The decades of 1930 and 1940 were marked by the rise and fall of fascist regimes all over Europe. In spite of their ultranationalist orientation they did not isolate themselves from the world. The idea that these regimes are characterized by their anti-international nature- opposed to the communist international project- ...
(Show more)The decades of 1930 and 1940 were marked by the rise and fall of fascist regimes all over Europe. In spite of their ultranationalist orientation they did not isolate themselves from the world. The idea that these regimes are characterized by their anti-international nature- opposed to the communist international project- is a common-place idea that does not match the reality of intensely cultivated foreign relations. In fact, when we analyse the communication and interaction beyond the surface of diplomatic and mediatic discourse, we find evidence that there was an intense collaboration in the field of science.
In the context of World War II this colaboration was encouraged and stimulated by the German state. In peripheral countries, like Portugal or Spain, intellectuals and scientists looked at Germany as a country at the forefront of culture and technology. Germany sold arms, received military missions, sent trainers and received students in its universities. This was a relationship that sought to be global, to cover all scientific areas. This network, organized under the direction of Goebbels' Propaganda Ministry, was supported by the German institutions based in Portugal. They put the German "science" and "culture" at the service of the National Socialist propaganda.
Adolf Hitler argued strongly that the propaganda abroad should not be directed toward the "people's hearts", but to the intellectual scrutiny of the elite. As he wrote in Mein Kampf, instead of propaganda, Germany should aim at “scientific instruction” (Hitler, 1976, p 134). The Führer believed that if foreign students obtained their degrees in Germany, spending part of their youth there, they would become “friends forever”. this "good policy" (cited in Roper, 2000, p 421), according to Hitler, would help create a network of knowledge. In the case of Portuguese-German relations it ensured the circulation and transfer of knowledge and know-how between both fascist regimes.
In Portugal, German propaganda followed the guidelines issued by the Führer. Those relationships were, undoubtedly, stimulated by the status of Germany, as a country well-known for its excellence in science, philosophy and art. Through the promotion of visits, exhibitions and conferences, Germany sought to demonstrate its scientific and cultural superiority.
If one understands propaganda as «the promotion of a State in foreign countries so that its national creations are recognized and imitated» (Wilhelm Giese 1939/40), what is, then, the influence of ”German Science” and “German Culture” in Portugal? Which connections were forged and how?
This paper will focus on the instrumentalization of the German Culture and Science in order to achieve a political and ideological hegemony abroad. We will address the efficiency of this strategy for the emergence of an intellectual and scientific network between Portugal and Germany.
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