Download Propaganda

Propaganda in World War II
Mr. White’s US 2 History
Main Idea and Objectives
Main Idea: Propaganda is a set of messages
aimed at influencing the behavior or opinions
of large numbers of people. Different groups
use propaganda to advance their agendas.
After this section, we should be able to:
Identify propaganda
Analyze a piece of propaganda and identify
such characteristics as its source, occasion,
audience, purpose, and tone
Identify and analyze propaganda techniques
such as word games, false connections, or
special appeals
What is propaganda?
Propaganda is a set of
messages aimed at
influencing the
behavior or opinions of
large numbers of
people
Propaganda used to
be a neutral word, but
now has taken on a
negative meaning
Propaganda vs. Other types of
information
Propaganda gives only information that
supports what the creator is trying to say
Some propaganda could be said to be
“lying,” but this is not always the case
What information is presented or left out
can have an important impact on the
viewer’s opinion
The most powerful propaganda is
propaganda that is entirely truthful,
however
Emotional Impact
Propaganda is often
intended to have an
emotional impact on
the viewer
Propaganda will
present images that
are intended to induce
fear, anger,
happiness, or any
other emotion
What kind of emotions
does the poster at the
left bring out?
Types of propaganda
Printed matter –
posters, leaflets
and pamphlets,
essays
Audio – radio,
recordings, Axis
Sally
Video – news
broadcasts, other
video (not in World
War II)
Techniques of Propaganda
Word games – name-calling, glittering
generalities, euphemisms
False connections – transfer,
testimonial
Special appeals – plain folks,
bandwagon, fear
Word Games
Name-calling – giving
names to the opposition
that will force you to ignore
evidence without thinking
Glittering generalities –
using good words for your
side that will win your
support without evidence
Euphemisms – using
words to soften the
meaning of harsher words
– collateral damage,
liquidation, to pass away
Which one of these do you
see in the poster to the
left?
False Connections
Transfer – using the
authority, power, or
prestige of something
else to support your
side
Testimonial – using a
celebrity or other
person to support your
side
Which of these is the
poster at the right
using?
Special Appeals
Plain folks – creator tries to convince people that they are
regular folks, just like them
Band-wagon – everyone is doing it, you should, too
Fear – try to create fear in people; show a fearsome event or
result, then tell the viewer how to avoid that result
Which of these do you see in the poster above?
American Propaganda in World
War II
Focused on patriotism
In the case of antiJapanese
propaganda, racism
and stereotypes were
used
Also focused on
keeping people
working and producing
to support the war
effort
German Propaganda
Also appealed to
patriotism
Also used elements of
racism, particularly
against Jews – often
showed Jews trying to
rule or take over the
world
Tended to become
more sinister as the
war progressed (next
slide)
Early War Germany vs. Late War
Germany
Main Idea and Objectives
Main Idea: Propaganda is a set of messages
aimed at influencing the behavior or opinions
of large numbers of people. Different groups
use propaganda to advance their agendas.
After this section, we should be able to:
Identify propaganda
Analyze a piece of propaganda and identify
such characteristics as its source, occasion,
audience, purpose, and tone
Identify and analyze propaganda techniques
such as word games, false connections, or
special appeals