The race to achieve quick victory during the WWII
called for the utilization of all available means of attaining it. Some of
these tactics proved to be lethal and disastrous whereas others were rather
psychological but effective. The use of propaganda by both the Axis and the
Allies secured them just as much as guns and tanks did on the battlefields.
Propaganda is defined as the deliberate and systematic dissemination of facts, arguments,
lies, half-truths or rumors with the aim of shaping public opinion about a policy,
party or ideology. Techniques such as emotional appeal, use of misinformation
and repetitive messages were widely used during the war to reinforce the idea
that the opposing side were evil and fighting was for a better cause-to triumph
over those who sought to destroy their country. This essay tries
to shed light on how propaganda, employed by both the Axis and the Allies,
played a crucial role in shaping public opinion, boosting morale, and
sustaining war efforts during World War II.
Distortion of information in an effort to gain favor
and boost morale among the soldiers was done via art, music, films, radio and
the press. Everyone presented themselves to the people as just, innocent and
against the aggression caused unto them by the invading forces. Propelled by
the need to protect their motherland from invasion by the ‘evil monsters’ that
wanted to kill and undermine their sovereignty, most civilians found themselves
willingly enlisting when called upon to do so. They were ready to die for their
country. Through well-crafted messages, citizens were persuaded that they were
fighting for a noble cause.
One of the most notorious examples of propaganda in
WWII was Hitler's systematic campaign against the Jews. Hitler widely utilized
propaganda in form of misinformation and lies to get the masses to hate the
Jews and further his claim that they were the source of the problems that
Germany and Europe as a whole were facing. He formed the Reich Ministry of
Public Enlightenment and Propaganda to promote the idea that in order to save
Western civilization, Germany had to get rid of the Jews. Posters that
demonized Jews were plastered all over with hateful words and depictions. Jews
were accused of being carriers of the Typhus disease so as to justify their
segregation and isolation. Policies that ensured that Jews could be easily
identified within crowds were passed without much public uproar since the
government had already demonized Jews through tailored news reels, photographs
and posters.
Propaganda cannot spread as intended if there exist reliable
sources of information that one can cross-check from and Hitler knew that. He therefore
strictly regulated the dissemination of information ensuring that images and
newsreels that had the most potential to stir the masses against his enemies
were given priority. From a man who perfected his oratory skills coupled with
loads of propaganda, Germany was bound to witness the most heinous actions ever
committed to humanity while its citizens watched- hypnotized by the deceptive
and all-powerful Fuhrer. In his book the ‘Mein
Kampf,’ Hitler emphasizes on the use of few points repeatedly in order to
effectively spread propaganda among masses. Propaganda, according to his book,
is a true art if correctly used.
The Allies also found the use of propaganda as a
formidable tool in the ‘psy-war’. They used it to boost the morale of their
soldiers and rally the support of their citizens behind them. The British
Political Warfare Executive was tasked with disseminating propaganda and it is
fair enough to say that it did its best-not as good as Germany though if
comparisons are to be drawn. The former was more truthful to its people and
only saw it fit not to do so when it mattered. Using powerful transmitters, the
British transmitted its propaganda messages to German citizens using at least
forty pseudo-German radio stations. At times they resorted to dropping leaflets
behind enemy lines using artillery shells or by air. The leaflets contained
posters or a call to surrender-something that the Allies urged the enemy troops
to do in order to save their fallen nation. The Black Propaganda as it was
known, was however not as effective as anticipated for some reasons. Most
notable was the location in which the leaflets fell on-rural areas. Secondly,
Hitler’s propaganda had done much in convincing both the soldiers and the
civilians that the war was for a noble cause-the preservation of the Western
civilization. The relative ineffectiveness of British propaganda
compared to German efforts highlights the power of control over media and the
significance of pre-existing societal sentiments.
Franklin D.Roosevelt, the then president of the United
States, ensured that films, posters and cartoons that depicted Hitler and his
Allies as the aggressors and enemies of progress reached as many people as
possible through the Office of the War Information. The exaggerated portrayal
of the Axis forces appealed to the emotions of Americans for they readily
availed themselves for conscription to fight for their motherland.
Propaganda played a pivotal role in WWII, achieving
remarkable results, particularly when propagandists mastered the art of
appealing to the emotions and convictions of their audiences. By persuading
people to act in ways they might ordinarily resist, propaganda became an
indispensable tool in the wartime arsenal. However, as J.A.C. Brown, author of Techniques of Persuasion, said,
"propaganda is successful only when directed at those who are willing to
listen, absorb the information, and if possible act on it, and this happens
only when the other side is in a condition of lowered morale and is already
losing the campaign".
In conclusion, the effective use of propaganda during
WWII not only shaped the course of the war but also left a lasting legacy on
how we understand and remember this global conflict
Productive content 💯
ReplyDelete