Effects Of Propaganda In Wwida

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Recommended: Essays on world war ii propaganda

Sara Chojnacki

Ms. Fitzgibbon

C Block

4/2/14

How did film spread propaganda in America during the World War II era?

Cinema arose in the 20th century as a powerful force of media, providing entertainment, information, and propaganda. Despite the best efforts of Joseph Goebbels and the Nazi propaganda machine to win over Americans and the national community, World War II era films influenced American public opinion and feelings towards the war, fostering nationalistic support for the war while simultaneously provoking hatred of fascism and the Axis Powers. By the beginning of the war, the governments of all the nations involved had clearly grasped the strong persuasive power of film as well as its potential use for motivating and/or manipulating their populations. Whether employed in narrow focus for military training and indoctrination or more widely as documentaries, newsreels, cartoons, dramas, and comedies produced for mass consumption, film played a significant role during the war years in promoting and sustaining sentiments of national unity and patriotism.

Even before America’s involvement in World War II, German films containing Nazi propaganda were shown in the United States. The atrocities of the Holocaust had not yet begun, so America had not banned these films from being shown, and had no idea of what was to come. Newsreels, films that showed views events happening around the world, were filmed in Germany and were full of propaganda. Fox, Paramount, and Hearst represented the American newsreel companies in Germany and operated under the stringent supervision and constant surveillance of the Reich Ministry of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda. This ensured that Germans could portray news the way they want...

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...erman boy. As the movie progresses and Hans is exposed to Hitler youth and the Nazi culture, his ability to value human life decreases. In “Commando Duck”, Donald, by himself, destroys an entire Japanese airbase.’how did these influence public opinion and feelings toward the war?

During wartime, film was a powerful and effective method for the government to spread ideas and propaganda. Going to the movies was so commonplace for the American public in those times that it was incredibly influential. The Office of War Information oversaw much of the film production in the United States during World War II, inserting key values and feelings of patriotism into movies. Dramas, documentaries, comedies, and cartoons all contained propaganda. The feeling of unity and passion for the war effort that developed in our country was certainly fueled by America’s love of film.

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