They could also count on aid from Nazi parties andsympathizers in other countries. Democratic states, on the other hand, couldneither prevent their peoples from being exposed to Nazi propaganda normobilize all their resources to counter it. Before each new aggressive move by Germany, as for example, againstCzechoslovakia in 1938, the German press, radio and newsreels publicizedalleged evidence of persecution of German minorities in the victim country. ...
