Political communication through iconographic propaganda posters as potential components of female perpetrated violence in WWII Germany

Abstract

This dissertation looks at World War II Germany’s visual political
communication in the form of propaganda posters and the potential connection to
increased female perpetrated violence. Chapter one introduces the history and theory
of propaganda, followed by methods of assessing efficacy on the masses. Nazi
propaganda characteristics and themes are explored in chapter two and are analysed in
propaganda poster exemplars representing overall themes observed during content
analysis. These propaganda messages and themes are then connected to violent
behaviour during the Third Reich by comparing behaviour and dissent with the
official Nazi Party political communication. The final chapter explores female
representations in the poster art, how they are incorporated into a gender equal (if not
opportunity equal) national community by the propaganda, and their role in Nazi
German violence.