I aim to make a small booklet in the style of a ration book which shows different pieces of powerful WWII propaganda. The ration book not only fits with the concept of war but also with the idea of propaganda only feeding you a certain amount of information. The government give you the information which tells you what to think about the war; much like a ration book, they limit the amount you get.
Propaganda:
"information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view"
Professionals have called it the fourth front of warfare, comparing its strategic importance to military campaigns, diplomatic negotiations, and economic sanctions. No one has claimed that the tide of conflict has been turned solely by leaflets, radio broadcasts, posters, or psychological ploys but there is little doubt that propaganda has been a powerful weapon in the arsenal of war. During World War Two, propagandists exhorted citizens at home to produce more, keep their lips shut, and hate the enemy; at the front they sought to strengthen the morale of their own troops and weaken the enemy's will to fight.
- Propaganda, The art of persuasion WWII
Just eight days after having been elected as Chancellor of Germany, Hitler established the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda and appointed Joseph Goebbels as its head. Their objective was to spread Nazi ideology throughout the globe, and maintain an iron-fisted control over every aspect of German society and culture. One department dealt exclusively with German and international newspapers. Other departments worked on assigned portfolios such as Budget, Law, Propaganda, Radio, Film, Personal, Defence, International, Theatre, Music, Literature, Visual Arts, and Tourism. In 1933 the fledgling Ministry had only five departments and 350 employees but by 1939 at the start of World War II there were 2,000 employees in 17 departments. Quite noteworthy is that between 1933 and 1941 the Ministry's propaganda budget skyrocketed from 14 million to 187 million Reichsmarks.
Quotes
"Nothing is easier than leading the people on a leash. I just hold up a dazzling campaign poster and they jump through it" - Joseph Goebbels
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1930's "Germany Lives" K. Stauber
The German people looked up to him as their only hope for the restoration of their national pride and readily embraced everything that he said believing it to be the Gospel truth. The German people saw him as the only leader who was capable of restoring Germany to glory. This propaganda poster underscored by the inscription "Long live Germany" depicted Hitler as a savior to the nation. It illustrates a silhouette of the German eagle as if it were descending from the heavens, like the dove which descended upon Jesus Christ at his Baptism. Nazi propaganda projected Hitler as the very embodiment of the German nation.
“Children, what do you know of the Fuhrer?”
1933: Jewish students and teachers expelled from schools
“The Jewish nose is bent. It looks like the number six…”
Der Sturmer Newspapers
Der Sturmer was the most vehemently anti-Semitic newspaper in Nazi Germany. This image was the front page of its May 1934 issue which depicted a caricature of Jewish men collecting the blood of Christian children for a religious ritual. It was one of many anti-Semitic slurs against the Jews and included accusations of pornography, anti-capitalism and anti-catholicism. Jews were portrayed as ugly characters with grotesque facial features and misshapen bodies. The publisher of the tabloid, Julius Streicher, promoted the myth of blood libel which had originated during the Middle Ages. It claimed that Jews killed Christian children, sacrificed them and drank their blood.
Superior Race
Fundamental to Nazi ideology was the myth of the "master race" exemplified by the white skin, and blue-eyed blondes of the German and Nordic peoples, and with it came the notion of safeguarding the purity of their race as a means to preserve their cultural superiority in the world of mongrels.
KEEP MUM SHE'S NOT SO DUMB Created in 1941, Keep Mum She’s Not so Dumb, is typical of Second World War British propaganda attempts to instill caution in the public through humorous, memorable slogans, rather than through fear-inducing images of spies and saboteurs. 'Keep Mum' was another way of saying be quiet and don't say anything.
A Clear Plate Means a Clear Conscience - Don't Take More Than You Can EatA plate with cutlery on a checked table-cover. Reminding people not to be greedy and only take what they can eat. It also helps to reinforce the idea that simple everyday actions can help win the war; everyone feels involved.
Professionals have called it the fourth front of warfare, comparing its strategic importance to military campaigns, diplomatic negotiations, and economic sanctions. No one has claimed that the tide of conflict has been turned solely by leaflets, radio broadcasts, posters, or psychological ploys but there is little doubt that propaganda has been a powerful weapon in the arsenal of war. During World War Two, propagandists exhorted citizens at home to produce more, keep their lips shut, and hate the enemy; at the front they sought to strengthen the morale of their own troops and weaken the enemy's will to fight.
- Propaganda, The art of persuasion WWII
Just eight days after having been elected as Chancellor of Germany, Hitler established the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda and appointed Joseph Goebbels as its head. Their objective was to spread Nazi ideology throughout the globe, and maintain an iron-fisted control over every aspect of German society and culture. One department dealt exclusively with German and international newspapers. Other departments worked on assigned portfolios such as Budget, Law, Propaganda, Radio, Film, Personal, Defence, International, Theatre, Music, Literature, Visual Arts, and Tourism. In 1933 the fledgling Ministry had only five departments and 350 employees but by 1939 at the start of World War II there were 2,000 employees in 17 departments. Quite noteworthy is that between 1933 and 1941 the Ministry's propaganda budget skyrocketed from 14 million to 187 million Reichsmarks.
Quotes
"Nothing is easier than leading the people on a leash. I just hold up a dazzling campaign poster and they jump through it" - Joseph Goebbels
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The German people looked up to him as their only hope for the restoration of their national pride and readily embraced everything that he said believing it to be the Gospel truth. The German people saw him as the only leader who was capable of restoring Germany to glory. This propaganda poster underscored by the inscription "Long live Germany" depicted Hitler as a savior to the nation. It illustrates a silhouette of the German eagle as if it were descending from the heavens, like the dove which descended upon Jesus Christ at his Baptism. Nazi propaganda projected Hitler as the very embodiment of the German nation.
This Hitler Youth poster shows Adolf Hitler interacting with a group of young Germans. The caption reads, “Children, what do you know of the Fuhrer?” In the poster, the usually much more sternly portrayed dictator is depicted as an approachable figure – although still an authoritative one – who is friendly towards children.
Hitler understood that his power depended on every German citizen regarding him as infallible and following his word above written law – the so-called “leader principle,” or Führerprinzip. This commonly led to Hitler being portrayed as a messianic, almost god-like figure.
1933: Jewish students and teachers expelled from schools
This poster references the expulsion of Jewish teachers and students from German schools. From 1933, the numbers of Jewish students in public schools was limited, supposedly due to overcrowding.
In this picture, we can see that the Jewish characters have been given negative stereotypical characteristics like large noses, bent postures, and generally undesirable demeanors. These strategically planned caricatures were designed to distinguish Jews from the Aryan ideal and to create an image of inferiority and untrustworthiness.
“Every Girl Belongs to Us”
This poster shows a smiling young member of the League of German Girls, an organisation designed to indoctrinate young women by instilling them with the values of Nazi Germany and preparing them for motherhood. Like their male counterparts, the girls also had to be able to partake in strenuous physical activities.
German children were particularly important propaganda targets, especially through the institutions of schools and education. By 1936, 97 percent of German teachers belonged to the National Socialist Teachers League. Children, meanwhile, belonged to government organizations from the age of 10.
Until the collapse of the Nazi system in 1945, many children had lived their entire lives on a perpetual diet of government propaganda. The situation was so bad that a prolonged period of “denazification” was necessary.
This illustration comes from the book Der Giftpilz, which was published in 1938 and was intended for children. The book aimed to increase anti-Semitism by teaching youngsters negative myths about Jewish people.
In the scene, a class is taught how to recognize the supposed physical characteristics of Jews. They are taught that the Jewish nose is hooked like the number six. Other attributes mentioned in the story are puffy lips, fleshy eyelids, and a “deceitful” look. Towards the end of the book, it is also claimed that Jewish people were responsible for the murder of Jesus, who is called their greatest enemy.
The publisher of the book, Julius Streicher, was additionally responsible for the rabidly anti-Semitic newspaper Der Stürmer. Streicher’s propaganda was so extreme that, following the war, he was judged to be responsible for dehumanizing the Jews in the lead-up to the Holocaust. He was found guilty at the Nuremberg trials and was executed in October 1946.
Der Sturmer was the most vehemently anti-Semitic newspaper in Nazi Germany. This image was the front page of its May 1934 issue which depicted a caricature of Jewish men collecting the blood of Christian children for a religious ritual. It was one of many anti-Semitic slurs against the Jews and included accusations of pornography, anti-capitalism and anti-catholicism. Jews were portrayed as ugly characters with grotesque facial features and misshapen bodies. The publisher of the tabloid, Julius Streicher, promoted the myth of blood libel which had originated during the Middle Ages. It claimed that Jews killed Christian children, sacrificed them and drank their blood.
Superior Race
Fundamental to Nazi ideology was the myth of the "master race" exemplified by the white skin, and blue-eyed blondes of the German and Nordic peoples, and with it came the notion of safeguarding the purity of their race as a means to preserve their cultural superiority in the world of mongrels.
England
Your Britain - Fight for it Now [South Downs]
From the famous series of four posters by Newbould. An example of how an inter-war travel poster style was used unchanged during the war to arouse patriotic feelings for an idealised pastoral Britain, defined by the landscape of southern England. Newbould was a noted designer of travel posters. In 1942 he joined the War Office as an assistant designer
to Abram Games.
Tittle Tattle Lost the Battle
Humour appealed more to Britons than heavy-handed exhortations. On of the many humorous treatments of the careless talk theme.
KEEP MUM SHE'S NOT SO DUMB Created in 1941, Keep Mum She’s Not so Dumb, is typical of Second World War British propaganda attempts to instill caution in the public through humorous, memorable slogans, rather than through fear-inducing images of spies and saboteurs. 'Keep Mum' was another way of saying be quiet and don't say anything.
A Clear Plate Means a Clear Conscience - Don't Take More Than You Can EatA plate with cutlery on a checked table-cover. Reminding people not to be greedy and only take what they can eat. It also helps to reinforce the idea that simple everyday actions can help win the war; everyone feels involved.
The 'Truffle Eater. Pretty Stories and Funny Pictures'
It was published in 1933, the year Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. It is the earliest anti-Hitler comic book of its kind to ridicule the German dictator. This vicious attack against him is extraordinary in its analysis and understanding of the early Nazi regime. The book follows the events in 1933, including the burning of the Reichstag in February. Here the author suggests that Goebbels was behind the fire, and the event was used by Hitler to curtail German democracy. It also covers the infamous book-burnings and increasing anti-semitic activities in Germany, and shows an acute observation of the sudden changes following the election of Hitler as Chancellor.
USA
Go ahead, please - TAKE DAY OFF!
This poster was aimed to make American employees feel guilty and bad for taking a day off. The statement is coming from a Japanese man with a menacing look this reinforces the idea that if the Americans slacked then it helped out the enemy.
This is the Enemy - Karl Loehler
This aristocratic officer seems a far cry from the crudeness of many Nazi leaders.
“Jap...You’re Next!”
This poster shows Uncle Sam holding a wrench and saying “Jap...You’re Next!” The personification of Uncle Sam looks very noble, and in using the image of him holding a wrench, there is a certain air of him being close with the people from the lower class. Again, this poster made the people think that the Japanese deserved to be wiped out. The message, “Buy extra bonds” is telling people to invest in war bonds and help the country.
“Captian America”
Captian America first appeared at a time of the most vibrant patriotism, the beginning of WWII. The character was Steve Rogers, a sickly young man who was given an experimental Super-Soldier Serum and “Vita-Ray” treatment that made him very strong and healthy in order to aid the United States war effort. His costume was inspired by the American flag. He has no superpowers but he carries a red, white, and blue indestructible shield. Captain America was often portrayed as fighting for the Allies and he was Marvel’s most popular hero during the war.
“It Can Happen Here!”
The phrase “It Can Happen Here,-Unless We Keep ‘em Firing” is an example of the appeal to fear propaganda technique. It shows a family house completly destroyed by a bomb and it tries to tell the audience that ordinary homes can be destroyed as the one in the poster. This propaganda sends the message that if there is an increase in production of war machines then people will be safe. It tries to inflict fear in the audience, so that women and people who are too old to go to war will choose to start working in manufacturing weaponry. This way, the soldiers at war can keep the Germans and Japanese away from America. This generates a feeling in the American people that if they don’t contribute with war, their security and their honor can be taken away by the enemy.
“Keep These Hands Off!”
The poster shows two symbols of two hands, which represent Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan. The hands loom over a mother and her young child. Above the two ‘Keep these hands off!’ is written as a form of persuading men to join the military. The mother and child are in the center of the propaganda. They are painted with pale, delicate colors while dark, witch-like hands jeopardize their security. These details are important because they affect the viewer on an emotional level, by making them feel responsible for the wellbeing of women and children. The mother and child are symbols of the helplessness of the female gender and suggest the need to protect them through aiding the war’s finances.
“I Want You for U.S. Army”
Perhaps one of the most recognizable propaganda posters of any time, “I Want You for U.S. Army” was actually commissioned for WWI. Based on an equally iconic British recruiting poster, this indelible image was so effective that it was also extensively used in the Second World War. Even to our 21st Century media-savvy eyes, it isn’t hard to see why so many young men heeded its call. The stern, paternal face of the national icon Uncle Sam seems to be staring right into your soul, no matter which way you look at the poster. The appeal to honor and duty, not to mention the slightly sinister undertone, was enough to convince countless men to willingly sign up for a tour in Hell. If that isn’t an effective piece of propaganda, what is?
“We Can Do It”
Besides the very real need to convince citizens to sign up for military service, governments also had to convince the people who stayed behind of the importance of their war efforts. In the U.S., which found itself in need of an incredible amount of skilled workers to produce the materials it, the U.K., and Russia needed to fight the Axis, many of the most memorable propaganda posters were aimed at the civilian population. Most iconic by far was “We Can Do It.” A simple poster of a working woman (based on the existing character of “Rosie the Riveter”) flexing her muscles, it encapsulated the new found power of women all across America. Pressed into service in factories across the country, these women were a vital part of the U.S. war effort and for the first time in the nation’s history, became an economic force to be reckoned with. Although things changed once the war ended, the poster is still used as a symbol of female power. A power, only awakened by necessity, that would change the face of the country for generations to come.
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