{"id":132,"date":"2022-01-04T20:45:36","date_gmt":"2022-01-04T20:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/his247su22\/?post_type=chapter&p=132"},"modified":"2025-05-22T16:56:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T16:56:00","slug":"wwii-propaganda","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/his2015\/chapter\/wwii-propaganda\/","title":{"raw":"3.2 WWII Propaganda","rendered":"3.2 WWII Propaganda"},"content":{"raw":"

WWII Propaganda Introduction<\/h2>\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"3406\"]\"Sketched \u201cWorld\u2019s Greatest Gangsters and Biggest Liars \u2013 Let\u2019s Hang them to a Sour Apple Tree \u2013 Hitler \u2013 Hirohito \u2013 Mussolini.\u201d Attribution: Daniel D. Teoli Jr., Archival Collection, CC BY-SA 4.0[\/caption]\r\n

According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica<\/em>:<\/p>\r\n

Propaganda is the more or less systematic effort to manipulate other people\u2019s beliefs, attitudes, or actions by means of symbols (words, gestures, banners, monuments, music, clothing, insignia, hairstyles, designs on coins and postage stamps, and so forth). Deliberateness and a relatively heavy emphasis on manipulation distinguish propaganda from casual conversation or the free and easy exchange of ideas. The propagandist has a specified goal or set of goals. To achieve these he deliberately selects facts, arguments, and displays of symbols and presents them in ways he thinks will have the most effect. To maximize effect, he may omit pertinent facts or distort them, and he may try to divert the attention of the reactors (the people whom he is trying to sway) from everything but his own propaganda. (Smith)<\/p>\r\n

The sections below highlight propaganda posters and cartoons produced during World War II by Germany, the U.S.S.R., Japan, and the U.S.A.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Germany<\/h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"243\"]\"Floating<\/a> Hitler 1932 Election Poster. Attribution: BBC.[\/caption]\r\n

BBC Gallery: Nazi Propaganda<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Van den vos Reynaerde<\/em>: In this short, the donkey represents democracy and the rhinoceros represents Jewish people. Although the rhinoceroses claim all animals share in the ideals of the French Revolution's doctrine of liberty, equality, and fraternity, they really consolidate power and usurp the donkeys. After taking over, they encourage the animals to rebel against natural order when they have children with one another (Barten).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union)<\/h2>\r\n\"For\r\n

This poster shows a Soviet soldier at full charge towards the enemy. The caption reads: \"For the Motherland, Honor, and Freedom!\"<\/a><\/p>\r\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6mTgQh0xVvg[\/embed]\r\n

\"Soviet WW2 Propaganda Cartoons Depicting Hitler.\"\u00a0YouTube.\u00a0<\/em>Accessed October 31, 2020. https:\/\/youtu.be\/6mTgQh0xVvg. 3:18.<\/p>\r\n

Kino-Circus<\/em>: In this short Soviet cartoon, a Charlie Chaplin-like character introduces us to three short satires on Hitler. In the first part, \u201cHitler the Dog Trainer and His Pooches,\u201d the dogs represent Mussolino, the leader of Italy; Horthy, the leader of Hungary; and Antonescu, the leader of Romania. In the second part \u201cHitler Visits Napoleon,\u201d Hitler visits Napoleon\u2019s tomb to ask for advice. In the third part \u201cAdolf the Juggler on Powder Kegs,\u201d the torchers represent the countries Hitler occupies (Grob).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Japan<\/h2>\r\n\"Described<\/a>\r\n

Image of a ghoulish President Roosevelt found on a Japanese propaganda poster. For more posters like this one, check out this\u00a0Japanese propaganda posters website.<\/a><\/p>\r\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Eu7_P5aIyzQ[\/embed]\r\n

\"Evil Mickey attacks Japan \u2013 A 1936 Japanese Animation.\"\u00a0YouTube\u00a0<\/em>1936. Accessed July 25, 2021. https:\/\/youtu.be\/Eu7_P5aIyzQ. 7:53.<\/p>\r\n

Evil Mickey Mouse<\/em>: In this short cartoon, the Japanese depict Mickey Mouse as a representation of American imperialist evil. Several Mickey Mouses invade a peaceful island riding bats and using crocodiles and snakes like machine guns. The islanders appeal to Japanese legends to defend them: Momotaro<\/em> the Peach Boy; Kintaro<\/em> the Golden Boy; Issun-boshi<\/em> the One Inch Boy; and Benkei<\/em> the Warrior Monk (Mills).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The U.S.A.<\/h2>\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"424\"]\"Described<\/a> August 1943 edition of Fantastic Four featuring a cover of a war bond defeating world leaders. Attribution: Wikipedia, Public Domain.[\/caption]\r\n

This August 1943 edition of a comic features a cover of a war bond defeating Mussolini, Hitler, and Tojo (leaders of Italy, Germany, and Japan, respectively). Access more American propaganda.<\/a><\/p>\r\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IzfnFeNPj1g[\/embed]\r\n

\"Commando Duck.\"\u00a0Disney.\u00a0<\/em>YouTube. 1944. Accessed October 31, 2020. https:\/\/youtu.be\/IzfnFeNPj1g. 6:52.<\/p>\r\n

Even Disney contributed to American propaganda. In this short, Donald Duck parachutes into Japanese territory\u00a0and destroys an enemy base. Take note of how Disney depicts the Japanese soldiers\u00a0[transcript of the 1944 video].<\/a>\u00a0Another Disney propaganda short was \"Education for Death<\/a>\" (transcript of the 1943 video<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Knowledge Check<\/h2>\r\nUse the following ungraded, self-check questions to confirm your learning for this module.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"4\"]\r\n

References<\/h2>\r\n

Barten, Egbert. \u201cDutch Anti-Semitic Colour Animation in World War II: Robert van Genechten\u2019s Van den vos Reynaerde (1943).\u201d Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television<\/em> 31 (2011): 1-41.<\/p>\r\n

Grob, Gijs. \u201cKino-Circus.\u201d Dr. Grob\u2019s Animation Review<\/em>. Accessed October 9, 2018. https:\/\/drgrobsanimationreview.com\/tag\/hitler\/.<\/p>\r\n

Mills, Ted. \u201c'Evil Mickey Mouse' Invades Japan in a 1934 Japanese Anime Propaganda Film.\u201d Open Culture<\/em>. Accessed October 9, 2018. https:\/\/www.openculture.com\/2016\/09\/evil-mickey-mouse-invades-japan-in-a-1934-japanese-anime-propaganda-film.html.<\/p>\r\n

Smith, Bruce Lannes. \u201cPropaganda.\u201d Encyclopaedia Britannica<\/em>. Accessed August 12, 2018.\u00a0https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/propaganda.<\/p>","rendered":"

WWII Propaganda Introduction<\/h2>\n
\"Sketched
\u201cWorld\u2019s Greatest Gangsters and Biggest Liars \u2013 Let\u2019s Hang them to a Sour Apple Tree \u2013 Hitler \u2013 Hirohito \u2013 Mussolini.\u201d Attribution: Daniel D. Teoli Jr., Archival Collection, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica<\/em>:<\/p>\n

Propaganda is the more or less systematic effort to manipulate other people\u2019s beliefs, attitudes, or actions by means of symbols (words, gestures, banners, monuments, music, clothing, insignia, hairstyles, designs on coins and postage stamps, and so forth). Deliberateness and a relatively heavy emphasis on manipulation distinguish propaganda from casual conversation or the free and easy exchange of ideas. The propagandist has a specified goal or set of goals. To achieve these he deliberately selects facts, arguments, and displays of symbols and presents them in ways he thinks will have the most effect. To maximize effect, he may omit pertinent facts or distort them, and he may try to divert the attention of the reactors (the people whom he is trying to sway) from everything but his own propaganda. (Smith)<\/p>\n

The sections below highlight propaganda posters and cartoons produced during World War II by Germany, the U.S.S.R., Japan, and the U.S.A.<\/p>\n

Germany<\/h2>\n
\"Floating<\/a>
Hitler 1932 Election Poster. Attribution: BBC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

BBC Gallery: Nazi Propaganda<\/a><\/p>\n

Van den vos Reynaerde<\/em>: In this short, the donkey represents democracy and the rhinoceros represents Jewish people. Although the rhinoceroses claim all animals share in the ideals of the French Revolution’s doctrine of liberty, equality, and fraternity, they really consolidate power and usurp the donkeys. After taking over, they encourage the animals to rebel against natural order when they have children with one another (Barten).<\/p>\n

U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union)<\/h2>\n

\"For<\/p>\n

This poster shows a Soviet soldier at full charge towards the enemy. The caption reads: “For the Motherland, Honor, and Freedom!”<\/a><\/p>\n