The Role of Propaganda
Every war involves propaganda, and World War II saw plenty of it on both sides. It took many forms — posters, advertising, songs, comic books, comic strips, newsreel shorts, and even motion pictures — and was used to educate and influence both civilian populations and the men fighting on the front.
The word propaganda comes from the Italian Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide (Sacred Congregation for Propagating Faith), a papal organization that spread the Christian faith. The primary goal of propaganda as we know it today is to strengthen and enforce core beliefs and sway public opinion.
Figure 17-3 An American wartime poster.
Photo courtesy of the National Archives (44-PA-531)
The Nazis used propaganda in two ways: to spread and preserve the basic doctrines of Nazism and to dehumanize “inferior” groups such as the Jews so that it would be easier for the German people to hate and exterminate them. Joseph Goebbels, chief of Nazi propaganda, was a master of the art form. He used every medium at his disposal to blanket Germany and the conquered lands with pro-Nazi propaganda. Goebbels found the radio to be particularly effective, and so almost every German family had at least one radio — specially constructed so that it was not able to receive anti-Nazi broadcasts from Great Britain and elsewhere.
The success of the Nazi propaganda machine was tremendous. Hitler was elevated to the status of national savior based solely on Goebbels's tight control of the national press and his skill at turning political rallies into full-blown multimedia events.
The Allies also relied heavily on propaganda. In the United States, posters proved most effective at influencing public opinion and maintaining morale. On the home front, they encouraged Americans to buy war bonds, write to GIs on the front, give blood, donate scrap materials to the war effort, do their best at war-production jobs (“He can't fix guns in the air! Build 'em right! Keep 'em firing!”), and carpool to conserve gasoline (“When you ride alone, you ride with Hitler! Join a car-sharing club today!”).
One of Japan's less successful propaganda campaigns involved a series of English-speaking women who broadcast music and misinformation to Allied troops via the radio. Servicemen nicknamed the friendly, faceless voice “Tokyo Rose.” She aimed to damage Allied morale by reporting incorrect casualty figures and tales of infidelity back home. Most servicemen paid little attention, though they did enjoy the accompanying dance music.
As in Nazi Germany, Allied propaganda posters were also used to reduce the enemy to subhuman status, thus making it easier for servicemen to kill them. In addition, the military used posters to remind soldiers of the importance of maintaining their equipment (“His rifle will fire . . . will mine? Care of arms is care of life.”) and the need to avoid careless talk (“Keep mum . . . she's not so dumb! Careless talk costs lives!”).
