World War II: Axis Propaganda Reports by the U.S. Foreign Broadcast Intelligence Service (1942 – 44)

Description

Birth of Broadcast Intelligence: 1941-1947

February 26, 1941:

• Establishment of the Foreign Broadcast Monitoring Service (FBMS): The FBMS is created as part of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by a Presidential directive. Its initial mandate is to monitor, record, translate, transcribe, and analyze shortwave propaganda radio programs broadcast by the Axis powers to the United States.

1942 (Exact date unspecified, but after FBMS establishment):

• Name Change to Federal Broadcast Intelligence Service (FBIS): The Foreign Broadcast Monitoring Service (FBMS) changes its name to the Federal Broadcast Intelligence Service (FBIS).

April 4, 1942 – October 19, 1944:

• Production of Axis Propaganda Reports by FBIS: The Federal Broadcast Intelligence Service (FBIS) produces 132 typed reports, bound into four volumes, focusing on Axis propaganda broadcasts. These reports provide in-depth narrative and technical assessments of Axis propaganda, including analysis of speeches by Axis leaders (Hitler, Goebbels, Mussolini, Tojo), comparisons of British and Axis radio treatment of events, predictions of military moves based on broadcast analysis, and accounts of Axis exploitation of racial conflict in the United States. They also offer information useful for Allied propaganda preparers.

1944 (Exact date unspecified):

• Publication of “Civil Affairs Handbook, Germany, Section 2K: German Military Government Over Europe: Propaganda in Occupied Europe”: The United States Provost Marshal General’s Bureau produces this 97-page manual detailing German propaganda operations in occupied Europe. It covers principal German propaganda agencies abroad, propaganda in combat and communication zones, the transition to permanent occupation propaganda, and its application in various territories (alliance administration, military administration, Reich commissar territories, Protectorate Bohemia-Moravia, occupied eastern territories, and the government general).

1942 – 1947:

• FBIS Operations Covered in CIA History: This period is the scope of a 311-page CIA report, written in 1969 by Joseph E. Roop, an editor at FBIS from 1942 to 1964, detailing the history of the Service.

1969:

• Writing of “Foreign Broadcast Information Service. History. Part I: 1941-1947”: Joseph E. Roop writes this 311-page CIA report covering the history of the FBIS/FBMS from 1941 to 1947.

2009:

• Declassification of “Foreign Broadcast Information Service. History. Part I: 1941-1947”: The CIA report on the history of the FBIS is declassified.

Cast of Characters

• Adolf Hitler: Leader of Nazi Germany during World War II. His speeches are analyzed line-by-line in the FBIS reports, providing insight into Axis propaganda.
• Joseph Goebbels: German Minister of Propaganda during World War II. His speeches are analyzed line-by-line in the FBIS reports, reflecting the nature of Axis propaganda.
• Benito Mussolini: Fascist dictator of Italy during World War II. His speeches are analyzed line-by-line in the FBIS reports, contributing to the understanding of Axis propaganda.
• Hideki Tojo: Japanese Premiere during a significant portion of World War II. His speeches are analyzed line-by-line in the FBIS reports, providing insight into Japanese Axis propaganda.
• Winston Churchill: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. The FBIS reports compare how his speeches are portrayed by the BBC and Axis radio, highlighting propaganda techniques.
• Joseph E. Roop: An editor at the Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) from 1942 to 1964. He authored the 311-page CIA history of the FBIS, covering the period from 1941 to 1947, which was declassified in 2009.

World War II: Axis Propaganda Reports by the U.S. Foreign Broadcast Intelligence Service (1942 – 44)

1,125 pages of reports produced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’S Foreign Broadcast Intelligence Service, between April 4, 1942, and October 19, 1944, composed of 132 typed reports, bound into 4 volumes covering Axis propaganda broadcasts. These reports provide an in-depth narrative and technical assessment of Axis propaganda during this period.

In addition to reports above, this collection includes a 311-page CIA history written in 1969 and declassified in 2009, covering the Service from 1942 to 1947 and a 97-page handbook on German propaganda in occupied Europe.

Foreign Broadcast Monitoring Service (FBMS)

The Foreign Broadcast Monitoring Service (FBMS) was established as part of the FCC by a Presidential directive dated, February 26, 1941. The first mandate of the FBMS was to monitor, record, translate, transcribe, and analyze shortwave propaganda radio programs that were being beamed at the United States by the Axis powers. Later, the agency had its name changed to Federal Broadcast Intelligence Service.

Contents

The reports contain news and analysis of Axis propaganda. The reports also contain information that would be useful to Allied preparers of propaganda. Comparisons are made of British and Axis radio treatment of the same events. Predictions of German, Italian and Japanese military moves through the analysis of Axis radio broadcasts are provided. Accounts of exploitation by Axis forces of racial conflict in the United States are conveyed.

The reports give line by line analysis of several speeches given by Hitler, Goebbels, Mussolini, Japanese Premiere Tojo, and other leaders. There are comparisons made between how the BBC and Axis radio portray speeches given by Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service. History. Part I: 1941-1947 (1969)

A 311-page CIA report written by Joseph E. Roop, an editor at the FBIS from 1942 to 1964. It was declassified in 2009.Civil Affairs Handbook, Germany, Section 2K: German Military Government Over Europe: Propaganda in Occupied Europe. (1944)

A 97-page manual produced by the United States Provost Marshal General’s Bureau.

Abstract:  This Civil Affairs handbook details the issue of propaganda in Europe during the Second World War. Headings include principal German propaganda agencies operating abroad, propaganda in combat and communication zones, transition from propaganda in combat zones to propaganda in permanently occupied territories, countries under alliance administration, territories under military administration, territories under a Reich commissar, protectorate Bohemia-Moravia, occupied eastern territories and the government general, and the reversion from permanent to provisional propaganda organizations.