British WW2 Anti Hitler Propaganda Pamphlet "Ein Peinliches Versprechen" An Embarrassing Promise

From a small former intelligence officer's collection of original surviving WW2 psychological warfare propaganda leaflets we were delighted to acquire.

"ein peinliches versprechen". An air dropped propaganda leaflet pointing out that Hitler prophesied a German victory in 1941, as the Year of Final Victory. Undermining the Fuhrer Myth through Black Propaganda and clandestine means became the stated objective of the OSS.

Leaflets for propaganda, could be dropped by balloons and planes over enemy territory, or, distributed by hand when in occupied or allied territory. They was used heavily in both world wars by all sides. In World War II, special bombs were developed to disperse airborne leaflets. Used as a form of psychological warfare, these leaflets were dropped in enemy-controlled territory to incite fear, coerce surrender, or turn the populace against their leadership. This tactic proved to be largely ineffective, except when morale among troops was extremely low. Leaflet bombs are still used today in military warfare, as well as by radical political and ideological groups.

Toward the end of World War II, Germany dropped millions of propaganda leaflets on enemy lines to encourage troops to surrender. Some of these leaflets were tailored to African American soldiers and suggested they would be treated better as German prisoners of war than as citizens in their own country.

Nazi Germany was not known for its fair treatment of people of African descent, or any persons who weren’t Aryan. Black people were frequently vilified and deemed uncivilised in Nazi propaganda. Yet, Germany was willing to use any tactics necessary to avoid defeat, including highlighting American racism, to exploit existing tensions within the U.S. military..

Although these pamphlets were made in their tens of thousands almost all were destroyed either immediately or at the wars cessation, so few survive and mostly survive today in national archives or museums.

8.25 inches x 5.25 inches

Code: 24498