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Propaganda in WW I
By Bridget Mahoney-Fernandes
Background and Context
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First widespread and systematic use of propaganda by
governments occurred during WWI
First time the word entered common usage in U.S.
Used extensively by both sides to shape public opinion,
procure men, money and resources
In U.S. Wilson established the Committee on Public
Information (CPI) headed by George Creel
After war, there was widespread criticism of government
propaganda after many claims were exposed as false.
Professionals in advertising and public relations loved itwill use it to develop modern advertising in 1920s
Propaganda analysis- anti-propaganda movement in
1920s and 30s to educate and expose manipulations of
governments and corporations (also reaction to Nazis!)
Definition of Propaganda
The spreading of ideas, information or
rumor for the purpose of helping or
injuring a cause.
 It’s intent is to convince, sell an idea or
product.
 Not merely biased: It is an intentional
“slanting” of truth. Distortions and
falsehoods used to mislead audience.
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“They make us believe and do something
we would not believe or do if we thought
about it calmly and dispassionately”
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It comes in many formats (Speeches,
posters, movies, pamphlets, music, jokes,
commercials etc.) and it can be tailored
for a specific audience. Creel committee
had 19 sub-divisions!)
In general…
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It may use fact.
Creel employee later admitted: “We never
told the whole truth”
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It may use false information.
Atrocity stories: Babies on Bayonets, Tub Full
of Eyeballs, Ravished Women, Fake
“German” diary accounts of melting bodies
to obtain fat
Both sides printed fake newspapers to drop
behind enemy lines
In General…
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Typically relies on emotions and biases to distort
evidence- appeals to heart not mind.
“Bleeding Belgium”
“The Criminal Kaiser”
“Make the World Safe for Democracy”
Visuals: German soldiers as aggressive, dangerous,
Allies as noble fighters, patriotic symbols
Use of color and fonts: blood red, dark sinister
Use of music
In General…
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It focuses on its own message, doesn’t
consider other positions
(thus differs from “argument” or “persuasion”
which consider other perspectives, offers facts
and predicts the results of accepting the
argument)
8 Devices Commonly Used
Word Games:
 Name Calling Device
 Glittering Generalities
 Euphemism
False Connections:
 Transfer
 Testimonial
Special Appeals:
 Plain Folks
 Bandwagon
 Fear
Word Game: Name Calling Device
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Very common formespecially in politics
Propagandist uses
negative labels for those
he wants us to reject
without examining
evidence.
WW I: Hun, Barbarian, AllLies
Allies called sub warfare:
“inhumane” but they used
them too!
Today: Terrorist, Extremist,
Commie, Queer, Liberal
Name Calling Device
In WW I and all wars
the enemy is also
“demonized” Visuals:
Spike helmets, blood,
knives
 More subtle form: use
emotionally charged
words: liberal,
conservative, coward,
counter culture, flipflopper, traitor
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Name Calling Device
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A visual form of
“Name Calling”?
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Or the conservative
radio host who
referred to him
repeatedly as
“Barrack Hussein
Obama”
Watch Out for Name Calling!
Ask yourself the following when you spot an
example of name-calling:
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What does the name mean?
Does the idea in question have a legitimate
connection with the real meaning of the name?
Is an idea that serves my best interests being
dismissed through giving it a name I don’t like?
Leaving the name out of consideration, what are the
merits of the idea itself?
Word Game: Glittering Generalities
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Propagandist lowers our
resistance by identifying
his program with “virtue”words, symbols, ideas we
hold dear and sacred.
Opposite of Name Calling
Creates a favorable
image in our minds
without analysis of facts
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Glittering Generalities
Common Generalities:
Civilization, Democracy,
Christianity, Motherhood
Fatherhood, Freedom
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Visual symbols: Flags,
Uncle Sam, Columbia,
Cross, Mothers,
Fathers, Children
Glittering Generalities
Problem! Words, symbols mean different
things to different people!
 In advertising, words sound good, but
don’t really mean anything: “Lite”, “New
and Improved”, “Change”
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Watch out for Glittering Generalities!
When confronted with this device ask yourself:
 What does the virtue word really mean?
 Leaving the virtue word out of consideration,
what are the merits of the idea itself?
 Does the idea in question really have a
legitimate connection with the real meaning
of the word?
 Is an idea that does not serve my interests
being “sold” to me merely through a name I
like?
Word Games: Euphemisms
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Propagandist attempts to make
unpleasant reality more
palatable by using words that
are bland and euphemistic- i.e.
substituted words that are less
offensive
“Passed away” instead of
“died”
1940s we changed War Dept.
to Dept. of Defense
Reagan renamed MX- Missile
“The Peacekeeper”
Murder= liquidation
Genocide = ethnic cleansing
Euphemisms
Comedian George Carlin has noted that
after every war we have a new way to
describe battle traumatized veterans:
 Civil
War- “Gun Shy”
 WW I- “Shell Shock”
 WW II - “Combat Fatigue”
 Vietnam- “Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder”
(now completely disconnected from the reality
of war altogether)
Watch out for Euphemisms
Ask yourself;
 What is really being said here?
 Why are they using this wording, what
are they trying to hide?
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False Connections: Transfer
Propagandist uses
authority, sanction,
prestige of something
we love and respect
to something he
would have us accept
or accept.
 Gets us to transfer
feelings from one
thing to another.
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Transfer
My church supports it,
so will I
 Symbols constantly
used:
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Cross=Christianity
Flag=The Nation
Uncle Sam=The
people and their
opinion
Today, appeals to
Science and Medicinelab coats, glasses
Transfer
After the war had broken out, but before we
got into it, William Jennings Bryan
resigned as Secretary of State against the
war for peace:
“We are the greatest of the Christian
nations…and the world looks to us to lead
the way from bloodstained precedents of
the past out into the larger and brighter
future.”
Transfer
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Today the transfer
device appeals to
sex appeal, love,
power, popularity,
and money
Watch out for Transfer
When confronted with this device ask
yourself:
 In
the most simple and concrete terms, what
is the proposal of the speaker?
 Is there any legitimate connection between
the proposal and the revered thing, person or
institution?
False Connection: Testimonial
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A famous person
endorses an idea,
product or opposes it.
The President said…
My doctor said…
Oprah says…
Problem! Is the
celebrity really
qualified to make the
judgment? Dr. Jarvik!
Testimonial
WW I Examples:
 Brits released a report of supposed
German war crimes. Only a few facts
proven- but widely accepted because
report signed by well known scholars.
 Brits published a book in the U.S. in which
60 prominent Americans including 2 ex
presidents urged the country to go to war.
Watch out for Testimonials
Ask yourself:
 Why
should I regard this person (or
organization or publication) as having expert
knowledge or trustworthy information on the
subject in question?
 What is the merit of the idea without the
testimonial?
Special Appeals: Plain Folks
Propagandist wins our
confidence by appearing
to be people like
ourselves
 “Just one of the guys”
 “Average Joe”
 Candidates kiss babies,
eat local cuisine, put on
hats, hang out in diners
 Really prevalent in
political campaigns and
ads
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Plain Folks
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Presidents all
millionaires BUT:
Clinton ate at
McDonald’s, George
W. Bush uses “folks”
and cleans his ranch,
jogs, has a dog. Bush
senior hated broccoli,
loved to golf.
Watch out for Plain Folks
Ask yourself:
 What
is he trying to cover up with the plainfolks approach?
 Who’s really paying for this commercial? How
plain are they??
 What are the facts?
Special Appeals: Bandwagon
Propagandist appeals
to our desire to fit in,
be part of the crowd
 Everyone is doing it,
so should you!
 Be part of the crowd,
don’t be left out!
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Watch out for Bandwagon
Ask yourself the following:
 Regardless
of the fact that others are
supporting this program, should I support it?
 Does the program serve or undermine my
individual and collective interests?
Special Appeals: Fear
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Propagandist warns audience
that disaster will result if they
do not follow a course of
action.
Plays to deep seated fears
Examples: Insurance ads show
terrible accidents, destroyed
homes, dead teenagers
WMD-Weapons of Mass
Destruction
Hillary Clinton : “Who do you
want to answer the phone at
3:00 a.m.”
Watch out for Fear
Ask yourself:
 Is
the speaker exaggerating the fear or threat
in order to obtain my support?
 How legitimate is the fear that the speaker is
provoking?
 Will performing the recommended action
actually reduce the supposed threat?