Joesph's Speech

            The aim of this highly charged address to a group of men and women.
             (approximately 200,000) is to motivate them into supporting the Nazi Party.
             It is Goebbels' belief that he can make them see the 'crimes' of the current.
             government, as he says, he wants them to "give.(their) verdict on the past.
             14 years." The reader is given the sense that Goebbels is a person concerned.
             for the well being of his country. He opens by stating that he is ".a.
             representative of the greatest movement of millions." The intention of this.
             statement, we can assume, is to portray himself to the audience as one of.
             them. Thus, what he has to say will be more credible because he shares their.
             desires and fears. He also doesn't appear to be dictating to them what they.
             should think because he finishes the opening paragraph by saying, " you must.
             decide if the men and parties that are responsible for these past 14 years.
             should have the right to continue to hold power." It is important to notice.
             that Goebbels isn't giving the people the option to decide on whether or not.
             the other parties are guilty. This would be of no help to his cause. In.
             order to overthrow the Reichstag, he must have the audience believing the.
             same as the Nazi party.
             One of Goebbels' main points is that the destruction Germany suffered was.
             under the government during the period following World War One and up to.
             Hitler's acquisition of power in 1933. His evocative and violent description.
             of what the government had reduced Germany to, gives the reader the.
             impression of an animal with its carcass torn and mutilated. This is very.
             successful in damaging an Opposition's credit. Using phrases such as.
             ".nation's fortune is squandered." and ".divided by the bleeding wound.".
             leave his audience in little doubt about the dire consequences that Germany.
             was left to suffer. Nor would these situations have been new to his.
             audience, therefore, reinforcing them only further strengthens the.
             desperation of the situation.