Unit 11 The Second World War, cinema and radio Flashcards
Introduction and 11.1 The coming of war
The Second World War was the first armed conflict to be extensively covered by the electronic media
TV competition halted due to hostilities until 1945, newspapers hampered by a shortage of print media
By contrastive radio broadcasts and films gained unprecedented audiences and authority. BBC grows from 4,000 in 1939 to 11,000 when peace returned
1939 the Ministry of Information revived, turns for assistance to the Mass Observation that was founded by a small group of enthusiasts that had set out to collect ‘a mass of data based upon practical observation, on the everyday life of all types of people’
11.2 Propaganda and news
There were variations in the intensity and form of control (by governments) but it is not possible to arrange states on a single axis from totalitarianism to liberal democracy
The Catholic Church was a censorious presence
Most governments (except the Soviets) were cautious in making the controls too overt
In German escapist cinema and on Goebbels instructions, no attempt was made to replicate direct celebrations of the party, political messages could be cloaked in historical analogies or audiences simply given escapist entertainment. In 1940 entire industry subsumed into the UFA which managed every aspect of the process
11.2 Propaganda and news 2
In Britain, when conscription was first introduced ‘film projectionists’ was a protected occupation, but ‘actor’ was not
In what became an international marketplace for news, the BBC gained a reputation for accuracy and authority which was of particular value in occupied Europe and in the USA helping to develop sympathy for the allied cause
BBC deploys correspondents to and makes live recordings on the battlefield
Goebbles mergers all state newsreels in 1940 into German Weekly Review
11.3 Entertainment
However much attention is given by historians to the news and propaganda elements of mass communications, the media were predominantly engaged in some form of entertainment - Dickens - ‘People muth be amuthed, Thquire, thomehow’
The reaction against the tones of Received Pronunciation English (posh English as opposed to George Formby or Tommy Handley) represented an assertion of both spatial and social inclusiveness - It’s That man Again
Goebbels has The Eternal Jew made, but also dictates that four out of every five films made should be entertainment e.g. romantic comedies and musicals
11.4 War and Peace
debate about the future begins, though J B Priestly seen as somewhat controversial in that his views are somewhat on the lines of a socialist-leaning new world order ‘dawn of the whole wide world’
BBC plays part in promoting William Beveredge’s blueprint for the postwar welfare state, and saying of the five great giant evils of society, Want, Ignorance, Squalor, Disease, Idleness, which causes Churchill trouble
Key film ‘Love on the Dole’ shows what the situation was ‘Oh God give me some work!’
11.5 The question of morale
Inspiring material - Goebbels’ final historical epic, Kollberg 1945 about heroic German resistance during the Napoleonic wars - flown into besieged fortress of La Rochelle on the day of its premier to encourage the defenders
German Weekly makes its last newsreel a month before Berlin falls
A lack of newsprint gives radio added power
In this war, the dominance of newsprint was over, radio, especially the BBC which was trusted, now dominated information transmission, but ‘Own opinion’ at the moment war was declared was the most powerful, of all channels of influence.
11.5 The question of morale 2
Goebbels distinguished between Halting (behaviour) and Stemming (mood). It was better that people were cheerful than not, but critical that they were fully engaged in their appropriate role in the war effort.
Mass Observation - ‘primarily good morale to-day means hard work…a long term backbone, a persistent and enduring quality, a readiness to go on and on an on (on and on working’)
Examples of Propaganda and films
Listen to Britain
review of the year 1940 a snapshot of Britain
France Actualities 1940 - France mobilising to fight Germany
France Actualities 1944 Vichy - Anti allies, bombing and resistance, killing French people and destroying buildings, anti British, US and Soviet armies (same company as 1940)
David Niven Film ‘The Way Ahead’ with Fraser and old sergeant
Ohnm Kruger - Nazi propaganda film that harkens back to the Boer War and accuses British soldiers of brutality and concentration camps
It’s that man again, Tommy Handley also George Formby (Charlie Chaplin?)
Love on the Dole - A call for social change as men seek work
