The art of persuasion: the role of the leaflet in psychological warfare during the Second World War.

Abstract

During World War II, the Allies successfully launched a propaganda campaign against Germany. Conducted under the leadership of the Psychological Warfare Department (PWD), these operations included radio broadcasts, loudspeaker announcements and dropping of leaflets. This study focuses on the leaflet, which was one of the PWD's most successful forms of propaganda. First of all, this study looks at the leaflet's role in history and examine how it has been traditionally used in modern warfare. It then surveys the four main types of leaflets, civilian, news, surrender and general, disemminated by the PWD among Germans In both the European and Mediterranean theaters. This study includes a careful analysis of copies of leaflets actually disseminated on German civilian and troops. Each of the four types are evaluated according to their writing style, intended audience, contents and goal. This study also examines how the four types of leaflets complemented each others' actions, showing that the failure of one could effectively destroy the cumulative effects of the others. Finally. it will mention briefly how experience with leaflets in World War II still influences psychological warfare.