The Art of Propaganda

Shaping WWII Public Perception in America and Japan

Philadelphia Inquirer, February 13, 1942

Published by the Philadelphia Inquirer a few months after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, this War Atlas reflected the mood of the country. A brawny Uncle Sam, sleeves rolled up, represents a nation fully committed to the war effort: factories at work, soldiers training, planes and ships already moving to attack. ~ Source

New York Journal American, Pictorial Review, December 5, 1943

A heroic portrait of General MacArthur, larger than most of South Asia, dominates in this 1943 morale-building, full-page Sunday newspaper supplement map in color, showing how Japan’s “Mongol Hordes” will be defeated by ”the Largest Pincers Movement in Warfare’s History.“ ~ Source

American Propaganda "The Hour Is Drawing Near!" 1945

A propaganda leaflet prepared by the allies for distribution to Japanese soldiers, likely in early 1945. The title is "The Hour Is Drawing Near!" above a clock. Each hour on the clock is marked by an island captured by the allies (8-9-10-11 are Saipan-Guam-Palua-Philippines), and 12 o'clock is Japan.

The text on the verso contains three quotes from "high authorities" in Tokyo about the possibility that Japan may be invaded and defeated. It concludes that "Although they know there is no chance of victory, they continue making you die like dogs to save their own faces. Do you think this is just or right?" ~ Source

American Propaganda: “Two Sparrows Cannot Drive Off Twenty American Eagles” 1945

“Two Sparrows Cannot Drive Off Twenty American Eagles” An Allied leaflet for distribution to Japanese forces, probably in 1945, illustrating the American force bearing down on Japan. "American scholars were trying to use Japanese philosophy and terminology as a weapon.

The Japanese used the name 'Wild Eagles' for their pilots. This leaflet depicts American B-29 bombers approaching Japan and small sparrows fluttering to earth. It clearly shows that the Japanese eagles are nothing but small helpless birds about to be pushed aside by the American might." ~ Source

---

Here’s some Japanese propaganda

---