Psychological Warfare / PSYOP Articles & Documents
GENERAL
Race as a Military Propaganda Theme by SGM Herbert A. Friedman (Ret) 
How African-Americans have been exploited in enemy divide and conquer psychological warfare campaigns from World War I to Vietnam.
Falling Leaves by SGM Herbert A. Friedman (Ret)
A general history of U.S. PSYOP aerial leaflet warfare.
Leaflet Drops in America's Conflicts, 1917-2007 by Jared Tracy
Aerial leaflet drops on enemies, neutrals, and civilian populations is an afterthought in American airpower historiography. Airpower historians have traditionally preferred topics such as strategic bombing, tactical ground support, airpower's place in national strategic planning, and the like. But since the introduction of the airplane into combat operations in the early twentieth-century, American civilian and military officials have ordered leaflets to be dropped with bombs. Historians have not sufficiently explored the topic of leaflet drops conducted independently of or in conjunction with actual combat operations. Therefore, because comprehensive studies of leaflet drops are scarce, an historical overview of the topic will add an important dimension to the study of the projection of American airpower in its conflicts...
Voices From Heaven by Marie-Catherine & Paul Villatoux
A thoroughly researched article documenting the history of "voice" loudspeaker aircraft used in psychological operations from WWII to the present day.
PSYWAR BIBLIOGRAPHY AND BOOK REVIEWS
PSYOP/S FIELD MANUALS AND DOCTRINE
Functions of the 5th Army Combat Propaganda Team Report 
A 1944 official report on the work of the 5th US Army Combat Propaganda Team, part of the Psychological Warfare Branch (PWB/AFHQ), in Italy during World War II. The report covers propaganda leaflet design, printing, and firing by artillery shell. As well as describing their own work, the report covers Nazi propaganda leaflets dropped over the front lines in the 5th US Army sector and reactions of Enemy Prisoners of War (EPW) to Allied aerial leaflets.
JP 3-53 Doctrine for Joint Psychological Operations, 10 July 1996, (US)
This doctrine addresses the use of military psychological operations (PSYOP) assets in planning and conducting PSYOP in support of
joint operations across the range of military operations.
2-5.3 Psychological Operations, Air Force Doctrine, 27 August 1999 (US)
Air Force Doctrine Document (AFDD) 2-5.3 provides Air Force doctrine for psychological operations (PSYOP). It supports basic aerospace doctrine and basic information operations (IO) doctrine contained in AFDD 2-5, Information Operations.
B-GJ-005-313/FP-001 Psychological Operations Joint Doctrine, Canadian Forces
This manual, Joint Psychological Operations (PSYOPS), B-GJ-005-313/FP-001, was prepared to
detail Candian Forces procedures and processes to plan and conduct Psychological Operations. Published by the Canadian Department of National Defence in 2004.
15 (UK) PSYOPS Group Annual Report 2007/2008
The British 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group has published its first Annual Report which highlights its activities over the last year. The group has been heavy committed in Iraq and Afghanistan and has greatly increased its technical capabilities over the year.
FIRST WORLD WAR
Department M.I.7(b)
Official report on the work of department M.I.7(b) during
WWI. Crown Copyright, 1920. (PDF File, 89Kb)
The Times History and Encyclopaedia of the War: British Propaganda in Enemy Countries
Originally published in 1919 by the Times, this booklet documents British propaganda work in the First World War. Topics covered include: Propaganda in war as theory and in operation, German activities, early British propaganda work, Wellington house, the Department of Information, the formation and scope of the Ministry of Information, Viscount Northcliffe becomes director of propaganda in enemy countries, operations against Austria-Hungary, Germany and Bulgaria, methods of distribution of literature, tributes to Lord Northcliffe’s work from Hindenburg, Ludendorff, and the German press. (PDF File, 7.9MB)
Distribution
of Propaganda by Air, 1914-18
By Captain Morris. Official report written circa 1920 on leaflet dropping during WWI and more specifically on the court-martialling of captured British Airmen by the German authorities for disseminating subversive leaflets. (PDF File, 714Kb)
The Aerial Distribution of Propaganda to the Enemy
A report by Captain P. Chalmers Mitchell, M.I.7b(4), 23rd February 1918, describing methods of aerial propaganda leaflet dissemination, including details of the experimental "Fire Balloon", effects of propaganda and German counter-propaganda.
Aerial Propaganda Methods of Distribution
A report by Captain P. Chalmers Mitchell, of MI7(b)4, dated 12th March 1918, summarising the current methods of distributing aerial propaganda leaflets over the German front line in World War I. The report looks at dissemination by aircraft, balloons, kites and rockets.
SECOND WORLD WAR
The
Major Developments in Political Warfare Throughout the War, 1938-45
Official report on British Psychological Warfare during WWII by
Y. M. Streatfield, Crown Copyright, 1949. (PDF File, 290Kb) - A MUST read for serious students of psychological warfare in World War II.
War Cabinet Memoranda - Publicity in Enemy Countries
British Government War Cabinet memoranda reporting on psychological warfare to Germany between 1939-1940. Most were written by Sir Campbell Stuart, head of Department EH. They discuss the effects of the dropping of propaganda leaflets on Germany, relations with France and with the Press, propaganda policy, and other aspects of the propaganda war. (PDF File, 381Kb)
German Propaganda Balloon
From the booklet Objects Dropped from the Air - Air Raid
Precautions Training Pamphlet No. 2.
Issued by the Ministry of Home Security, 1941.
R.A.F.
Against Goebbels
A well illustrated official PWE Publication issued to RAF aircrew to explain the
value of propaganda leaflet drops,
Crown Copyright, 1942. (PDF File, 4.5MB)
A
Lecture on the Value of Leaflet Operations
Leaflet issued to RAF aircrews by the Air Ministry, Crown
Copyright, 1942. (PDF File, 1.76MB)
The
Propaganda Shell - P.W.E. Training School Lecture
A lecture on the use of artillery shells for distribution of propaganda leaflets by
Captain D.J. Alexander. Circa 1943/44. (PDF File, 75Kb)
Summarized History of the PWB Leaflet Section in Italy
A short summary of the operational history of PWB Unit No 14 by Captain Leroy B. Block, Chief, Leaflet Section.
Report on PWB/AFHQ - Bari
An official report on the activities of the Political Warfare Executive Sub-Mission Bari – later known as the Psychological Warfare Branch, Bari – from its formation in January, 1944 up to mid-October, 1944.
News as a Weapon
Air-dropped leaflet newspapers Frontpost and Feldpost of the Twelfth United States Army Group, Western European Theatre of Operations.
S.H.A.E.F.
- The Daily Organ of Supreme Headquarters
An article about the WWII multi-language S.H.A.E.F. newspaper for
displaced persons parachute
disseminated in Germany, by Lee Richards. (PDF File, 494Kb)
PWD/SHAEF
Latest reports of Leaflet Reactions
Official documents issued by PWD/SHAEF during WWII giving
German reactions to Allied leaflet drops. (PDF File, 1.3MB)
Bilder für die Truppe, Dezember 1943, Nr. 5
Pictures for the Troops - An illustrated Wehrmacht High Command leaflet showing German soldiers how the enemy
retouches photographs for propaganda purposes. (PDF File, 2.8MB)
Psychological Warfare PART I booklet - August 1944
Psychological Warfare PART I booklet August 1944 This 24-page booklet was produced by the Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas in August 1944 and details the use of tactical psychological warfare against the Japanese in the Pacific Theater. (PDF File, 7.7MB)
Report of 6808th Allied Information Service Field Consolidation Team (Prov)
A 45-page report on the work of the Third Psychological Warfare Consolidation Team of PWD/SHAEF in north-western France between August 23rd to October 8th, 1944. (PDF File, 3.3MB)
COLD WAR 1946-1991
Cold War and Insurgency Banknotes by SGM Herbert A. Friedman (Ret)
Herb Friedman shows us a wide selection of counterfeit banknotes used during the Cold War for psychological warfare and propaganda purposes.
MALAYAN EMERGENCY 1948-1960
Psychological
Warfare of the Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960 by SGM Herbert A. Friedman (Ret)
The article is lavishly illustrated with a great variety of aerial propaganda leaflets dropped throughout the Emergency and fascinating photographs from the period.
Psychological Warfare in the Federation of Malaya by Major R.J. Isaac, HPWS
Official memo for the Federation of Malaya Defence Secretary about Psychological Warfare technique, dated 19th February 1955.
The Psychological
Warfare Section, Federation of Malaya
An official British Government report on the organisation of the Psychological Warfare Section, the Federation of Malaya, in 1957. The PsyWar Section was responsible for the production of Anti-Communist Terrorist air-dropped leaflets and for the writing of surrender appeals and other messages for broadcast by Royal Air Force “Voice” aircraft over the Malayan jungle. (200Kb)
Psychological
Warfare in Malaya
An article by Flight Lieutenant A. F. Derry, MBE, discussing psychological warfare activities against Communist terrorists during the Malayan Emergency; c.1955,
publisher unknown. (4MB)
Stop Press of the Jungle
An article by Flight Lieutenant H. G. Haines, O.C. Voice Flight Detachment, No. 52 Squadron, RAF, about the use of "Voice" aircraft broadcasting propaganda messages to Communist terrorists hiding out in the Malayan jungles; c.1960,
publisher unknown. (0.7MB)
KENYA - MAU MAU UPRISING 1952-59
PSYOP of the Mau Mau Uprising by SGM Herbert A. Friedman (Ret)
The so-called Mau Mau Uprising was a brutal episode in Kenya's history. Throughout most of the 1950's Mau Mau gangs, formed predominately from members of the Kikuyu tribe, waged an insurgency against the British colonial Government seeking independence and the return of their traditional homeland. Most of the Mau Mau gangs' violence was directed towards fellow Kikuyu who were loyal to the British and towards a smaller number of white settlers. The Government responded with extreme force and innovative counter-insurgency techniques to crush the uprising. Psychological warfare played a part in putting down the Mau Mau and cleansing them of the Blood Oath.
ADEN EMERGENCY 1963-1967
PSYOP of the Aden Emergency by SGM Herbert A. Friedman (Ret)
The Aden Emergency was an insurgency against British crown forces in what is now the Yemen. It lasted from 10 December 1963 when a "State of Emergency" was declared until 30 November 1967 when British forces left. The emergency began when members of the National Liberation Front (NLF) carried out a grenade attack against the British High Commission which killed one person and injured fifty. In this new article Herb Friedman analyses British psychological operations against the nationalist dissidents in Aden during the Emergency.
RHODESIA 1965-1980
Rhodesian PSYOP, 1965-1980 by SGM Herbert A. Friedman (Ret)
This article documents psychological operations directed against the black population of Rhodesia by the Smith government during their control of the country between 1965 until 1980.
NORTHERN IRELAND TROUBLES 1969-2007
FALKLAND ISLANDS WAR 1982
PSYOP of the Falkland Islands War by SGM Herbert A. Friedman (Ret)
"The Falkland Islands are approximately 8000 miles from Britain and the only major island group in the South Atlantic, about 300 miles east of Argentina and the continent of South America in the Strait of Magellan. There are two main islands, West and East Falkland and more than 100 smaller ones. The Buenos Aires government, which had declared its independence from Spain in 1816, claimed sovereignty over the Falklands. Britain began settling the islands and declared a colonial administration in 1842. Argentina never recognized the claim and historically has demanded that the islands be part of that nation..." In 1982 the Argentine military occupied the islands thus provoking war with Britain. Herb writes a detailed account of the small-scale British PSYOP campaign conduct during the short campaign.
OPERATION DESERT STORM, IRAQ, 1990-1991
Leaflets of the Persian Gulf War
"This book contains exemplars of leaflets designed, printed and disseminated in support of Coalition Forces during Operation DESERT STORM. According to numerous sources, including captured Iraqi soldiers, these leaflets were extremely effective in convincing the Iraqi soldiers to cease resistance. Each leaflet in this collection represents the collective efforts of members of the Psychological Operations (PSYOP) team that provided support to Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. The psychological preparation of the battlefield began in earnest in December [1990] and radio, leaflet and loudspeaker operations continued non-stop throughout the air and ground phases of the conflict." (PDF file, 18.7MB).
OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT, KURDISH REGIONS OF NORTHERN IRAQ, 1991
Psychological Operations Support for Operation Provide Comfort
Near the end of the Gulf War (1991), the Kurdish population staged an unsuccessful uprising against the Iraqi Government of Saddam Hussein. After the Kurds attempt at freedom had been quelled, they fled to the mountainous region of the Turkish-Iraqi border because they feared an Iraqi military backlash. Due to their hasty evacuation, the Kurds were ill-prepared for the hardships that awaited them. They faced death from starvation, exposure, contaminated water and unexploded munitions remaining from the Gulf War. At the height of the crisis, the number of refugees rose to 750,000 with a death rate of 4 per 10,000 a day. Under the leadership of the United States, the United Nations and numerous allied countries and organizations joined together to end the human suffering. This is the story of the contribution which psychological operations, a proven force multiplier, made to that noble international endeavour. Published by the US 4th PSYOP Group. (PDF file, 5.3MB).
OPERATION RESTORE HOPE, SOMALIA, 1993
Psychological Operations in Support of Operation Restore Hope
Psychological operations were a key Battlefield Operating System used extensively to support Unified Task Force (UNITAF) Somalia operations. In order to maximise the PSYOP impact, a joint PSYOP Task Force (JPOTF) under the supervision of the Director of Operations was established, PSYOP was integrated into all plans and operations and limited the PSYOP focus to the operational and tactical levels.
Throughout the course of Operation Restore Hope, thirty-seven different leaflets and over a dozen handbills and posters were designed, printed and disseminated. Over seven million leaflets were dropped over central and southern Somalia.
One hundred sixteen different editions of the UNITAF newspaper RAJO, which means “Hope” in Somali, were published. As many as 25,000 copies were printed and distributed daily to every town and villages where UNITAF forces were deployed.
This booklet contains exemplars of those printed products. Each represents the collective efforts of members of the UNITAF JPOTF who provided PSYOP support to Operation Restore Hope.
(PDF file, 7.1 MB).
OPERATION UPHOLD DEMOCRACY, HAITI, 1994
PSYOP Support to Operation Uphold Democracy
This pamphlet, originally published by the 4th Psychological Operations Group, tells the story of “the crucial role which PSYOP played as a force multiplier in contributing to the success of Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY - an operation other than war.” It provides examples of the products generated by the Joint Psychological Operations Task Force (JPOTF) in Haiti following the US incursion to remove Haiti’s corrupt military regime. (PDF file, 6.1 MB).
THE BALKANS, 1995-1999
PSYOP against Milosevic's Yugoslavia by SGM Herbert A. Friedman (Ret.)
The United States found itself involved in the nation once called Yugoslavia several times in the past decade. There was a violent disintegration of that country after the death of Joseph Broz (Tito) in 1980. In order to rule as dictator, Tito had divided the Serbian people, the largest ethnic group of Yugoslavia, into four "Socialist Federative Republics" and two Autonomous Regions. Some 42% of the Serbs were located outside Serbia Proper. This system worked only as long as Tito was able to rule with an iron hand.
In 1989, a new nationalist leader by the name of Slobodan Milosevic took power in the Serbian Republic. He had previously served as the leader of Belgrade Communist Party and the Serbian Communist Party. He wanted to dominate all of the old Yugoslavia, but when it became clear that he could not, he decided upon the ethnic cleansing of his country and the creation of a Greater Serbia. He abolished Kosovo's autonomy. Croats and Slovenes feared that they were next in line. There were daily news reports of murders, rapes, mass killings and other atrocities carried out by the Serbs as Milosevic drove the minorities from their lands and homes, "purifying" Serbia.
This article is not a history of the Balkan conflict as confined to the old Yugoslavia. It is a look at the PSYOP campaigns fought there in the past decade.
Target Bosnia: Integrating Information Activities in Peace Operations by Pascale Combelles Siegel
NATO-Led Operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, December 1995-1997 published by the Center for Advanced Concepts and Technology (ACT).
AFGHANISTAN 2001-2008
IRAQ 2002-2008
Propaganda leaflet drop video over Mosul, Iraq
This is a great video of an actual US PSYOP leaflet drop over Mosul, Iraq on the night of January 28th, 2005. The leaflets were disseminated over market areas of the city and gave details of local polling stations for the January 30th election. (The video is around 4 MB).
Munitions of the
mind
Sandy Times - Published weekly by and for British Forces
in the Gulf, issue no. 32, 23 April 2003. (PDF file, 100Kb)
ISRAEL-LEBANON 2006
BLACK PROPAGANDA
British Black Propaganda - Operation Periwig by Lee Richards
Early in World War II Britain’s secret services soon concluded that it would be impossible to organise an anti-Nazi resistance within Germany itself. As they could not create a genuine resistance organisation they decided to fabricate one by using black propaganda, fake signals traffic, dropping supplies to non-existent reception committees and persuading a few hapless German Prisoners of War to be parachuted into the heart of the Third Reich. Perhaps the German authorities could be panicked into believing they were in mortal danger of being overthrown by their own people or at least encourage a few anti-Nazi Germans to take up arms against their Nazi bosses. This is the story of Operation Periwig.
Sir Stafford Cripps and the German Admiral's Orgy by Lee Richards
Sir Stafford Cripps' outrage at the pornographic nature of the clandestine black radio station Gustav Siegfried Eins (GS1) is well known. All the major histories dealing with British psychological warfare throughout the Second World War make mention of Cripps complaint to the Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden, concerning one of the station's more disreputable broadcasts. None of the previous histories, however, tell the full story as until very recently Cripps' correspondence with the Foreign Secretary has remained secret. Following a Freedom of Information request by PsyWar.Org to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, over sixty years later, this correspondence has now finally been released for public scrutiny.
Illness Saves by Dr. Do Good
For the first time a complete English translation of Delmer's famous malingering booklet is now available with an additional foreword by Lee Richards explaining the background to PWE/SOEs desertion and malingering black propaganda campaign against Nazi Germany.
Propaganda and Espionage Philately, Part I, Part II by SGM Herbert A. Friedman (Ret)
Herb Friedman has been researching and writing about propaganda and espionage philately for five decades. He now gives an overview of this fascinating and complex subject in this internet article. It is colourfully illustrated with some of the rarer and more interesting propaganda and forged postage stamps produced by all sides throughout World War II.
Whispers of War - The British World War II rumour campaign by Lee Richards
Black propaganda rumour-mongering was employed to help defeat the Third Reich and a special Underground Propaganda Committee was established for the task. This is the story of the UPC and the rumours (sibs) they spread across the world during World War II.
British Black Propaganda Operation BRADDOCK by Lee Richards.
A joint Special Operations Executive (SOE) and Political Warfare Executive (PWE) operation.
Operation Sauerkraut
An article by Herb Friedman on the Office of Strategic Services
(MO) black propaganda Operation Sauerkraut.
Obituary - Edmund F. Lindner
During WWII Ed was part of the Morale Operations Company of the 2677th OSS Regiment in Italy. As such, he helped plan and organize Operation Sauerkraut, a campaign to use volunteer German prisoners-of-war to bring American propaganda behind enemy lines.
"Black"
Propaganda by Lee Richards !!!COMING SOON!!!
A new book on the WWII history of Britain's subversive black
propaganda war with Nazi Germany conducted by Sefton Delmer.
PSYOP DISSEMINATION
Leaflet Distribution during the First World War
-
The Aerial Distribution of Propaganda to the Enemy
A report by Captain P. Chalmers Mitchell, M.I.7b(4), 23rd February 1918, describing methods of aerial propaganda leaflet dissemination, including details of the experimental "Fire Balloon", effects of propaganda and German counter-propaganda.
-
Aerial Propaganda Methods of Distribution
A report by Captain P. Chalmers Mitchell, of MI7(b)4, dated 12th March 1918, summarising the current methods of distributing aerial propaganda leaflets over the German front line in World War I. The report looks at dissemination by aircraft, balloons, kites and rockets.
Leaflet Distribution by Aircraft
Leaflet Distribution by Balloon
Leaflet Distribution by Artillery
Voice Aircraft
-
Voices From Heaven by Marie-Catherine & Paul Villatoux
A thoroughly researched article documenting the history of "voice" loudspeaker aircraft used in psychological operations from WWII to the present day.
Page Last Modified: 17 July 2010. 09:43 am MDT
