Germany and Britain Propaganda During World War 2 Propaganda has been used all around the world to achieve a common goal. In most cases propaganda, is used in war, in order to persuade citizens or change their opinions or view. Specifically, propaganda was used in most European countries in order to persuade citizens to support the war during World War II. Germany’s use of propaganda during World War II was more successful than Britain’s in promoting a fascist government because Germany incorporated propaganda in their citizen’s daily lives, while British propaganda prioritized gaining America as an ally over support over the support of British citizens. Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels discussed new ways and ideas to incorporate propaganda
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America was hesitant to ally with Britain initially because of the fear of post-war isolation, and the fact that America just had a war, and didn't want to get involved in another. “Lothian, who had charmed the press corps and Washington with an easygoing and informal manner well calculated to counter the American stereotype of the stuffy Brit, staged several low-key publicity events during the so-called Phony War in the winter of 1939-1940 to reinforce the message of America’s and Britain’s common values and interests”(Britain’s propaganda war on America). These publicity events were very important to Britain, who needed the support of America if they wanted to win the war. Britain had many of these conferences, and although they did gain the support the United States, the British did not do a good job in appealing to their own citizens. Britain focused more on appealing to Americans more than to British citizens. Another tactic the British used to gain support of America was to simply lie, or spread false rumors that were leaked in American media. “The British secret intelligence services meanwhile had begun to cautiously venture back into the once-taboo area of covert propaganda, using friendly ‘cut outs’- middlemen with no conspicuous ties to the British - to leak to the American press almost daily rumors discrediting American isolationist leaders and placing stories, some more reliable than others, of Nazi atrocities in Europe” (Britain’s propaganda war on America). The British lying to American citizens was a poor way to gain support of American citizens. Instead of instilling fear and becoming a fascist government, like Germany, the British decided to leak false rumors, and focus on becoming allies with America. Although a majority of American citizens were not onboard
America was hesitant to ally with Britain initially because of the fear of post-war isolation, and the fact that America just had a war, and didn't want to get involved in another. “Lothian, who had charmed the press corps and Washington with an easygoing and informal manner well calculated to counter the American stereotype of the stuffy Brit, staged several low-key publicity events during the so-called Phony War in the winter of 1939-1940 to reinforce the message of America’s and Britain’s common values and interests”(Britain’s propaganda war on America). These publicity events were very important to Britain, who needed the support of America if they wanted to win the war. Britain had many of these conferences, and although they did gain the support the United States, the British did not do a good job in appealing to their own citizens. Britain focused more on appealing to Americans more than to British citizens. Another tactic the British used to gain support of America was to simply lie, or spread false rumors that were leaked in American media. “The British secret intelligence services meanwhile had begun to cautiously venture back into the once-taboo area of covert propaganda, using friendly ‘cut outs’- middlemen with no conspicuous ties to the British - to leak to the American press almost daily rumors discrediting American isolationist leaders and placing stories, some more reliable than others, of Nazi atrocities in Europe” (Britain’s propaganda war on America). The British lying to American citizens was a poor way to gain support of American citizens. Instead of instilling fear and becoming a fascist government, like Germany, the British decided to leak false rumors, and focus on becoming allies with America. Although a majority of American citizens were not onboard