Paper Bullets: Psychological Warfare in World War II

By: Leo J. Margolin

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Synopsis: Paper Bullets, first published in 1946, is an overview of some of the propaganda methods used by the Allied and Axis countries in World War II. This “psychological warfare,” highly effective in many cases, was used to demoralize the enemy, spread falsehoods, influence soldiers to surrender, serve as “safe-conduct” passes, provide a source of reliable news, and warn civilians of impending bombardments. Thousands of lives were likely saved by the use of leaflets, dropped from airplanes or sent over enemy lines via specially designed artillery shells. The book also examines Nazi and Japanese propaganda aimed at U.S. audiences. Included are 50 pages of propaganda examples used during the war by the Americans, Germans, and Japanese. Author Leo Margolin served in the Army's Office of War Information (OWI), Psychological Warfare Branch, established during World War II and responsible for most of the American propaganda efforts during the war.