Unit 4: Triumph of the Will

Triumph of the Will, created by Leni Riefenstahl, is a propaganda film targeted towards Germans to influence them to accept Adolf Hitler and the Nazi movement. The film was created to make it seem as though becoming a Nazi was not only heroic and patriotic, but also pleasurable and exhilarating. Throughout the film, the idea of unity, peace, and happiness was stressed immensely. Hitler was portrayed as an admirable and important individual. He was idolized and placed on the highest of pedestals.  For example, there were times in the film where the camera would be focused on his waving gesture to the crowd. The gesture became a symbol for Hitler’s acknowledgement of the people, blessing, and religious overtones. The content within the film presents Hitler as a loving, trustworthy hero of the German people. It is presented in such a manner that it would be almost impossible for the Germans to receive a horrid thought about him. This propaganda film, despite the fact of it highlighting a murderous individual, achieved its goal in winning over the German population. The style of the film was key. The music was soothing and patriotic, the setting was based on the old Nuremburg which evokes proudness from the German viewer, the happiness of the people within the film was emphasized, the abundance of scarce items such as food was emphasized, etc. Each aspect influenced the other and overall, won over the German population, leading them to accept the Nazi movement and Hitler, not knowing the real intentions of his plans.