Words can be compelling but pictures are
instantly appealing and can often more easily attract and hold the
attention of the target reader. A leaflet with an interesting
image will be more likely to be picked up by an enemy soldier or
civilian than one with a few paragraphs of text. The image itself
may contain the propaganda message or may simply be the bait to
tease the leaflet into the hands of the reader so that the
accompanying words can start to work their poisonous intent. For
example, a leaflet depicting a pin-up or sex scene or resembling a
currency note, can be hard to ignore.
An astonishing and inventive variety of imagery
of can be found on air disseminated leaflets, postcards, pamphlets
and booklets, and some of the most talented cartoonists and
artists of their day have been called up to produce them. Names
include Osbert Lancaster, Kem (K. E. Marengo), Feliks Topolski,
Walter (Goetz), (David) Low, Ronald Searle, and Tony Strobl.
Many of the most striking images were
reproduced on leaflets showered on the battlefield soldier and
many themes were used. Amongst them are portrayals of the
invincibility of the forces facing him, the mutilation and death
that was to be his fate, and scenes contrived to drive a wedge
between him and his comrades, officers and political leaders. In
summary it was a pinprick campaign to wear away his morale and
reduce his willingness to fight, and even make him contemplate
surrender.
Images were incorporated into leaflets produced
for civilians - in modern parlance to "win hearts and
minds". For enemy civilians the intention was to turn them
against their governments and allies, paint a pessimistic picture
of future prospects and depress their appetite for war. For
occupied civilians, who were also targeted by the propagandists,
the aim was to sustain their morale, eg by supplying them with
encouraging information about the progress of the war, and urge
resistance.
The images in our <image
collection> demonstrate all the propaganda themes described
above and more.
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