Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, General, Volume I
740.00119 E.W./12–1144
The Director of the Office of Strategic Services (Donovan) to the Director of the Office of European Affairs, Department of State (Dunn)
Dear Jimmie: I am inclosing a paper that I am sending to the Secretary but I would like you to look at it before it goes in.
Sincerely,
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Strategic Services (Donovan) to the Secretary of State
In order to weaken the resistance of the German civilian population, it is proposed to disseminate both by radio and by pamphlet the theme set forth in the inclosed paper entitled “Black Propaganda Treatment of Unconditional Surrender”.
I think you understand that this material will be purported to come from within Germany itself and will represent the dissatisfaction of the purported group with the needless sacrifice of continued resistance.
I am anxious to submit this to the Joint Chiefs of Staff but before doing so, I would appreciate your concurrence as to the advisability of the attack and the method proposed.
Black Propaganda Treatment of Unconditional Surrender
I. Discussion
1. Analysis of German propaganda for home-front consumption discloses that while a literal translation of the phrase “unconditional surrender” has rarely been employed to convince the German people that there is no alternative but to continue the war, the concept of surrender has become associated in the German mind with the worst catastrophes which could befall the population. The horrible prospects of exile to Siberia, eternal slavery, de-industrialization, breakup of Germany, and even sterilization, have been carefully portrayed to the Germans by their Nazi leaders. It is considered that the German spirit of resistance has been bolstered greatly by fear of the consequence of unconditional surrender.
[Page 568]2. Black propaganda disseminated by wholly secret means and purporting to originate from within enemy countries could:
a. Diminish the propaganda value of this theme by attempting to dissociate “unconditional surrender” from the afflictions Nazi leaders have been predicting to their people.
Typical Black Theme:
“Unconditional surrender” is demanded of “our” Government by the Allies, but it applies only to the Nazi Government and the Wehrmacht, and not to us as individuals. Behaviour of Allied Forces in Italy, Rumania, Bulgaria and occupied areas of Germany disprove the Nazi predictions of horrible conditions resulting from “unconditional surrender.”
b. Convert the theme to a black propaganda weapon of our own by associating “unconditional surrender” with desirable rather than fearsome prospects.
Typical Black Theme:
Unconditional surrender means “our” delivery from the Nazi yoke and would represent a new beginning for the German people wherein “our” biological strength, shrewdness, and scientific prowess would soon lead “us” to a healthy economic and social position. Homes, industries, national wealth, and the framework of the German Army would be conserved for the future. The destruction of Germany is too high a price to pay for saving the Nazis for another four or five months, by which time military defeat is inevitable.
c. Suggest that continuation of the war would expose the German people to a fate worse than that threatened by Nazi propagandists.
Typical Black Theme:
The traditional humanitarian tendencies of the democracies may change to vindictiveness if the war is allowed to continue. The chaos, disease, and privation predicted for us in the event of unconditional surrender will develop by prolonging the war. “Our” continued resistance protects only the Nazi leaders.
d. Give the German people a vague and wholly spurious idea of the “terms” of unconditional surrender which the Allies will impose.
Black Treatment:
“Terms” would not be specifically set forth, but “interpreted” in general terms based upon the principles enumerated at Tab ‘A’.38
3. Methods: At the present time a spurious and purportedly clandestine newspaper, “Das Neue Deutschland,” is being printed in Europe by this organization and distributed by means of agents to the German troops on the Western Front and the Italian Front, in Hungary and [Page 569] in Austria. Future editions of this publication, whose cover is still considered to be secure, can develop the themes enumerated in Paragraph 2 above. Rumors currently being carried through neutral countries to Germany and initiated among German troops by means of agents can portray the inevitability of defeat and the reasons for unconditional surrender now. A false document setting forth actual terms of unconditional surrender may be “planted” in such a manner that its content would be appropriately publicized, or the secret Allied intentions after surrender could be “disclosed” by rumor alone.
4. It is recognized that in conducting black propaganda operations, the real source of the propaganda may be suspected, but its dissemination is handled in such a manner that neither the Allied Military Commanders nor their Governments can be implicated, and all such propaganda may, if necessary, be officially disavowed.
II. Recommendations
- 1.
- That the Morale Operations Branch of this organization be authorized to undertake a black propaganda campaign, directed at the German people’s fear of the consequences of “unconditional surrender.”
- 2.
- That themes, similar to those outlined in the foregoing discussion, be employed.
III. Concurrences
Office of War Information
Department of State
Suggested Black Statement of Allied Intentions After Unconditional Surrender of Germany
I. Territorial
- 1.
- Germany will be entirely occupied by Allied troops.
- 2.
- Although Russian, British and American troops will occupy three separate sections of Germany, it is not intended to partition the German Reich.
II. Military
1. Internal order will be maintained by Allied forces until a German Government is formed.
III. Judicial
- 1.
- War criminals will be tried by special international tribunals. Impartial justice will be meted out.
- 2.
- War criminals are defined as leaders of the National Socialist Party, certain general officers in the Wehrmacht, police officers of high rank, and any other persons who have committed criminal acts.
- 3.
- Persons accused of being war criminals will be committed to trial only after the establishment of their probable participation in criminal acts by an impartial international body.
IV. Political
- 1.
- Germany will eventually be allowed to choose its own form of government and the Allies will establish the machinery for registering the expression of popular will.
- 2.
- The National Socialist Party will be stamped out. No member of that party will be allowed to hold any office or position of trust.
- 3.
- Germany will be admitted to participation in whatever association of nations is formed after proving its good intentions.
V. Economic
- 1.
- The establishment of a prosperous Germany as a self-sustaining member of the family of nations is desired by the Allies. To this end the Allies will restore the basis of sound German currency, assistance in the restoration of German industry will be provided with a view to absorbing the unemployed, and Germany will be allowed access to raw materials and markets in order to support its industry.
- 2.
- Germany will be forbidden to manufacture airplanes, guns over 20 mm. calibre and warships. Allied control will be exercised to insure that German industry will be directed only toward the production of non-military goods.
VI. Reparations
- 1.
- Property acquired by Germans in any other country will be returned to its owner or compensation made.
- 2.
- Property destroyed or damaged by Germans in any other country will be rebuilt and restored by Germany.
VII. Cultural
- 1.
- Freedom of religion is guaranteed.
- 2.
- Education, speech and the press will be controlled only to the extent necessary to insure that National Socialism and similar doctrines are not advocated.
- 3.
- Organizations of a non-military and non-political character will be permitted.