During WWII, both the Allied and Axis powers used propaganda to rally support for their respective causes and to demonize their enemies. Techniques used in propaganda included appeals to emotion, fearmongering, and misinformation.
Appeals to emotion were commonly used in order to gain support for a particular side. For example, the Allies would often release photos and stories of Nazi atrocities in order to generate sympathy and anger towards Germany. Similarly, the Axis powers would use images of Allied bombings or dead soldiers in order to paint the Allies as heartless murderers.
Fearmongering was also a popular technique used during WWII. Propaganda on both sides would often exaggerate the capabilities and intentions of the enemy in order to make them seem more threatening. For example, Allied propaganda would often depict the Nazis as a ruthless and unstoppable force, while Axis propaganda would do the same for the Allies.
Finally, misinformation was also spread through propaganda during WWII. This could be in the form of false statistics or fabricated stories. For example, Nazi propagandists would often claim that the Jews were responsible for all of Germany’s problems, or that the Allies were planning to invade and enslave the German people.
While all of these techniques were used extensively during WWII, it is important to remember that propaganda is still being used today. In many ways, it has become even more sophisticated and effective. So, the next time you see a piece of information that seems too good or bad to be true, take a moment to consider whether it might be propaganda.