Explanation:
What is Propaganda? Propaganda is information, especially to a biased or misleading view, in essence. It's used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view. However, it is mostly used in a harsh or aggressive way. Most of the time it is to put down one person and or persons. In other times propaganda is used to promote a certain person or belief, such as presidential campaigns. A couple of recent propaganda that comes to mind is President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan to promote a better America that is filled with the American spirit and promote the America First agenda. Another is the then-president Barack Obama’s “Hope” campaign poster and bringing hope to Obama supporters. However, there was a time that propaganda was a way of life for some, that was during World War II.
Many countries used propaganda during the war the most prominent countries to use propaganda were the United States and Germany. The propaganda posters that came from the War often was making fun of the way the enemy talked, looked, and their people, all main players of the warlike the United States, Germany, Japan, and Italy used the same tactics to promote their view.
The United States often made fun of the way the Japanese looked and talked from various posters and films. Another tactic that the United States used was poking fun at Adolph Hitler and the way he talked. Some posters portrayed him as a whining child throwing a temperature tantrum and making a fuss. The most prominent posters that came from the United States were promoting a fictional character named uncle Sam, however, some say that he was a real person named Samuel Wilson a meat packer from Troy New York. Sam had a big personality he was the embodiment of the “American Spirit” Sam was considered to be the perfect man who would’ve fought for America with every breath he had.
Germany was promoting a “movement” of sorts to overtake the united states and “Gain the World!” They were on the verge of creating a nuclear bomb of their own Some say that the nazis were 2-6 months of creating a nuclear weapon to be used against the U.S., nevertheless, the walls of the nazi regime were caving and they could not complete their mission of making a nuclear weapon of their own. Most if not all of the propaganda had a picture of Adolph Hitler and a swastika on them. The nazi supporters often proclaimed Hitler as the Messiah for the German people and the world! Some of the propaganda that came from the nazi side showed Jewish people as The rodents of the world. Hitler was determined to rid the world of all Jews and Jewish decedents.
Italy was the same way as Germany, it often showed the brave young men pointing in the direction of the viewer saying something about joining their cause. But Italy’s main goal was to promote Fascism which was a far-right authoritarian ultranationalism distinguished by absolute power, and violent suppression of resistance.
Japan was in a way bullying America and their allies. Although Japanese propaganda shunned the Americans and showed them as cruel and heartless people who sought out to kill and hurt innocent japans. The propaganda in japan showed Franklin Rosevelt as the bigger enemy of the war.
Who was the Propaganda targeted at? It was promoted to vibrant young men who were willing to do anything they could to protect their loved ones as well as their country. The war was often targeted to students who had just graduated high school and were eager to “Get to Work” meaning being shipped of faraway places to fight for their country. Some of the propaganda was targeting women to do whatever they could while their spouses were off fighting the enemy. It showed women portraying nurses, factory workers, and overall being there for their children. Some promoted to women to plant a “victory garden” planting crops and making them for the family and helped the war efforts by making food for the soldiers.
How effective was the Propaganda? I would say that it was really effective at promoting the countries’ viewpoints and their cause. I think it made people want to serve more because they saw their people fighting for the country. I feel like the use of uncle sam for the United States was key because the American people had someone to look up to and wanting to be and excited to be like that person. I feel like the propaganda gave the young men feel pride and spirit for their country. Some had the feeling as if they needed to serve, some felt as if it was their life’s purpose in serving their country and their belief.
