Tim Brooks
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780748625192
- eISBN:
- 9780748651351
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Edinburgh University Press
- DOI:
- 10.3366/edinburgh/9780748625192.003.0006
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Media Studies
This chapter concentrates on black propaganda in order to assess its contribution to the overall propaganda effort for France. It also describes the machinery for the production of black propaganda, ...
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This chapter concentrates on black propaganda in order to assess its contribution to the overall propaganda effort for France. It also describes the machinery for the production of black propaganda, the methods of distribution, the messages it carried and reactions to it. It was reported that the production of ‘black’ leaflets diminished considerably in April 1944. Black propaganda could not be distributed in the same way as white propaganda. Aerial leaflets were definitely distributed using black techniques, both unchanged and miniaturised, specifically ‘for infiltration purposes’. As with the other elements of Political Warfare Executive (PWE)'s black propaganda work, the material available concerning rumours is patchy. Black leaflets, including the distribution of white leaflets using black techniques, had a potentially disruptive effect on the Germans or Vichy authorities. The contribution made by PWE's black radio stations broadcasting to France is more easily assessed.Less
This chapter concentrates on black propaganda in order to assess its contribution to the overall propaganda effort for France. It also describes the machinery for the production of black propaganda, the methods of distribution, the messages it carried and reactions to it. It was reported that the production of ‘black’ leaflets diminished considerably in April 1944. Black propaganda could not be distributed in the same way as white propaganda. Aerial leaflets were definitely distributed using black techniques, both unchanged and miniaturised, specifically ‘for infiltration purposes’. As with the other elements of Political Warfare Executive (PWE)'s black propaganda work, the material available concerning rumours is patchy. Black leaflets, including the distribution of white leaflets using black techniques, had a potentially disruptive effect on the Germans or Vichy authorities. The contribution made by PWE's black radio stations broadcasting to France is more easily assessed.
Tim Brooks
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780748625192
- eISBN:
- 9780748651351
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Edinburgh University Press
- DOI:
- 10.3366/edinburgh/9780748625192.001.0001
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Media Studies
This book examines the issue of British propaganda to France during the Second World War and aims to show the value of the propaganda campaign to the British war effort. It surveys the organisation, ...
More
This book examines the issue of British propaganda to France during the Second World War and aims to show the value of the propaganda campaign to the British war effort. It surveys the organisation, operation and nature of the British propaganda effort towards the French people, including both white propaganda (BBC broadcasts and leaflets dropped by the RAF) and black propaganda (secret broadcasting stations, documents purporting to come from the Germans in France or distributed in France using clandestine methods, and rumours). Finally, the book examines the contemporary British understanding of the French and German reception of and reaction to this propaganda material, to show whether the campaign was an effective and well-directed use of resources. Almost all examinations of British foreign propaganda during the Second World War have focused on propaganda directed towards Germany. British propaganda to France, which in terms of quantity of output was actually the most important area of British propaganda, has never been examined in depth until now. The book adds a further chapter to our knowledge of propaganda in the Second World War, especially in the conduct of psychological warfare. It also touches on better-known areas such as RAF Bomber Command and its Operational Training Units, which handled aerial dissemination of British white propaganda leaflets over France, and the Special Operations Executive in France, which worked closely with the Political Warfare Executive in delivering much black propaganda.Less
This book examines the issue of British propaganda to France during the Second World War and aims to show the value of the propaganda campaign to the British war effort. It surveys the organisation, operation and nature of the British propaganda effort towards the French people, including both white propaganda (BBC broadcasts and leaflets dropped by the RAF) and black propaganda (secret broadcasting stations, documents purporting to come from the Germans in France or distributed in France using clandestine methods, and rumours). Finally, the book examines the contemporary British understanding of the French and German reception of and reaction to this propaganda material, to show whether the campaign was an effective and well-directed use of resources. Almost all examinations of British foreign propaganda during the Second World War have focused on propaganda directed towards Germany. British propaganda to France, which in terms of quantity of output was actually the most important area of British propaganda, has never been examined in depth until now. The book adds a further chapter to our knowledge of propaganda in the Second World War, especially in the conduct of psychological warfare. It also touches on better-known areas such as RAF Bomber Command and its Operational Training Units, which handled aerial dissemination of British white propaganda leaflets over France, and the Special Operations Executive in France, which worked closely with the Political Warfare Executive in delivering much black propaganda.
Tim Brooks
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780748625192
- eISBN:
- 9780748651351
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Edinburgh University Press
- DOI:
- 10.3366/edinburgh/9780748625192.003.0002
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Media Studies
This chapter describes machinery in order to show the creation and development of the British propaganda system, first presenting the background provided by the First World War and inter-war ...
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This chapter describes machinery in order to show the creation and development of the British propaganda system, first presenting the background provided by the First World War and inter-war treatment of propaganda and its consequences on planning prior to 1939. It then discusses the development of the propaganda organisation after the outbreak of the Second World War. The legacy of First World War activities affected attitudes towards propaganda and influenced inter-war British planning. The establishment of Political Warfare Executive (PWE) was ‘the logical outcome of the initial lack of proper planning for enemy propaganda before World War Two broke out’. PWE's black propaganda to France was less offensive, but secrecy remained important. Different elements of 1930s planning were carried out in isolation from each other, so that only after the outbreak of the Second World War could the conflicts created be revealed and resolved.Less
This chapter describes machinery in order to show the creation and development of the British propaganda system, first presenting the background provided by the First World War and inter-war treatment of propaganda and its consequences on planning prior to 1939. It then discusses the development of the propaganda organisation after the outbreak of the Second World War. The legacy of First World War activities affected attitudes towards propaganda and influenced inter-war British planning. The establishment of Political Warfare Executive (PWE) was ‘the logical outcome of the initial lack of proper planning for enemy propaganda before World War Two broke out’. PWE's black propaganda to France was less offensive, but secrecy remained important. Different elements of 1930s planning were carried out in isolation from each other, so that only after the outbreak of the Second World War could the conflicts created be revealed and resolved.
Frank Christianson
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780748625086
- eISBN:
- 9780748652068
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Edinburgh University Press
- DOI:
- 10.3366/edinburgh/9780748625086.001.0001
- Subject:
- Literature, Criticism/Theory
This book examines the issue of British propaganda to France during the Second World War and aims to show the value of the propaganda campaign to the British war effort. It surveys the organisation, ...
More
This book examines the issue of British propaganda to France during the Second World War and aims to show the value of the propaganda campaign to the British war effort. It surveys the organisation, operation and nature of the British propaganda effort towards the French people, including both white propaganda (BBC broadcasts and leaflets dropped by the RAF) and black propaganda (secret broadcasting stations, documents purporting to come from the Germans in France or distributed in France using clandestine methods and rumours). Finally the book examines the contemporary British understanding of the French and German reception of and reaction to this propaganda material, to show whether the campaign was an effective and well-directed use of resources. Almost all examinations of British foreign propaganda during the Second World War have focused on propaganda directed towards Germany. British propaganda to France, which in terms of quantity of output was actually the most important area of British propaganda, has never been examined in depth until now. The book adds a further chapter to our knowledge of propaganda in the Second World War, especially in the conduct of psychological warfare. It also touches on better-known areas such as RAF Bomber Command and its Operational Training Units, which handled aerial dissemination of British white propaganda leaflets over France, and the Special Operations Executive in France, which worked closely with the Political Warfare Executive in delivering much black propaganda.Less
This book examines the issue of British propaganda to France during the Second World War and aims to show the value of the propaganda campaign to the British war effort. It surveys the organisation, operation and nature of the British propaganda effort towards the French people, including both white propaganda (BBC broadcasts and leaflets dropped by the RAF) and black propaganda (secret broadcasting stations, documents purporting to come from the Germans in France or distributed in France using clandestine methods and rumours). Finally the book examines the contemporary British understanding of the French and German reception of and reaction to this propaganda material, to show whether the campaign was an effective and well-directed use of resources. Almost all examinations of British foreign propaganda during the Second World War have focused on propaganda directed towards Germany. British propaganda to France, which in terms of quantity of output was actually the most important area of British propaganda, has never been examined in depth until now. The book adds a further chapter to our knowledge of propaganda in the Second World War, especially in the conduct of psychological warfare. It also touches on better-known areas such as RAF Bomber Command and its Operational Training Units, which handled aerial dissemination of British white propaganda leaflets over France, and the Special Operations Executive in France, which worked closely with the Political Warfare Executive in delivering much black propaganda.
Michael Stenton
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198208433
- eISBN:
- 9780191678004
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198208433.003.0003
- Subject:
- History, European Modern History, Political History
This chapter discusses several instances when black-and-white propaganda were employed. Despite the Cabinet committee's sudden reluctance to suspend the BBC Charter, Duff Cooper's control of white ...
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This chapter discusses several instances when black-and-white propaganda were employed. Despite the Cabinet committee's sudden reluctance to suspend the BBC Charter, Duff Cooper's control of white propaganda was taking shape. He told Dalton he would ‘tie up the Ministry and the BBC into what is really one team’. This chapter explores some danger that the propaganda debate might get into the newspapers. When the invasion of Russia began on June 22, it was already likely that whatever concessions the MOI obtained from the Services would not be important. In any case, the invasion prevented the political crisis in Britain which Monckton had expected in the event of a closer Nazi-Soviet alliance. It notes that propaganda was not so strictly tied to British military credibility, that is, to ‘news control’.Less
This chapter discusses several instances when black-and-white propaganda were employed. Despite the Cabinet committee's sudden reluctance to suspend the BBC Charter, Duff Cooper's control of white propaganda was taking shape. He told Dalton he would ‘tie up the Ministry and the BBC into what is really one team’. This chapter explores some danger that the propaganda debate might get into the newspapers. When the invasion of Russia began on June 22, it was already likely that whatever concessions the MOI obtained from the Services would not be important. In any case, the invasion prevented the political crisis in Britain which Monckton had expected in the event of a closer Nazi-Soviet alliance. It notes that propaganda was not so strictly tied to British military credibility, that is, to ‘news control’.
