page_title: Freedom of the press
section_title: Nazi Germany (1933–1945)
hierarchical_section_title: Freedom of the press / History / Europe / Nazi Germany (1933–1945)
caption_attribution_description: For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Joseph Goebbels ADN-ZB/Archiv Joseph Goebbels, faschistischer Politiker, Hauptkriegsverbrecher, geb. 29.10.1897 in Rheydt, gest. (Selbstmord) 1.5.1945 in Berlin. Er war u.a. Propagandaleiter der NSDAP, Reichspropagandaminister (seit 1933) und "Reichsbevollmächtigter für den totalen Kriegseinsatz" (seit 1944). Unterstützt vom Finanzkapital, baute Goebbels das Propagandaministerium zum Lenkungsorgan der faschistischen Meinungsmanipulation aus. (Aufn.: 1942/Sandau) Abgebildete Personen: Goebbels, Joseph: Reichsminister für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda, Gauleiter Berlin, Deutschland
context_page_description: Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the principle that communication and expression through various media, including printed and electronic media, especially published materials, should be considered a right to be exercised freely. Such freedom implies the absence of interference from an overreaching state; its preservation may be sought through constitution or other legal protection and security.
  With respect to governmental information, any government may distinguish which materials are public or protected from disclosure to the public. State materials are protected due to either of 2 reasons: the classification of information as sensitive, classified or secret, or the relevance of the information to protecting the national interest. Many governments are also subject to "sunshine laws" or freedom of information legislation that are used to define the ambit of national interest and enable citizens to request access to government-held information.
context_section_description: In 1933 freedom of the press was suppressed in Nazi Germany by the Reichstag Fire Decree of President Paul von Hindenburg, just as Adolf Hitler was coming to power. Hitler suppressed freedom of the press through Joseph Goebbels' Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. The Ministry acted as a central control point for all media, issuing orders as to what stories could be run and what stories would be suppressed. Anyone involved in the film industry - from directors to the lowliest assistant - had to sign an oath of loyalty to the Nazi Party, due to opinion-changing power Goebbels perceived movies to have. (Goebbels himself maintained some personal control over every single film made in Nazi Europe.) Journalists who crossed the Propaganda Ministry were routinely imprisoned.
caption: Joseph Goebbels' Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda was a driving force of suppressing freedom of the press in Nazi Germany.
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