American propaganda during World War II

In World War II propaganda, one of the main goals of American propagandists was to portray the Germans and Japanese as anything but human. By attributing animalistic and demonic characteristics to their appearance, propagandists attempted to dehumanize wartime enemies and galvanize the public against them.

Examples

"WARNING!"

This example of American propaganda shows the Japanese on the left side and the Germans on the right side. Each dons their respective symbol (swastika, naval ensign). The Japanese are depicted with monkey-like characteristics with a bloodthirsty stare in their eyes. The Germans are shown with features identical to Adolf Hitler. Each is holding a weapon of destruction; a bloody knife in the hands of the Japanese and a Luger in the hands of the German. The two enemies are hovering over the United States. [Produced by the General Motors Corporation, 1942, NARA Still Picture Branch (NWDNS-44-PA-2314)]

KEEP THESE HANDS OFF"!"

This portrays the Germans and Japanese as evil and the Americans as angelic. The image of the innocent woman holding her defenseless baby appeals highly to the patterns of the American population. The black claws are identified as Japanese and German through the use of war symbols. The message sent is that through buying war bonds you are helping to protect the valued women and children of America. [NARA Still Picture Branch (NWDNS-44-PA-97)]

"STAMP 'EM OUT!"

This image is another portrayal of the evil of both the Japanese and Germans, who are identified by their respective symbols and are portrayed as snakes, with Mussolini portrayed as a puffed-up bullfrog. [Produced by RCA Manufacturing Company, Inc., NARA Still Picture Branch (NWDNS-44-PA-1795)]

ee also

*Propaganda in the United States
*Soviet propaganda during World War II
*Nazi propaganda
*Walt Disney's World War II propaganda production

References

External links

*{http://mysite.verizon.net/vzetqw5o/antiaxispropaganda/ Anti-Axis Propaganda}
* [http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111500/ww2/american/amerprop.htm/ American Propaganda in WWII]
* [http://www3.eou.edu/hist06/WWIIPropaganda.html Propaganda in the U.S. During WWII]