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SPECIAL NOTES

In all the recommendations that follow these general points are of universal importance!

THE NEED FOR SIMPLE FORCEFUL SLOGAN-TAGS TO BRAND THE ENEMY

In the last war enormously effective use was made of the technique of never talking about the enemy except with a term of anger or contempt.

“THE HUN” “THE UNSPEAKABLE HUN”

“THE BOCHE” “SALLE BOCHE”

“THE MAD DOG OF EUROPE”

“THE ALL-HIGHEST” “THE WAR LORD”

“APOSTLES OP FRIGHTFULNESS”

“THE BABY-KILLERS”

We should endeavour to get the same “edge” on our references to the Germans, those good-humoured tags like “Fritz” and “Jerry” should not be used.

These names cannot be imposed - they have to catch on spontaneously and it is hard to get one which is not either too frightening or too good-natured. Every effort should, however, be made to popularise any that emerge and meantime “Nazis” is the best word to date.

Likewise we should always label the German leaders “Hitler the Arch-Gangster”, “Bully Goering”, “Jew-Baiter Streicher”, “Lie-Minister Goebbels”, “Gestapo-Chief Himmler”, “The Rogues Gallery of the Reich” etc. It is surely high time the B.B.C. ceased to refer to the dictators as Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini. The war should be referred to as “The War against German Aggression” or “The Second German War of Aggression” and on public notices this practice should also be followed.

THE VULNERABILITY OF THE GERMAN BULLY

We should avoid perpetuating in news, articles or pictures, the legend of German ruthless efficiency. Like all bullies and gangsters - a coward at heart - the blustering murderer of the weak will crumple if tackled resolutely. He is only brave when he has the bigger gun. He is not 100% invincible. Refer constantly to German scuttlings and German fear of Allied airmen.

We should play up, to their utmost, stories of individual heroism causing the tables to be turned on the Germans - especially by brave civilians. These are immensely encouraging.

“Man for man, we are better than the Germans, more courageous, more adaptable, more enduring”.

“Inside the impressive great-coat and big helmet of the Nazi there is often a not-very-bright adult who can be out-manoeuvred or a surprisingly young and weedy specimen against whom you stand a good chance if you tackle him with all your might”.

Such quotations as these would be heartening to civilians.

Few People Will Stand Up To A Bully If They Believe That The Odds Are Absolutely Hopeless. They Must Feel That They Have A Glimmer Of A Chance, Every Evidence Of German Vulnerability Is Therefore Vital

RE-COVERING THE GROUND

In the actual examples of subjects for articles etc. and mentioned in these recommendations it is realised that many have, in the nature of things, already been used during the nine months of war. But in this campaign they properly find a place and would be given new point by the emphasis on the aspects calculated to produce anger and contempt for the German character.