Were the concentration camps used as propaganda by Nazis?

by send_nood_z

We all know how Nazis committed horrible deeds in the concentration camps. Given the terrible nature of these atrocities, were these types of things ever shown/ made known to general German people? Were non-Jews able to see those camps or were they completely sealed off from public eye? What was public perception towards these camps (did people have watered down perception of what actually happened there)? Also, were these concentration camps part of propaganda or were these the ultimate aim of Hitler?

Holy_Shit_HeckHounds