What was the impact of propaganda during World War 2 on Britain?

Answer 1

Propaganda was used in 4 primary ways;

1) to encourage citizens to help in the war effort,

2) to encourage foreign parties, such as America, to help in the war effort (although obviously it was not just a few posters that meant America helped)

4) to ensure that the American GI's that came to England were supported by their British colleagues and

3) to encourage morale amongst the British people.

The way in which this propoganda was took place is, most notably through poster campaigns, such as the infamous 'Your Country Needs You' campaign, as well as through a series of others, including those encouraging women to help in the war effort.

There were also other media outlets that need to be considered. In order to keep morale up it was important that newspapers kept an effective balance between informing the nation about the events of the war, and keeping the nation calm during a great time of economic, political and social dificulty. Newspaper articles, which were produced on very limited resources due to the rationing of world war two and therefore every word was carefully considered, were, therefore, as upbeat as possible, and aimed at encouraging the nation.

One other notable media outlet is that of newsreels.

Newsreels had started in 1910, with Charles Pathé's Animated Gazette, though there were many other companies that made this form of media. By 1929, sound had been added and by the time World War Two began newsreels were being produced twice a week, and there were even cinemas dedicated to them alone. As part of the cinema experience it was very important that these newsreels were light hearted and not too serious. They were also a regurgitation of the news, as oposed to a first-time exposure to it. The way in which they were used for propaganda can be seen in examples, such as Yanks Toughen Up, or Raid on Dresden- Night and Day (both of which are available on the Movietone archives website), where the 'special relationship' (though this term was not first used until Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech in 1946, after the war had ended) between Britain and America was exagerated. This was to prove to Britain that the influx of troops, that had led to George Orwell exclaiming that being in London was like being in 'Occupied Territory' in 1943, were helpful, generous and just like everyone else. The GIs were never referred to in a negative way.

This brings us on to the topic of censorship.

The fact that the GIs were not realistically portrayed, i.e. as human beings with vices, shows us that there were factors as to what the public were exposed to via the media.

Another way in which censorship took place was, after 1944, under the BBC's self-imposed 14 day rule, which meant that the BBC could not report on any government activity until fourteen days after it had taken place. This was so that governments could act without the pressure of the general public knowing everything that was going on, as well as meaning that the BBC could control the amount of air time politicians received (this 'rule' collapsed in 1956 after the Suez Crisis led to the BBC and ITV complaining that though they had the resources to report on important news, they were not allowed to do so)

Propaganda and censorship was used in world war two to get the message across to people to join or help in the war. Censorship was used not to tell people what propaganda wanted to tell people.

Definition of propaganda:

People in world war two would put posters up (example: Your country needs you) It would bully people into doing things such as: Joining the war.

Definition of censorship:

Soilders in world war two would write letters home and people ( such as Adolf Hitler) Would check them and if they were giving away secrets then they would get rid of them.

I hope i have explained this clearly enough xxx

censorship and propaganda was used to keep the morale of the people in ww2. censorship, also stopped enemys from gathering valuable information.

Answer 2

Generally the government used propaganda to promote fear of all enemies and to promote and support the home countries armies. Propaganda also was put in place to ensure that people didn't accidentally "let slip" information to spies from the enemies. In WWI censorship was very heavy, as the government did not allow any acts of sedition, that is they didn't allow any talk or support of ideas that could be considered subversive or have the possibility of undermining the war effort or of giving information to spies. Also to keep moral up. For example in newspapers, only good news was reported. In October 1914 HMS Audacious was sunk and it wasn't even reported.
Censorship and propaganda was used in Britain to give the public a psychological age over the enemy. The gains of the enemy were censored or downplayed to make it look like the British army was in a vantage position all through.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

It was used to try to get people to give money towards the troops fighting and also to pretty much help the economy and help the Alied forces to win the war.

Answer 5

People kept on s h i t t i n g themselves when they were fighting. And this is why the war ended.