Hartman, an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of South Florida, explores the role of three Nazi feature films and their influence as propaganda meant to make genocide acceptable to the German public during Hitler's Third Reich (1933-1945). Hartman writes in his introduction, "In this book I shall address five major questions related to the role of propaganda in the promotion of racist ideology and social violence..." His five primary goals (in a nutshell) are "understanding the emotional basis of the ideology of antisemitism;" exploring how these ideas are "translated into mass media like film, television, and the internet;" ascertaining the emotional appeal of the propaganda to both supporters and average citizens; exploring the role of propaganda to move people to "social action, including violence;" and finally, discussion of what the antidotes to racist propaganda might be.

While Hartman discusses the evolution of more recent genocides in Cambodia, Myanmar, Rwanda, and Yugoslavia, among others, his primary focus in this volume is upon three Nazi feature films: Triumph of the Will (Triumph des Willen,1935), The Eternal Jew (Der ewige Jude, 1940), and Suss the Jew (Jud Süß, 1940). The author also explored these Nazi films in three separate studies and appears to be a respected academic authority on them. "This present work," Hartman writes, "represents an effort to apply the integration of cognitive science, social psychology, and psychoanalysis to the study of large groups using racist propaganda film as the evidential focus."

This volume thoroughly explores and defines propaganda, beginning with a deep dive into its definitions and historical perspectives, including Hitler's theory of propaganda, which he devoted two chapters to in his autobiographical manifesto, Mein Kampf. The narrative builds on substantial prior work, so the author's statements are well cited, and the book has a robust bibliography of primary and secondary sources. Clearly, the publication is the work of many months, if not years. While the book is an academic treatment aimed at students and researchers, it is also reasonably accessible to casual readers interested in the topic.

The seven thematic chapters are substantial and follow a flowing, logical, and analytical progression from a study of individual ideology to the social phenomenon of group ideology in chapters one and two. Hartman writes, "The purpose of this chapter [2] is to show how the propagandist appeals to the audience through the creation of myths that become interwoven both with political ideology and with unconscious fantasies..." The chapter focuses on Leni Riefenstahl's 1934 film, Triumph of the Will, which the author sees as an "example of a shared utopian fantasy underpinning the ideology of the Nazi Party." The following chapter takes this theme a step further, inserting the element of race and Hitler's vision and prophecy of an apocalyptic struggle to elevate the Reich, and the lies and myths he offered to create and sustain his shared fantasy.

The author then delves into the two Nazi propaganda films released in 1940, beginning with the making of Suss the Jew and a plot summary, with analysis of group psychology described in the first chapter, with some comparison to The Birth of a Nation (1915), the infamous, racist US film. Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, considered The Eternal Jew "to be a propaganda masterpiece." The lengthy analysis of these two films is thoughtful and thorough. The author then explores propaganda in tandem with genocide and the question of how effective Nazi propaganda was in contributing to the Holocaust, with the conclusion of many scholars being that these films contributed greatly to the myth of Hitler as a great leader. Practically speaking, the German public had mixed reactions to the films, particularly to the more outrageous of the pair, The Eternal Jew. Hartman thoroughly explores and explains previous scholarship on the topic and presents a multi-point summary.

Hartman comes full circle to "offer some tentative thoughts about countering antisemitic propaganda in our own time and place," with recommendations for "near term, intermediate term, and for the long term." Because propaganda appeals to consumers' emotions, education and factual evidence can be overwhelmed by untruths. Hartman's discussion of this phenomenon includes a historical overview and practical solutions to educate the public and enable legislatures and courts to effectively address hate speech and revenge narratives. This small but salient volume is a welcome addition to the body of work addressing the Holocaust and propaganda. It will also likely be warmly welcomed by readers and researchers interested in history, sociology, and film studies.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

A 2026 Eric Hoffer Book Award Nominee

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