Little Booted Feet

Throwing around the label of fascism and comparing people to Hitler is a very serious matter. On one hand, we’re talking about a personality who is undoubtedly at the top of the global historical rankings of evil—any revival of his image or his ideas deserves full attention. On the other hand, it has become common practice that any mention of fascism or Hitler, even when not entirely far-fetched, is automatically dismissed as exaggerated or unfounded. In either case, these matters should not be taken lightly. It is just as irresponsible to recklessly wave such comparisons around in an attempt to discredit an opponent when we’ve run out of arguments, as it is naive—or blind—not to recognize in someone who walks and squawks like a fascist something more than just an innocent little duck.

In a recent and widely discussed case, a journalist from Germany’s public broadcaster ARD was compared to Nazi propaganda outlets. He was accused of censorship in the style of Der Stürmer—and Pravda, for good measure. Soviet propaganda is a topic for another day—agitprop had teeth too—but let’s focus here on the legacy of Der Stürmer and its editor, Julius Streicher. The comparison raised quite a few eyebrows in Europe. But since such important matters shouldn’t be judged hastily or offhand, I suggest we take a closer look—and then everyone can decide for themselves whether that tweet truly echoed the spirit of Der Stürmer or Pravda.

Let’s start with ARD, or as Germans succinctly call it, the Consortium of Public Broadcasters of the Federal Republic of Germany. ARD has nothing in common with Der Stürmer*except that it was founded in 1950 by the Allies precisely as the antithesis to Hitler’s propaganda machine. That machine, in addition to the official Nazi Party organ Völkischer Beobachter, prominently included the "independent" Der Stürmer. This Nuremberg-based newspaper, which reached nearly half a million readers before World War II, was at one point too radical even for the Nazis, who had to temporarily restrict its sale in Berlin during the 1936 Olympics. Believe it or not, Der Stürmer even published children’s stories portraying Jews as invasive parasites and threats to the German people that needed exterminating. If that reminds you of something, it’s probably not ARD—but it is undeniably outrageous. Imagine if a Slovenian outlet today published children’s tales with similar content?

Some Nazi elites disliked Der Stürmer because of its "humorous" tone, sexually explicit content, and scandalous reporting. It especially irked Hermann Göring, as the paper published an article claiming one of his daughters was conceived via artificial insemination—hardly in line with the image of a "true" Aryan male who wouldn’t need a test tube for reproduction. Göring would likely have had a few choice words for Der Stürmer's editor Julius Streicher had they walked together from their Nuremberg prison cells to the gallows—but Göring avoided that final stroll by swallowing a cyanide capsule just hours beforehand. Streicher, who didn’t take the pill, walked to the gallows shouting loyalty to the Führer, and in his final breath, uttered the cryptic phrase: "Purim fest 1946"—and departed to Valhalla. The meaning of that phrase was deciphered only a decade ago by French authors Bernard Benyamin and Yohan Perez in their book Le code d’Esther. Heil Hitler and conspiracy theories—go hand in hand for nearly a century now.

Hitler was more sympathetic to Der Stürmer than some of his Nazi comrades. Its weekly dose of unhinged anti-Semitism aligned perfectly with his political paradigm. While he didn’t publicly praise the paper, it’s said he eagerly awaited each new issue to indulge in its rabid propaganda. It was especially popular among key supporters—young and less educated citizens—who found in its content a toxic mix of hatred and crude humour.

Der Stürmer effectively embodied all five pillars of Hitler’s propaganda doctrine, as identified by American communication scholars Garth Jowett and Victoria O'Donnell in their 1986 book Propaganda and Persuasion. Here's the breakdown:

1. Avoid abstract ideas—appeal to emotions. What better than a cocktail of tabloid scandal, pure hatred, and sexually explicit filth? That blend—then and now—satisfies the full spectrum of emotional needs for a certain part of the population.

2. Repeat a few simple ideas constantly—use stereotypes. This strategy outlived Der Stürmer and its editor’s grim fate. Authoritarian propaganda doesn’t speak to reason, but to blind loyalty. The ritualistic incantation of simple slogans is a staple of any self-respecting cult. It induces a trance-like state in followers, allowing them to parrot their leader’s mantras as proof of absolute devotion—no thinking, no critique, no doubt.

3. Present only one side of the argument. Quality propaganda can’t afford objectivity.

4. Constantly attack your opponents. The key word is constantly. Daily, relentless bombardment of the public—now supercharged by social media—is essential to propaganda’s success. Continuous venom, insults, and accusations, with no regard for truth or fact, dulls the public’s senses and overwhelms the targets, who no longer know when or how to respond. One scandalous, slanderous dog whistle is instantly replaced by another, even more absurd and vile.

5. Pick a specific enemy to humiliate most intensely. For Der Stürmer and the Nazis, that was the Jews. Today, the targets are LGBTQ+ people, migrants, women, political opponents—and yes, Jews still get scapegoated too, often under the poorly disguised guise of attacking Soros or supposed "global financial conspiracies" threatening the purity and survival of the nation.

Hitler’s bullet points were operationalized into detailed instructions by his chief propagandist Joseph Goebbels. In his diary, he offered further advice: all propaganda should come from a single centre of authority; it should amplify reactions the audience already has; it doesn’t matter whether the message is true or false—only whether it’s effective. Lies may have short legs, but if they wear jackboots, they can still kneel on the neck of truth.

The lies and hatred of Der Stürmer paved the way for a crime in which millions were murdered. That was a time we thought we had left behind—and learned something from. Today, it often feels like that’s no longer the case. When history starts to repeat itself, we can’t just shrug and look away.

A journalist from German public television was accused of channelling the ideological legacy of Der Stürmer. That’s a serious charge. If you truly recognize that legacy in his reporting, that’s cause for grave concern.