Why!

This is coolbert:

During the Second World War [WW2], it was decided early in the game by the U.S. government to make a series of films that would be entitled, "Why We Fight". Films that would present to the U.S. populace the case for war and what the war was all about. Why the U.S. and it's allies needed to win, the nature of the enemy, and what defeat could bring .

Now, some people at the start of the war, in the days just immediately after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, obviously had a visceral reaction to the war. "We have been attacked, and we are going to fight back until we knock the other guy out [Japan]" This was their reaction. And it is a VALID reaction.

That is with regard to the war against Japan. Understandable why people would feel that way. Again, a visceral reaction. Such folks did NOT need to be motivated.

With regard to the war effort against fascist Italy and most importantly, German, the U.S. government wanted to reinforce the perception that THESE WERE opponents that HAD to be defeated. NOT only for our [American] interests, but for world-wide interests also.

[Germany was deemed very early on as the most dangerous opponent the U.S. faced in WW2. 90 % of the U.S. war effort was to be aimed against Germany. Defeating Germany first before Japan was felt to be very important!!]

It was felt that motivation for the long run was a necessity for victory. Motivation that could be had in part by an informational campaign that would influence the American public in the way that the government wanted. An informational campaign that would include the film series, "Why We Fight".

[Please keep in mind that when I say informational, some would say "PROPAGANDA". The word propaganda having negative connotations. One could argue forever whether "Why We Fight" is propaganda or informational. That is not the issue of this blog entry!!]

It was decided to have the distinguished movie director Frank Capra to direct the films. After mulling over the entire project for a while, Capra came up with a unique and what proved to be a very effective idea for the making of the film series.

Capra made the decision that it WAS NOT necessary to film even one foot of new footage for the series. The necessary material was already available. This material would be taken from existing German, Italian, and Japanese film footage. The fascist and militaristic Axis powers had proven themselves masters of film propaganda, and had an extensive body of cinematic work that had been and was being used to inculcate their own populations. A body of cinematic work that was at the disposal of Capra.

Capra proceeded to cut, splice, edit, and copy whatever he needed from the Axis film collection. Capra's intention was to present to the American public the enemy as THE ENEMY SAW THEMSELVES. And in this regard he WAS effective. NO ADDITIONAL FILM FOOTAGE WAS NECESSARY. The "Why We Fight" film series of Frank Capra was SUCCESSFUL. Is considered to be a masterpiece.

[This would include film footage of goose-stepping Nazi troops being reviewed by fascist-saluting bemedaled Nazi potentates, Jewish shops being vandalized and the owners of same humiliated in public, Japanese soldiers and ordinary citizens deeply bowing to their Emperor, small German and Japanese children engaging in bayonet practice, Polish cities on fire from saturation bombing, etc.]

In this regard, the "Why We Fight" series of films CANNOT BE considered to be propaganda as the word is commonly understood. Propaganda DOES make use of exaggeration, lies, fabrications, inventions, half-truths, out-of-context distortions.

What was so effective is that it was NOT necessary to exaggerate, make up, invent, or distort anything with regard to the WW2 enemy. It WAS ONLY NECESSARY to show the truth. THE TRUTH AS IT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU BY THE ENEMY THEMSELVES!!

coolbert.