Psychological Warfare, Psychological Operations (PSYOP),
Black Propaganda, and Aerial Propaganda Leaflets

Today only, 30% off list price of "The Black Art" hardback, full colour edition, use coupon code 20DEC at checkout. That's a saving of about $46.00.

The Black Art is a profusely illustrated history and catalogue of British "black" propaganda literature produced by the Political Warfare Executive during the Second World War by Lee Richards. 450 pages and over 350 illustrations.

A report to the U.S. War Department on the part played by the United States Army in the development of Psychological Warfare organization, policy and operational technique in the North African, Sicilian, Italian and Southern France campaigns by Colonel Donald F Hall, August 1945.

"There are two ways of winning the war - breaking the enemy's will to fight, and removing his means. If you succeed in doing either you win the war. If you work on both you do it all the better."

A quote from "White Bombs", a restricted WWII U.S. Office of War Information illustrated booklet which highlighted the value of airdropped propaganda leaflets.

All of our psychological warfare and black propaganda books are now available for sale in the UK, US, Canada and Australia as eBook downloads. Prices are significantly less than the printed versions. Ideal for reading on your iPad or notebook PC.

A report written by Ralph Murray of PWE's Middle East Mission outlining covert broadcasting by Special Operations Executive from Jerusalem to the Balkans. At the time this report was written in November 1942, SOE and PWE were locked in debate over which organisation should control and operate clandestine radio stations. PWE argued that they were responsible for all psychological warfare to enemy, satellite and enemy occupied territory. SOE maintained that they should be in charge of covert operational propaganda which directly supported their subversive activities.

Video package describing the process of creating and distributing a Military Information Support Operations (MISO) leaflet at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan on June 21, 2011. The leaflets are used by MISO personnel to effectively pass information and messages to target audiences in remote areas of Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps motion imagery by Cpl Charles T. Mabry II / Released).

Video package describing the process of how Military Information Support Operations personnel help broadcast the district governors message in Kajaki, Afghanistan on Aug 10, 2011. The broadcasts are designed to easily spread important messages to multiple areas throughout Kajaki. (U.S. Marine Corps motion imagery by Cpl. Charles T. Mabry II/Released).

Reproduction of a short WWII confidential booklet produced by the Psychological Warfare Branch of Allied Forces Headquarters to explain the policy and techniques of frontline combat propaganda, circa 1943. (PDF File, 2.8MB)

The "V-for-Victory" campaign began three years to the day before another famous invasion of Europe was launched. On 6 June 1941—Friday, 23:15 BST,—the first shot was fired in the "V-for-Victory" series, which continued for a year, and unquestionably aided during a very critical period in bolstering the morale of enslaved peoples in a score of occupied countries... Article from 'Army Talks' magazine, September 1945.

Documents from the archives: Operation Huguenot was a psychological warfare plan intended to instruct German Luftwaffe pilots on how to desert with their aircraft to Britain. The plan was intended not so much to encourage genuine desertions of Luftwaffe personnel but to convince the German authorities to suspect the loyalty of their aircrew and, therefore, to take repressive counter-measures against them.

The idea was originally set out in a memorandum by Sefton Delmer at the end of 1943. But it was not until January 1945 that the details were worked out and submitted to the Chief of the Psychological Warfare Division of Supreme Headquarters for approval. Huguenot was implemented throughout late February and early March, principally through the clandestine radio station Soldatensender West.

Presenter Dan Snow interviewing psychological warfare historian Lee Richards (right) at Woburn Abbey, the wartime home of the Political Warfare Executive (PWE). Lee Richards is describing the range of black propaganda material sent from Britain to Nazi Occupied Europe in order to subvert German troops.

A fascinating video feature about the 344th Military Information Support Operations (MISO) Team who design and produce radio, TV and print advertisements for the Afghan people. MISO is the official new US Government term for pscyhological operations (PSYOP).

(Note need to be signed into PsyWar.Org in order to watch this video.)

UPC rumour, R/466, 26 September 1941, "The British have let loose 1,000 sharks from Australia off the Tunis coast."

BBC News: "Shark attacks not linked to Mossad says Israel" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11937285

The Whispers of War article looking at British propaganda rumour-mongering in the Second World War has been updated with new information and to mirror the introduction to our new Whipsers of War book: http://www.psywar.org/books.php . The new book contains over 1,500 examples of subversive rumours spread by the Underground Propaganda Committee in WWII.