Send questions and comments concerning this lesson to author
Linda M. McCubbins, Education Coordinator
MacArthur Memorial, Norfolk, Virginia.
Accomplish as many of the applicable SOLs as time allows. Examining the effect of propaganda as a form of psychological warfare gives students an opportunity to analyze primary source documents, and to develop skills in discussion, debate, and persuasive writing.
Social Sciences:
6.10, 6.11, 9.10, 9.11, 11.9, 11.17, 11.18
Two German propaganda leaflets give students the opportunity to examine the effect of propaganda as a form of psychological warfare. Activities contained in this lesson will help students develop skills for historical analysis.
Length of Program: 4+ Hours to accomplish all aspects of the lesson.Cost: Field Trips to the MacArthur Memorial can be taken without charge.
- If intending to take your class on a field trip to the MacArthur Memorial, please contact Linda McCubbins, MacArthur Memorial Education Coordinator, to arrange the date and time of the visit.
- Confirmation of the visit will be sent to the lead teacher, with pre-visit information and a parking map.
Don't die till you have to!
WHAT BUSINESS HAVE YOU TO DIE FOR FRANCE, FOR ALSACE-LORRAINE, OR FOR ENGLAND IN FRANCE?
Isn't it better anyhow to live than to die, no matter for how "glorious" a cause? Isn't it better to live and come back to the old folks at home, than to rot in the shell holes and trenches of France?
You have had to hear many high falutin words about "liberty," "humanity," and "making the world safe for democracy," but honest now, aren't these catch words merely sugar coating to the bitter pill of making you spend wretched months far from home? Do you really believe those German soldier boys in their faded grey uniforms on the other side of "No Man's Land" are hot on the trail of your liberties?
Just like you, they want the war to end with honor so they can go back to their home folks. All they want is a chance to live and let live.
And so, if it should happen to you to fall into their hands you will find that they will treat you fair enough on the principle of "LIVE AND LET LIVE." Why run any more chances than you have to, you might as well be a free boarder in Germany till the war is over. YOU DON'T WANT TO DIE UNTIL YOU HAVE TO!
End the war! Put an end of the fighting! That's the simplest way. Just stop fighting and the war will be over. You are not fighting for anything. What does it matter to you who owns Metz or Strassburg? You never lived in those towns nor knew the people who live in them. What do you care about them? But there is a warm little home in little old United States you care about. If you keep fighting here you may never see home again.
The only way to stop the war is to stop fighting. That's easy. Just quit it and slip across No Man's Land and join the bunch that's taking it easy there waiting to be changed and taken home. There is no disgrace in that. That bunch of American prisoners will be welcomed just as warmly as you who stick it out in these infernal trenches. Get wise and get over the top.
There is nothing in the glory of keeping up the war. Just think of the increasing taxes you will have to pay. The longer the war lasts the larger those taxes at home will be. Get wise and get over.
All the fine words about glory are tommy rot. You haven't got any business fighting in France. You would be fighting the money trust at home instead of fighting your fellow soldiers in grey over here where it doesn't really two sticks to how the war goes.
Your country needs you, your family needs you and you need your life for something better than being gassed or shot at, deafened by cannon shots and rendered until physically by the misrable life you must live here.
The tales they tell you of the cruelties of German prison camps are fairy tales. Of course you may not like being a prisoner of war but anything is better than this infernal place with no hope of escape except by being wounded after which you will only be sent back for another hole in your body.
Wake up and stop the war! You can if you want to. Your government does not mean to stop the war for years to come and the years are going to be long and dreary. You better come over while the going is good.
Activity I.
Instruct students to read both documents and list reasons given by the Germans to persuade Americans to give up.
Activity II.
Have students design their own propaganda leaflets to counter the German propaganda leaflets.
Activity III.
Have students collect and explain newspaper and magazine advertisements that show examples of modern-day propaganda. Divide students into groups to make collages using advertisements.
Linda McCubbins
Education Coordinator
General Douglas MacArthur Memorial
MacArthur Square
Norfolk, Virginia 23510PHONE: (757) 441-2965
E-MAIL: macmem@norfolk.infi.net