Propaganda in World War II Nations
Propaganda is information, which is biased or misleading, and used to promote a particular point of view. During World War II, propaganda was used in recruiting soldiers, financing the war, emphasizing resource conservation, and bringing unity in the country. Propaganda was achieved through several techniques that were used to influence the nation to support a certain movement or agenda.
Many European leaders controlled media information so that they would influence their citizens, which played a significant role in World War II (Lasswell, 2015). Dictators like Adolf Hitler used the radio to pass their powerful messages to the people about how he was determined to make Germany a great nation. Joseph Goebbels, who was a propaganda minister in Germany, created a film section, “Triumph of the Will” spreading the Nazi message, which promoted extreme national support throughout the war.
Hitler demonized the Jewish community and used patriotic appeal to gain the support of his violent plans to get into power, and revenge from World War 1 effects on Germany. Italy, just like Hitler, used patriotic appeal to recruit soldiers in the army (Lasswell, 2015). To gain war support, Italy used the national fear of communism. In Japan, they demonized president of the United States Franklin Roosevelt and used Japanese Strength and nationalism for support from its citizens before they went to war.
The United States also used emotional appeal with posters written, “Avenge Pearl Harbor” to get more soldiers in the war (Lasswell, 2015). The United States also used fear methods to encourage citizens to buy war bonds. The United States influenced their citizens into food and gas rationing through making the Japanese, Italians, and the Germans look like pigs or monsters.
In conclusion, there were different forms of spreading propaganda to gain support from the nation. Hitler demonized the Jewish community and used patriotic appeal to gain the support of his violent plans to get into power, and revenge from World War 1 effects on Germany. In Japan, they demonized president of the United States Franklin Roosevelt and used Japanese Strength and nationalism for support from its citizens before they went to war. The United States also used emotional appeal with posters written, “Avenge Pearl Harbor” to get more soldiers in the war.
References
Lasswell, H. D. (2015). Propaganda technique in the world war. Ravenio Books.