Sections

The history of U.S. Psychological Operations: Precursor in the Great War (Part 2)

by ·

In part one, we reviewed the basic definition of Psychological Operations and its relations to standard propaganda. Psychological Operations is actually a relatively modern concept but had roots long before the advent of the 20th century. The United States government and military, with a few exceptions, did not effectively utilize propaganda or public relations during earlier wars of the young republic. Even when the U.S. inherited a pseudo-empire after the Spanish and Philippine-American War, conventional military tactics were considered sufficient enough to win them. But the start of a new war, unprecedented in technology and scale, would forever change that notion.

A modern war, modern propaganda

Wake up America! Civilization calls every Man, Woman, and Child!”

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING.

Your subscription is important and supports our editorial integrity. Advertisers are sometimes afraid of being associated with controversial news topics, and your subscription is vital to ensuring we can continue to publish the courageous news we are known and respected for.

Get Insider Access and Expert Analysis Today

SUBSCRIBE NOW

or Log In

BECAUSE, FACTS DON’T TAKE SIDES

Your Subscription Supports Honest News Efforts

TRY 4 WEEKS FOR $1.99

Comments

Join our community. To comment on this article please join/login.
Here’s a sample of the comments on this post.

  • Micky M

    Awesome Leo! I love reading this history.

  • Michelle B

    This is fascinating! I agree with Joni, this is fun to look back through history and see how we developed psychological warfare, and what was effective (or not.)

  • Leo W.

    Thanks Joni. I kinda chuckled myself when I read that during research. I didn’t get into the minutia of the War itself, (that’s, after all, not the point of the articles) but the leaflets are best described as a force “multiplier”. The combined Allied Argonne offensive had shattered the remaining German defenses, thus making enemy soldiers more susceptible to the leaflets they may have otherwise ignored a year or even months earlier.

  • Jason P

    Loved the article!

  • Joni S

    Thanks, Leo, for this walk back in history. “Some surrendering German soldiers quickly asked for the promised rations on the leaflets, to their vexed American captors who themselves may not have eaten for 24 hours.” – Imagine how one might react to being asked for food when you yourself have had none. How interesting that many prisoners (estimated 8 out of 10) had leaflets on their persons. I would say that was a successful campaign to win the minds, and maybe the stomachs, of those of our enemy. Looking forward to the rest of the series.