British Propaganda

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Tom Purvis was a British commercial artist that was rather prominent in the art industry of the UK. He was recruited by the Ministry of Supply and for National Savings of Britain to create posters such as this. This poster encouraged the people of England to keep their doors open to those who sought shelter during the constant air raids happening over the UK (Harris & Webb 2017). Propaganda helped spread messages to the general public in order to keep them safe or to support the war effort.

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This poster was made by the British Royal Airforce which is commonly referred to as the RAF. It was meant to inspire and project the image of Britain’s military as superior to the Nazis. Inspiring high morale during war is an incredibly effective tactic to gain support for the war effort and to make a country fight even harder. These kinds of posters served as those crucial morale boosters along with an inspiration for those on the fence about enlisting to join up and fly these powerful machines.

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The phrase “Keep Calm and Carry On” has become a very widely known and recognizable saying. Its origins are actually from around 1939. It was a term coined by the British Ministry of Information. This poster was used to give some kind of solace to the people of Britain during the constant bombardment and fighting that was happening on the homefront and across the ocean. Even simple words like keep calm and carry on can echo a much larger message that can inspire an entire nation to unite in the war effort.

"London Can Take It" was a British made propaganda film that was meant for American viewers. It was made to encourage the US to join the war. It shows how the British have come together as a civilian army and are threatened day in and day out by constant bombing over their cities. Propaganda wasn't always made to vilify the enemy or to gain support for the war. Sometimes they were made to convince a country's allies to join them in the war.

In an article written by the American Historical Association, Ralph D. Casey, a professor at the school of journalism at the University of Minnesota, was referenced with him saying, "Propaganda, too, is an instrument for maintaining unity and good will among allies banded together in a common effort. It is sometimes effective in bringing opinion in neutral states over to one side or another. And in the battle zones it serves to keep up the morale of the men who are doing the actual fighting job" (Casey 1944). Britain has a pretty good example of this. Their film "London Can Take It" was made to get the US off the fence and to join the war. Other films and pieces of propaganda were made to get people to enlist and get off the fence of whether or not to join and to keep the spirits high for the boys over seas.

Propaganda in WWII
British Propaganda