World War II-era Pacific Theatre psychological warfare leaflets

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: 8900

Content Description

Collection of 32 World War II-era Pacific Theatre airborne psychological warfare propaganda leaflets. Mostly broadsheets but include a few bifolia, about half printed in one or more colors. Texts generally in Japanese, with accompanying photographic or composed images. 26 of the 32 leaflets are accompanied by Psychological Warfare Branch explanatory sheets (including 1 sheet explaining a set of 4 leaflets). These leaflets give no evidence of having been used in the field.

Dates

1944 - 1945

Creator

Allied Forces. South West Pacific Area. Psychological Warfare Branch (Organization)

Biographical / Historical

Propaganda leaflets were dropped by the millions over Japanese military units and the Japanese homeland in 1944-1945. They were produced by the Psychological Warfare Branch of the Southwest Pacific Area, based in Australia and under overall command of General MacArthur. They were designed to be packed into specially-designed bomb casings and shells and disseminated by bombers and artillery. Some of the leaflets targeted Japanese soldiers in the field, aimed either at damaging morale by emphasizing Allied successes and the futility of resistance, or actually encouraging them to surrender.