Extract
[...] Brasillach, Ed Plon _ P. 343-346 Introduction The years preceding the Second World War see the rise in Europe of numerous nationalist and fascist movements, which in certain countries such as Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy will come to power, offering then a source of inspiration for the extreme right-wing leagues of the remaining democratic nations, but also for many nationalist intellectuals, such as Robert Brasillach. Brasillach, a French journalist, writer, and film critic of the first half of the 20th century (1909-1945) and editor-in-chief from 1937 of 'Je Suis Partout', is not, however, committed to the Nazi cause. [...]
[...] Brasillach, as a Frenchman, could certainly arrive in Germany with more defined opinions on the Nazi regime. Yet, the testimony he provides is first and foremost one of fascination, whether it is with the way this thought has been uniformized, but also by the spectacle effects used to serve Nazi propaganda and of which he testifies to the real effect they have on him. We see, such a spectacle is intended to mark the minds: for any foreign observer, this is both an ode to the Nazi ideology and a warning as to its peculiar character. [...]
[...] The Nazi party, contesting parliamentary democracy and the divisions it would have brought to the country since the 1920s, wants to unify the people, in order to discipline them more than ever to build a new society and to make Germany a new European power. This massive manipulation, through the spectacle and evocation of common references, seems to Brasillach to be bearing fruit. This is particularly apparent when observing the submission made to the Führer in a cult of personality characteristic of totalitarianism. II- The Exaltation of the Cult of Personality A crowd won over to Hitler As we have seen, the Congress brings together a public entirely converted to the same ideology. [...]
[...] Brasillach therefore appears impressed by the place in which he finds himself, as he describes it: 'an immense stadium has been built, in this quasi-Mycenaean architecture that is appreciated by the Third Reich' - Mycenae referring to ancient Greece, whose architectural splendor is well known. In addition, the stadium 'can hold a thousand people seated, in the arena two or three hundred thousand'. Such a capacity for hosting - naturally, the stadium is full - clearly shows the objective of the Nazi party events: far from the closed meeting, it is a matter of these Congresses contributing to propaganda, which is done first by addressing the population. Living this type of event (light show, Führer's speech . [...]
[...] The effect of the orator on his audience Finally, it is worth recalling that if everything is done to highlight the superior character of the Führer, and if the crowd is already won over to him, Hitler himself knows remarkably well how to use the speech. Brasillach, who had strongly criticized Nazism just a short time ago, finds himself marked by 'Hitler's speech, which stirs up waves of outstretched arms and cries in this silent crowd,' to which he testifies to the attention paid by all. Hitler, in fact, uses a very strong elocution to convey his emotions to the crowd, which he evokes in his speeches the greatness of Germany, his hatred for Jews, communists . [...]
