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Black PropagandaBlack propaganda is propaganda that purports to be from a source on one side of a conflict, but is actually from the opposing side. It is typically used to vilify, embarrass or misrepresent the enemy. It contrasts with grey propaganda, the source of which is not identified, and white propaganda, in which the real source is declared. The term is also sometimes used as a synonym for particularly malicious wartime propaganda or falsification of information that is captured by an enemy. Black propaganda may be generated by altering genuine enemy propaganda in such a way as to distort its message. This is a particularly powerful tool if the target audience has a poor understanding of the language of the enemy. Anti-Semitic black propaganda A classic example of black propaganda is the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which poses as a document written by Jewish elders, but is actually a forgery written by an opponent of the Jews. A lesser-known but equally pernicious example is the invented book A Racial Program for the Twentieth Century, which was purported to be proof of a Jewish/Communist plot against white Americans, but was actually an invention of Eustace Mullins. World War II black propaganda British black propaganda In Britain, the Political Warfare Executive operated a number of black propaganda radio stations. Gustav Siegfried Eins was the first such station - purporting to be a clandestine German station. The speaker, 'Der Chef' purported to be a Nazi extremist, accusing Hitler and his henchmen of going soft. The station focused on alleged corruption sexual improprieties of Nazi Party members. Another example was the British radio station Soldatensender Calais, which purported to be a radio station for the German military. Under the direction of Sefton Delmer, a British journalist who spoke perfect Berliner German, Soldatensender Calais and its associated shortwave station, Kurzwellesender Atlantik, broadcast music, up-to-date sports scores, speeches of Adolf Hitler for "cover", and subtle propaganda. David Hare's play Licking Hitler provides a fictionalised account based on the British black propaganda efforts in World War II. German black propaganda German black propaganda usually took advantage of European racism and anti-Communism. For example, on the night of April 27, 1944 German aircraft under cover of darkness (and possibly carrying fake Royal Air Force markings) dropped propaganda leaflets on occupied Denmark. These leaflets used the title of Frihedsposten, a genuine Danish underground newspaper, and claimed that the "hour of liberation" was approaching. They instructed Danes to accept "occupation by Russian or specially trained American Negro soldiers" until the first disorders resulting from military operations is over. Japanese black propaganda The following message was distributed in black propaganda leaflets dropped by the Japanese over the Philippines in World War II. It was designed to turn Filipinos against the United States: Guard Against Venereal Diseases "Lately there has been a great increase in the number of venereal diseases among our officers and men owing to prolific contacts with Filipino women of dubious character. Due to hard times and stricken conditions brought about by the Japanese occupation of the islands, Filipino women are willing to offer themselves for a small amount of foodstuffs. It is advisable in such cases to take full protective measures by use of condoms, protective medicines, etc.; better still to hold intercourse only with wives, virgins, or women of respective character. Furthermore, in view of the increase in pro-American leanings, many Filipino women are more than willing to offer themselves to American soldiers, and due to the fact that Filipinos have no knowledge of hygiene, disease carriers are rampant and due care must be taken." US Army Right-wing black propaganda The Zinoviev letter The Zinoviev letter was a fake letter published in the right-wing British newspaper The Daily Mail. It claimed to be a letter from the Comintern president Grigori Zinoviev to the British Communist party. It called on Communists to mobilise "sympathetic forces" in the Labour Party and talked of creating dissent in the armed forces. The Zinoviev letter was instrumental in the Conservative victory in the 1924 UK general election. French National Front black propaganda In Dreux in 1982 the National Front distributed anonymous fake letters, supposedly from an Algerian living in France to a brother living in Algeria. The letters read: - Mon cher Mustapha,
- Avec la grce dAllah tout puissant, nous sommes matres de Paris. Je me demande pourquoi tu hsites venir nous rejoindre.
- A ton arrive, tu te feras inscrire la prfecture comme travailleur clandestin qui veut rgulariser sa situation. Sois sans crainte, on ne te donnera pas de travail mais une carte qui te permettra davoir tous les avantages dun travailleur.
- Le mieux est de venir avec les enfants car les allocations familiales sont trs intressantes. Une seule de tes femmes sera considre comme lgitime, les autres seront inscrites comme mre clibataire ayant charge de famille et toucheront environ trois mille francs tous les mois.
- La seule chose que tu auras faire, cest daller pointer au chmage, cest un peu long car il y a beaucoup de monde et plein dtrangers ( les Dupont, les Durand, etc ) quil faut quand mme laisser passer leur tour. Mais, lorsque nous serons effectivement au pouvoir, nous crerons des guichets pour eux. En attendant, comme ce sont les franais qui paient, il faut se montrer patient.
- Les franais vnrent les Saints. Le plus grand est le Saint-dicat. Il est bon, fort et puissant et nous protge. Si as oubli de pointer ou si tu as besoin de quelque chose et que tu narrives pas lobtenir, tu tadresses ton Saint-Dicat et il lobtient aussitt.
- Nous esprons obtenir bientt le droit de vote. Beaucoup de gens de gauche nous lont promis. Grce notre nombre, cest bientt nous qui ferons la loi.
- Nous avons fichu les franais hors dAlgrie, nous finirons par les flanquer hors de France.
- Ton frre Abdelkader.
which translates as - My dear Mustapha,
- With the grace of the all-powerful Allah, we are the masters of Paris. I ask myself why you hesitate to join us here.
- On your arrival, tu te feras inscrire la prfecture as a clandestine worker who wants to legitimize his situation. Sois sans crainte, on ne te donnera pas de travail mais une carte qui te permettra davoir all the advantages of a worker.
- The best thing is to come with children for the family allowances are very interesting. Only one of your wives will be considered legitimate - the others will be classed as single mothers in charge of a family and can claim 3000 francs per month.
- The only thing you will heve to do is to join the dole queue, it is quite long for there are many people and it is full of foreigners (the Duponts, the Durands, etc ) whom it is necessary nevertheless to let pass in their turn. But, when we will be effectively in power, we will create counters for them. While waiting, as they are French who pays, it is necessary to be patient.
- The French venerate saints. The greatest is the Saint-Dicat (Syndicate). He is good, strong and powerful and protects us. If you have forgotten to claim dole or need somthing and haven't got it, your Saint-Dicat will get it for you right away.
- We are about to get the right to vote. Many people on the left promised us this. Thanks to our numbers, we will soon be able to make the law.
- We have driven the French from Algeria, now we will flank them out of France.
- Your brother Abdelkader.
These fake letters were instrumental in the National Front victory in the 1983 local council elections in Dreux.
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