Argumentative Bedeutung von historischen Analogien in der nationalsozialistischen Propaganda während des Zweiten Weltkrieges. Einige Bemerkungen über Methodologie und Forschungsergebnisse eines Projekts

Basing on historical analogy, the paper analyzes the problem of argumentative manipulation in the Nazi propaganda during World War II.. The present study of propaganda texts took into account two types of linguistic manipulation: “explanation” and “justification”, both playing a crucial role in forming the German postures during World War II. The analysis showed that the Nazi propaganda made use of false historical analogies, i.e. it juxtaposed and compared incommensurable facts, patterns of behaviour, feats leading to victory, etc. The aim of the manipulative technique of false historical analogy, based on explanation and justification, was to boost the Germans’ “combative” morale. This was expected to be achieved by way of shaping the required postures: a complete submission to the Nazi leadership, the endurance vis-à-vis losses inflicted, combating apathy and defeatism, creating a psychological “distance” with respect to the crisis and losses. The justification of the war effort was done through spreading fear, creating the “endurance” posture, appealing to the “Prussian virtues”, etc. The forging of these postures was meant to keep the German nation in the spirit of constant “combative readiness”.