Hitler and the Nazi Cult of Film and Fame

Description

Hitler's rise to power in Germany owed much to the creation of his own celebrity. Hitler believed he was an artist, not a politician, and in his Germany politics and culture became one. This celebrity was cultivated and nurtured by Joseph Goebbels, Germany's supreme head of culture. Hitler and Goebbels enjoyed the company of beautiful female film stars, and Goebbels had his own 'casting couch'. In Germany's version of Hollywood there were scandals, starlets and secret agents, premieres and party politics, and an actress who was the key to killing Hitler. In Nazi Germany, the cult of celebrity was the embodiment of Hitler's style of cultural governing. The country's greatest celebrities, whether they were actors, writers or musicians, could be one of only two things: if they were compliant they were lauded and awarded status symbols for the regime, but if they resisted or were simply Jewish they were traitors to be interned and murdered. This book is the account of Hitler's fantasy of power and stardom, of the correlation between art, weapons and ambition.;Celebrity, sex and death -- In that hour -- Impurity of the blood -- His greatest role -- God's gift -- Hitler's publicist -- The holy family of the Third Reich -- Merchandising Adolf -- Seven chambers of culture -- Exodus -- Sleeper star -- The will to triumph -- Leading ladies of the Third Reich -- The singing spy -- The depths of hell -- The führer versus the phooey -- A reflection of Hitler -- Killing Hitler -- Time is broken -- The price -- The fall -- The final cut. Celebrity, sex and death -- In that hour -- Impurity of the blood -- His greatest role -- God's gift -- Hitler's publicist -- The holy family of the Third Reich -- Merchandising Adolf -- Seven chambers of culture -- Exodus -- Sleeper star -- The will to triumph -- Leading ladies of the Third Reich -- The singing spy -- The depths of hell -- The führer versus the phooey -- A reflection of Hitler -- Killing Hitler -- Time is broken -- The price -- The fall -- The final cut.