World War II Propaganda

The mobilization effort for World War II was massive,

and required the support and co-operation of every
citizen in the country. To that end, a massive
propaganda machine was unleashed, with the goal of
both drumming up and continuing support for the war.
Posters, cartoons, and radio messages delivered
messages about everything from war bonds to the threat
of foreign spies.

Today we will be looking at the propaganda machines

both in the United States and abroad to see how the
competing countries “sold” the war.

Poster Message Images Racial Elements

1

10
Cartoon Propaganda
Unlike during World War I, when motion pictures and other
broadcast medium were in their infancy, by World War II mass media
has evolved to become truly “mass”. Leaders in all countries could
now reach a very wide audience with their message.

You will be watching four propaganda cartoons. Two are American,

one is German, and one is Russian. For each one, please analyze it
for the following things:
• Message: what is the cartoon about? What is it trying to
say? Pay particular attention to the propaganda aspects of
each.
• Images: what types of images do you see? What types of
people? How are they portrayed, both visually and in terms
of their personality?
• Racial stereotypes: Does the cartoon use racial stereotypes?
If so, what?

Cartoon Images Stereotypes Message

“Der Fuehrer's Face”,
1943 [Oscar Winner for
Best Animated Short]
[American]

“Tokyo Woes”, 1945

Third Reich Cartoon,

unknown date

“What Hitler Wants”,

unknown date

Why are cartoons an effective medium for propaganda?

“I Want You...to
Design a
Propaganda
Poster”
As we have seen, all of the countries in World War II
used propaganda to sell the war to their citizens. And
although cartoons, movies, and radio ads were used,
posters and billboards were still the most common form
of propaganda.

Your job, as a member of the National Information Bureau at the U.S. Department of
Defense, is to create a propaganda poster for the wars today in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Your poster should include the following things:

• Large, colorful images. Most of your poster should be pictures, as that's what
draws people's attention.
• A clear message. I should be able to figure out your position on the war, and
what you are trying to say, in one glance. If I have to squint at your poster to
figure it out, then it's not going to work.
• Persuasive techniques. There are a variety of ways to do this. You can use
fear, to try and scare people into believing in your cause. You can be
inspirational, to show that if we work together triumph will be ours. Whatever
fits the message of your poster.
• Relevance. The poster should be relevant to the cause. If people can't connect
your poster to the wars, then it won't stick in their mind.

Please note that the Department of Defense is very cognizant of racial discrimination
these days; overt displays of racism will not be tolerated in the modern era, so your
poster should not use such techniques. However, the Department of Defense has no
qualms about mocking certain individuals (Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, etc).

The poster will be worth 10 points, and is due _______________________.