Persuading the people: British propaganda in the Second World War

From crude to comic, Professor David Welch discusses British propaganda and illustrates his talk with artefacts from the Second World War.

Professor David Welch will focus on a largely neglected aspect of the Ministry of Information's work: their role as a major publisher.

Propaganda messages ranged from the crudeness of specifically anti-Nazi and anti-Japanese publications to defiant and even cheeky humour in some of the material depicting events that turned the war in Britain's favour.

The more light-hearted campaigns discouraged citizens from gossiping, while at the same time encouraging them to savour the culinary delights and health-inducing qualities to be found by experimenting with versatile Potato Pete and Doctor Carrot.

David will illustrate his talk with artefacts including posters, pamphlets and leaflets to illuminate the importance of winning 'hearts and minds' in the Second World War.