Churchill and Goebbels: Winning The War

Winston Churchill and Joseph Goebbels had very similar ideals on the concept of winning the war. They both believed that if their citizens were united, did all they could possibly do, and have faith in their leader, they would overcome the obstacles of war and bounce back stronger.

Churchill and Goebbels felt very strongly about a nation’s unity. If all the citizens were not of one accord then everything would fall apart. This means that everything that Churchill has to say and everything that Goebbels has to say is correct and all the citizens should just accept it (sarcasm). Goebbels believe that the Germans gathered in such a great mass to “display” their “unity” and “unanimity” as well as “strong will to overcome the difficulties” they “faced in the fourth year of the war.” In Goebbels eyes, if they were not on the same page about war, they would not get far and basically lose the war as well as all human civilization. Churchill believes that his nation should just “go forward together with” their “united strength.” If some citizens were weaker than others, meaning not progressing towards the war, then they would not be in unity and Churchill’s war efforts would crumble. That is why Churchill and Goebbels want everyone to be unified because then there will be a nice flow through the country and also no problems on top of an already brutal war.

Goebbels and Churchill also felt passionately about everyone pulling their own weight. This meaning that everyone does everything they possibly can to contribute to the war efforts. Goebbels is notorious for this kind of thinking. Churchill knows that they are in “one of the greatest battles in history” so therefore he knows that “many preparations have to be made here at home.” This is a great strategy to use on a big crowd of people who you want to follow you. Churchill makes them feel like it is their obligation to participate in the war efforts since it is such a drastic war. Goebbels does a fantastic job at this strategy as well. The only difference is that he actually adds action to force people to get involved in the war. Goebbels understands “what an example German soldier have set in this great age! And what an obligation it puts on us all, particularly the entire German homeland!” so he closed down bars and night clubs, “countless luxury stores”, and makes people “work until the work is done”. Basically he cuts off all happiness for the German citizens so that they had no choice but to participate in the war effort.

Goebbels and Churchill also wanted their citizens to have faith in them. Goebbels let his people know that “the leadership’s measures are in full agreement with the desires of the German people at home and at the front.” That makes the citizens rely on him more and trust him. The same goes with Churchill; he lets his citizens know that he takes “up his task with buoyancy and hope” and that he feels “sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men.” This makes the citizens feel as if he really know what he is speaking about and that if they do work hard they will win. He gained their trust and they gave him their safety.