The Nazi Technique for Bringing a Nation to War

"Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some
poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when
the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm
in one piece? Naturally the common people don't want war;
neither in Russia, nor in England; nor for that matter
in Germany.

That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of
the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple
matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy,
or a fascist dictatorship.

Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the
bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is
tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers
for their lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.
It works the same in any country."

- Herman Goering, Nazi General

"All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual
level that even the most stupid of those toward whom it is directed
will understand it. People can be made to perceive paradise as hell,
and the other way round, to consider the most wretched sort of life
as paradise."
- Adolph Hitler, in Mein Kampf