The Yad Vashem centre has an article online about Nazi propagandas part of its Shoah resource centre. Here are some salient excerpts:

In his book, Mein Kampf, Hitler described his perspective on propaganda. He explained that propaganda is not meant to be used on scientifically trained intellectuals because, as propaganda is not logical, rational, or scientific, the intellectuals will not be swayed by it. Rather, he said, propaganda is meant for the masses who cannot comprehend logic and intellect, but can be convinced of anything if their emotions are manipulated. Hitler further stated that since the masses have very little intelligence and are quite forgetful, the key to propaganda is to keep repeating the same ideas over and over again until they are understood by and engraved on the mind of even the slowest person. ...

In March 1933, just two months after he came to power, Hitler created the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, and appointed Joseph Goebbels Propaganda Minister. The ministry was divided into seven sections, mirroring the methods used by the Nazis to spread their ideas: radio; the press; films; theater; adult education (which included literature); administration and organization; and propaganda. ...

Goebbels himself stated the fundamental idea behind the Nazis' propaganda machine: "the great mass of people in the simplicity of their hearts are more easily taken in by a big lie than by a little one."

If you've never seen it and you're interested in this subject, you should check out Leni Reifenstahl's Triumph of the Will, (Google Video has it online), which documented the Nazi party's 1934 rally in Nuremberg. Then compare some of the images there to the shots of modern political conventions.

If you look at modern political communications today, you can see other echoes of the Nazis' pioneering techniques living on. Human beings are no more immune to propaganda today than they were in the 1930s.

PS

CBC Radio One's Q recently had a guest on who had written a book on totalitarian art of the 20th century, but do you think I can remember who or when he was on?

To my eternal shame, I cannot do so.

Addendum

Q is cool! The show replied on Monday to my query sent early this morning:

It was called Iron Fists: Branding the 20th-century Totalitarian State
by Steven Heller, but because it was a repeat broadcast, it didn't make
the Oct 30 edition of our podcast: sorry!
Q