“The POW Will Safely Return!”: Second World War Allied and German Propoganda
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Canadian Military History Volume 17 Issue 3 Article 6 2008 “The POW Will Safely Return!”: Second World War Allied and German Propoganda Amber Lloydlangston Canadian War Museum Tracy Lo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Lloydlangston, Amber and Lo, Tracy "“The POW Will Safely Return!”: Second World War Allied and German Propoganda." Canadian Military History 17, 3 (2008) This Canadian War Museum is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Lloydlangston and Lo: “The POW Will Safely Return!” “The POW Will Safely Return!” Second World War Allied and German Propaganda Leaflets Amber Lloydlangston and Tracy Lo uring the Second World War, both This exercise is undertaken less Dthe Allied and Axis governments to compare the efficacy of the leaflets, expended significant resources in although we will address this issue the production and dissemination in our conclusion, and more to of propaganda. Directed at their explore the variety of considerations own people, the propaganda of that both sides attempted to balance these governments fostered correct in their efforts to induce surrender. thinking, feelings, attitudes, and We offer this analysis with due behaviours. Directed at military caution for we recognize that our personnel of enemy nations as part sample is incomplete. While the of psychological warfare operations, George Metcalf Archives holds this propaganda was far more subversive. Its goal 35 PWD leaflets which promote surrender, its was to undermine the efficiency and coherence collection of corresponding German leaflets is of enemy forces and, ultimately, to weaken their significantly smaller. Indeed, we show here the six will to fight. Among the different media harnessed that are the least damaged. We also acknowledge to achieve this end, aerial leaflets hold a unique that we employ the English translations of the place in the history of psychological warfare original German leaflets that were prepared by operations. Their efficacy was debated during and PWD in an effort to overcome the reluctance of after the war yet these leaflets were disseminated operational personnel to deliver, via aircraft and in the millions and collected by soldiers of both artillery, what some referred to as “bumpf” or sides.1 It is for this reason, among others, that “confetti” and others, slightly more colourfully, although inherently ephemeral, Second World as “bumwad.”5 We cannot, therefore, make War leaflets have been preserved in archival definitive statements about the language use and collections, including the George Metcalf Archives tone employed in these PWD leaflets.6 And yet of the Canadian War Museum.2 In the following the similarities and differences are nonetheless pages, we will highlight 12 leaflets from this striking, indicative not only of certain shared collection, six produced by the Psychological philosophies about propaganda techniques but Warfare Division, Supreme Headquarters Allied also of different attitudes toward the enemy Expeditionary Force (PWD)3 and six by the SS audience. Before turning to a detailed exploration Standarte Kurt Eggers of the German Waffen SS of the individual leaflets, we will first outline in (SKE),4 all of which encourage enemy combatants general terms their similarities and differences. to surrender. But what arguments did the psychological warriors of the opposing sides Whether Allied or German, both psychological think would convince their target audiences to warfare organizations anticipated that soldiers, take this step? What inducements did they offer? not knowing how they would be treated as What justifications did they provide? And in what prisoners of war, might be afraid to surrender. To ways were the leaflets produced by the opposing assuage this fear, two themes were stressed: 1) sides different or the same? respect for the terms of the Geneva Convention, © Canadian Military History, Volume 17, Number 3, Summer 2008, pp.43-56. 43 Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2008 1 Lloydlangston & Lo - German propaganda.indd 43 03/09/2008 1:27:23 PM Canadian Military History, Vol. 17 [2008], Iss. 3, Art. 6 and 2) the good conditions enjoyed by prisoners reporting, when they wanted to believed, just as of war. Recognizing that a sense of honour might carefully as the Allies.”10 And yet at the same time, deter a soldier from surrendering, both sides one of these same experts noted that, according to also emphasized that this act did not sully his the Nazis, the job of propaganda was to “persuade honour. To surrender did not imply cowardice people to accept any given view favourable to but rather was a step forced upon a soldier for policy, irrespective of its truth or falsity.”11 For whom the alternative was, at worst, death and, the Nazis, truth as well as lies had a role to play. at best, permanent disablement. To increase the The tone of certain SKE leaflets also suggests that leaflet’s persuasiveness, both sides featured not German propagandists attempted to establish a only photographs of prisoners of war enjoying sense of camaraderie with the enemy, an effort comfort and security in their camps but also which our sample indicates was not made by quotes in which prisoners often express surprise PWD. While leaflets of the latter organization at, and always satisfaction with, their treatment. promised good and fair treatment for POWs and Very simply, all 12 leaflets told their enemy for Germany at war’s end, they did not suggest audience that the POW would be sure to return that German and Allied soldiers should become home safely whereas the same could not be said friends nor employ a tone which suggested a kind of the fighting soldier. of fellow-feeling as certain of the SKE leaflets did. We will now turn to a detailed exploration of the Although the leaflets evince some similarities 12 leaflets beginning first with the six produced in theme and technique, they also manifest by the SKE and then turning to the six produced certain differences. The CWM sample suggests by PWD. that PWD presented more inducements and justifications in advocating surrender to the German soldier. Leaflets reminded him of Allied German Leaflet Propaganda material superiority, explained the meaning of Directed at the Allies capitulation on a personal and national level, and declared that desertion, requiring a particular ermany strictly observing Geneva kind of courage not held by all soldiers, was an “GConvention” (AI – 069-7-4412) was a acceptable route to a prisoner of war camp.7 The propaganda leaflet first distrubed in July 1944. leaflets produced by PWD and SKE also employ It states that even the bravest soldier may reach a different tone. PWD leaflets attempted to reach a point where continued fighting would lead to German soldiers by addressing them as rational pointless self-destruction.13 A justifiable response individuals capable of thinking for themselves in such circumstances, and one that all nations and of making sensible decisions once presented accept, is surrender. Should a soldier reach this with the truth.8 Truth, it must be noted, did point, the leaflet continues, he should know what not dictate honesty; PWD adopted the axiom of will happen to him. First, he will be taken to a propaganda that to be persuasive, leaflets had to Dulag, which although “no hotel,” is nonetheless be credible.9 In contrast, leaflets generated by the as comfortable as nearness to the front permits. propaganda units of the SKE were generally more Here he will receive medical care, if needed, and strident in tone. German propagandists used w i l l be given the opportunity language rich in superlatives and attempted to send a message home. to play on the emotions of their Second, the soldier will audience. That be transferred to a Stalag, they chose this a permanent camp, technique does up-to-date, and with not necessarily Canadian War Museum (CWM) 19850376-048 all the conveniences. imply a lesser These include: modern commitment to kitchens in which to the truth. Indeed, prepare the ample PWD experts have and high quality food argued that “Nazi with which POWs p r o p a g a n d i s t s are provided; clean had to observe the and airy rooms, rules of accurate which soldiers can 44 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol17/iss3/6 2 Lloydlangston & Lo - German propaganda.indd 44 03/09/2008 1:27:24 PM Lloydlangston and Lo: “The POW Will Safely Return!” “The P.O.W. will safely return!” contains the subtle message that there is no dishonour in surrender. The German propagandists’ attempted to enhance the leaflet’s credibility decorate to their taste; and impact by featuring on its obverse a list of lavatories and toilets of 33 dead, superimposed over which are high sanitary standard; the words: “The Dead Will and, athletic fields, Never Return!” complete with sporting CWM 19880045-002 equipment. Moreover, while imprisoned in a Stalag, prisoners will be given an opportunity to learn a trade, to pursue a university degree, or to study fine arts. Third, the soldier will no longer have to fight. He “will return home safe and sound after the war.” Perhaps anticipating that some Allied soldiers might remain unmoved by the blandishments of leaflets in which the German voice predominates, another leaflet, “Excerpts from recent letters from P.o.W’s.” (AI – 082-7-44), also disseminated in July 1944, uses the voice of Allied personnel, all identified by name and all but one by service number.14 Supporting the leaflet’s central message that wounded “P.o.W’s.