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Occupied Netherlands: How did German newspapers try to change public opinion?
During World War II, the German newspaper "Deutsche Zeitung in den Niederlanden" (DZN) was founded on June 5, 1940, and continued to be published during the five years of the German occupation of the Netherlands until May 5, 1945. Germany surrenders. The newspaper's main goal was to influence public opinion in the Netherlands, especially among Germans living in the Netherlands, to promote the intentions of the Nazi government. DZN was created not only to publish information, but also to combat the influence of local media in the Netherlands at the time.
Establishment and early stage of operation
DZN replaced the previous "Reichsdeutsche Nachrichten in den Niederlanden" when it was first established. As a predominantly German-language newspaper, DZN's publication was directly supported by the Nazi government and European publishing houses. In its early months, the newspaper's circulation only reached about 30,000 copies. However, as time went on, DZN's circulation gradually increased, eventually reaching 54,500 copies in 1942.
Content and supervision
As a newspaper, most of DZN's content is strongly influenced by the German authorities in its reports and articles. The newspaper contains a large amount of political news, economic reports and commentary on cultural events, but is relatively sparse in reporting local news in the Netherlands. Much of the content is official information from Germany, and its editorial department is composed of editors from Germany who lack understanding of the situation in the Netherlands.
"Most of DZN's content is mainly propaganda, trying to influence the Dutch people by beautifying the image of Germany."
Limited influence
Although DZN’s circulation in the Netherlands has grown, its actual impact on ordinary Dutch people is extremely limited. Many people were critical of the paper, believing it was simply part of the Nazi propaganda machine. DZN's content has been evaluated as highly repetitive and unoriginal, which makes it unable to attract a wide readership. In comparison, other more entertaining and educational avenues of publicity are more attractive to the Dutch public.
Ending and Thoughts
Eventually, with the UN attack and the liberation of the Netherlands, DZN ceased distribution in 1945, marking the end of German news control in the Netherlands. This historical event reminds us of the role and responsibility of the media in war. So, how does today’s media influence our opinions and choices?
