Allied Propaganda in

World War II:

The Complete Record of the Political
Warfare Executive (FO 898)
_________________________________
From The National Archives (PRO)

Allied Propaganda in
World War II:
The Complete Record of the Political
Warfare Executive (FO 898)
From The National Archives (PRO)
Cumulative Guide
Reels 1-166

General Editor
Professor Philip M. Taylor, Institute of Communication Studies, University of Leeds
Advisory Board
Dr Martin A. Doherty, University of Westminster
Professor David H. Culbert, Louisiana State University
Professor Richard J. Aldrich, University of Nottingham

Images of Crown Copyright Material are reproduced by permission of the Controller of HMSO and
The National Archives (PRO)
Published by Gale International Limited in association with The National Archives (PRO)

Allied Propaganda in World War II:

The Complete Record of the Political Warfare Executive (FO 898)
From The National Archives (PRO)
Professor Philip M. Taylor, Editor
First published in 2005 by Primary
Source Microfilm and The National
Archives (PRO).
2005 by Primary Source Microfilm.
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CONTENTS
Publishers Foreword

Page

Technical Note

Introduction

Note on Omissions

15

Contents of Reels

17

PUBLISHERS FOREWORD
Primary Source Microfilm, an imprint of Gale, is proud to present Allied Propaganda in
World War Two: The complete record of the Political Warfare Executive (FO 898).
This project offers a unique opportunity for scholars to study the extensive use of
propaganda tactics against Nazi Germany and its allies during the Second World War. The
Papers reveal the fascinating history of the Political Warfare Executive (PWE) including
the initial struggles within Whitehall over control of the use of propaganda, information
on various individuals involved in the setting-up of government departments and
implementation of policies, and the extensive and varied propaganda tactics employed.
A printed guide that offers a quick reference Contents of Reels, providing detailed
information about what appears on each reel, accompanies the microfilm collection. On
completion of the final unit of the series guide information will be fielded and incorporated
into Primary Source Microfilms searchable online guide available at www.gale.com/psm.
A special thank you is due to Professor Philip M. Taylor for his invaluable advice and
informative introductory essay. Primary Source Microfilm is also indebted to the staff of The
National Archives (PRO), in particular Anne Kilminster, Suzanne Sinnott, Isabelle Biraben,
Ralph Bryan and Tony Hammond.
Tania Kettell
Senior Project Editor
Primary Source Microfilm
Reading, UK

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INTRODUCTION
Origins of the Political Warfare Executive

The Political Warfare Executive (PWE) was Britains principal organisation for the
conduct of psychological warfare against Nazi Germany and its allies during the Second
World War. Its story is fascinating because it reveals in microcosm the British approach to
a Total War which they could not win alone or without imagination, improvisation and the
creative use of some of the most extraordinary individuals ever gathered together in one
organisation. Although PWE formally came into being on 20 September 1941, its
organisational origins were complex. In a sense the story begins in the final year of the
First World War when the British government established the Department of Enemy
Propaganda based at Crewe House under the direction of Lord Northcliffe. This body was
responsible for the hearts and minds campaign against the Central Powers and pioneered
the use of psychological warfare techniques, chiefly through the dropping of millions of
leaflets over enemy lines and the use of loudspeaker surrender appeals to German and
Austro-Hungarian troops.1 Crewe House was closed down quickly after the 1918
Armistice in the misguided belief that propaganda would not be part of the legacy of the
war to end war. Mussolini, Stalin and Hitler were to expose this as an illusion in an age
when broadcasting and sound cinema provided new media for a new generation of
propagandists.
When a second world war loomed on the 1930s horizon, the British began to prepare early
for a propaganda war. To provide some continuity, and to ensure that lessons learned from
the last war did not have to be learned all over again, the man responsible for the day-today running of Crewe House, Canadian born Sir Campbell Stuart,2 was brought back at
the height of the 1938 Munich crisis to consider a possible leaflet appeal to good
Germans in the event of war. Campbell Stuart was located at Electra House on Londons
embankment, hence his department became known as Department EH. Various Whitehall
individuals also improvised a clandestine broadcast to the German people from Radio
Luxembourg.3 Simultaneously, the Secret Intelligence Services were thinking along
similar lines and, in the final year of peace, an operation of MI6 known as Section D
headed by Major Laurence Grand began to develop ideas about subverting Hitlers
authority. These various initiatives, combined with the interest of the BBC in developing
foreign language broadcasting since early 1938, together with plans to establish a wartime
Ministry of Information, were a potential recipe for disaster on the outbreak of war in so
far as matters of co-ordination was concerned. As a result, the first two years of the
Second World War saw enormous inter-departmental tension within Whitehall that
accordingly spoke to the Germans and to the people of Europe coming increasingly under
the Nazi yoke with numerous voices. The establishment in 1940 of the Special Operations
Executive (SOE) with two branches SO1 dealing with subversive propaganda and SO2
dealing with sabotage compounded the bureaucratic wrangles still further. By this point,
so many government departments the Foreign Office, the Ministry of Information, the
1

M.L. Sanders and Philip M. Taylor, British Propaganda during the First World War
(Basingstoke, Macmillan, 1982).
2
Sir Campbell Stuart, Secrets of Crewe House: the story of a famous campaign (London, Hodder
& Stoughton, 1920).
3
Nicholas Pronay and Philip M. Taylor, An Improper Use of Broadcasting: The British
government and clandestine propaganda operations against Germany during the Munich Crisis and
after, Journal of Contemporary History, Vol. 19 (1984) pp. 357-384.
7

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

Service Departments, the Ministry of Economic Warfare, the Secret Intelligence Services,
and
the
BBC

were
competing
for
control
of
what looked like one of Britains few remaining weapons against the all-conquering
Germans.
Eventually, by the summer of 1941, a working compromise was found. PWEs
organisation was to embrace SO1, the BBC European language services and the Foreign
Publicity Department of the Ministry of Information under the cover name of the Political
Intelligence Department of the Foreign Office. PWE conducted both black (or covert) and
white (overt) propaganda,4 although the formal distinction between the two was not made
until December 1943 when black activities were placed under Sefton Delmer in the
Special Operations Directorate based at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire and white
propaganda fell to Richard Crossman in the Directorate of Political Warfare based at Bush
House (the home of the BBC) in London. PWEs existence at the time and, indeed, for
several decades after the war was over, was highly secret and for many years its black
propaganda work was mainly known only to those who had conducted it. Sefton Delmer,
former Berlin correspondent of the Daily Express and one of the many extraordinary
characters employed by PWE, went public with the publication of his autobiography in
1962,5 fleshing out on clues left in memoirs by such colleagues as Sir Robert Bruce
Lockhart in 1947,6 and John Baker White in 1955.7
However, when most of its files at the Public Record Office were opened in 1976 under
the Thirty Year Rule, even the more experienced scholars struggled with their largely
chaotic and patchy nature with the result that, even today, there is no definitive volume
chronicling PWEs story. Charles Cruickshank and Michael Balfour were amongst the
first historians to try to make sense of the files,8 not wholly successfully. PWEs printer,
Ellic Howe, added a further contribution in his quasi-autobiographical story in 1982 partly
based upon files that were thought to have been destroyed.9 An official history of PWE
was written by David Garnett in the immediate aftermath of the war and, although this is
now available in published form,10 it was suppressed for many years for unknown reasons.
It may have been for fear of libel since Bloomsbury novelist Garnett, who had been
PWEs Director of Training, was highly critical of many of the personalities involved who
were then still alive and serving in public life.

Most practitioners distinguish between three types of propaganda: white propaganda is from a
clearly identifiable source, black is from a source other than the one it is claiming to be from, and
grey is from an unknown source.
5
Sefton Delmer, Black Boomerang (London, Secker and Warburg, 1962).
6
Robert Bruce Lockhart, Comes the Reckoning (London, Putnam, 1947).
7
John Baker White, The Big Lie (London, Evans Brothers, 1955).
8
Charles Cruickshank, The Fourth Arm: Psychological Warfare, 1939-45 (London, Davis Poynter,
1977); Michael Balfour, Propaganda in War, 1939-45: Organisations, Policies and Publics in
Britain and Germany (London, Routledge Kegan Paul, 1979).
9
Ellic Howe, The Black Game: British Subversive Operations against the Germans during World
War Two (London, Michael Joseph, 1982).
10
David Garnett, with an introduction by Andrew Roberts, The Secret History of PWE: the
Political Warfare Executive, 1939-45 (London, St. Ermins Press, 2002).

Key Individuals

Here then are the surviving files of the PWE. Within these files are all the lessons learned
from the greatest psychological warfare campaign ever waged over a prolonged period of
time. It is a mixture of depressing and amusing reading. The depressing parts relate to the
numerous turf wars within Whitehall over control of the propaganda machinery that must
have taken up so much time and energy that they detracted from the propaganda war
against Germany, Italy and Japan. This was a pity because some of the most creative and
colourful characters of that era featured in this work. These included Sir Reginald (Rex)
Leeper, the effective father of modern British public diplomacy and the guiding light prewar of both the British Council and the BBCs overseas broadcasting services.11 Another
Foreign Office official, Sir Ivone Kirkpatrick, became controller of the BBCs overseas
services between 1941 and 1944 after he had identified Rudolph Hess.12 Sir Robert
Bruce Lockhart, the Foreign Offices Deputy Under Secretary of State in charge of PWE
from 1941-1945 had enjoyed a colourful career as both spy and journalist.13 Richard
Crossman, who enjoyed a distinguished career as a post-war Labour politician, became
assistant chief of the Psychological Warfare Branch established in 1944 as a combined
Anglo-American division of the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force,
the forerunner of SHAPE.14 Other distinguished names that grace these files include Noel
Coward, E.H. Carr and Sir John Wheeler-Bennett. At a time when Britain had very few
military options to fight Nazi Germany kinetically, this constellation of intellects focused
on playing mind games with the enemy. They came up with such schemes as spreading
rumours prior to the expected German invasion of Britain that sharks had been brought
from Australia to patrol the waters of the English Channel. Delmer, the genius behind
the black propaganda broadcasts into Germany and Occupied Europe, was obsessed with
dropping dead homing pigeons behind enemy lines to give the impression that a (virtually
non-existent) anti-Nazi resistance movement was active and in contact with Britain.

Political Warfare Executives Wartime Activities

Essentially, PWEs work fell broadly into four types of activity. The clandestine radio
stations, which gave the appearance of being broadcast from within Occupied Europe but
in fact came from Britain, were under the cover name of Research Units. In all, PWE set
up more than 40 of these, including the famous Gustav Siegfried Eins (GS1),
Soldatensender Calais and Atlantiksender, and were targeted at military and naval units in
the field as well as civilians in order to spread disruptive and disturbing news among the
Germans which will induce them to distrust their government and to disobey it.15 The
range of these broadcasts was greatly enhanced after 1942 with the purchase of the
powerful Aspidistra transmitter from the Americans, now themselves heavily involved
in the war and learning all the time from the British in what they preferred to call
psychological warfare. Atlantiksender, for example, was targeted at German submarine
crews, complete with its own female announcer Vicky the Girl with the Pin-up
voice, a young Jewess called Agnes Bernelle who delivered messages based upon
intercepted mail intended for German prisoners of war. As Delmer testified, this station
11

On Leeper, see Philip M. Taylor, The Projection of Britain: British Overseas Publicity and
Propaganda, 1919-39 (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1981).
12
Sir Ivone Kirkpatrick, The Inner Circle (London, Macmillan, 1959).
13
Kenneth Young (ed.), The Diaries of Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart, 1915-65 (2 Vols. London,
Macmillan, 1973 & 1980).
14
See R.H.S. Crossman, Black Prima Donna, The New Statesman, 9 November 1962 and The
Wartime Tactics that led to Watergate, The Times, 16 May 1973.
15
Delmer, op. cit., p. 108.

10

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

always spoke from a patriotic and national German viewpoint and this was bound to be
more insidious and psychologically effective than a straight enemy broadcast, partly
because listeners caught tuning in to us would welcome the excuse that they had only
listened in the belief that the station was German.16
It has to be remembered that listening to foreign radio stations was outlawed by the Nazis,
under penalty of death, such was their fear of alternative points of views and news. The
challenge Delmer faced was to get enemy soldiers and civilians to listen without them
knowing that they were breaking the law or listening to enemy propaganda. By pretending
to be disaffected German broadcasters, the Research Units were born of a lie and
subsequently embraced lying in a manner eschewed by white propagandists who could
barely afford the subsequent loss of credibility should the lie be exposed, and whose
approach embraced what was termed the Strategy of Truth. As Delmer explained: we
must never lie by accident, or through slovenliness, only deliberately.17 This required
considerable research and was greatly aided by the intelligence services and by access to
the Hellschreiber teleprinter machine that was abandoned in the London office of
Reuters on the outbreak of war by the official German news agency, the DNB (Deutsche
Nachrichtenburo). This machine, the nearest PWE equivalent to the Enigma machine that
enabled SOE to read German military directives, enabled PWE to read Goebbels
propaganda directives and thus to pre-empt official German news announcements. But,
like Enigma, it was important not to reveal to the Germans that the British had this
capability and so often they avoided using the material unless it could have been secured
from another source.
A second PWE activity included the publication of black printed material, including
leaflets, newspapers, fake astrological magazines and forged ration books. This was the
work of Ellic Howe, a specialist in German typographic fonts and paper. Howe was
PWEs counterfeit specialist and he would compliment the messages of the clandestine
radio stations, for example, by producing letters to the families of dead German soldiers
informing them that their sons had in fact been killed by Nazi doctors. Even the stamps on
the envelopes of these letters were carefully forged to give the impression of authenticity.
Third was the production of sibs,18 or rumours, by PWEs Underground Propaganda
Committee that met weekly at Bush House. Such sibs included a rumour that 3,000
ghost-killers armed with silent automatic rifles and daggers were waiting to attack
German coastal defences from behind. Perhaps the most famous wartime sib, however,
predated the formation of PWE. An idea of Major John Baker White, this was that the
English Channel would be set on fire in the event of a German invasion in 1940. As
Garnetts official history put it: the really good sib is a poisoned sweetmeat it is
sugarcoated and the deadly dose is not immediately evident.19 Delmer established a close
working relationship with SOE, providing propaganda to support subversion and using
SOE agents to disseminate his sibs and black printed material behind enemy lines.
Another means of delivering black printed material to Germany was available in the form
of a dedicated balloon unit of the RAF.20

16

Ibid., p. 107.
Ibid., p. 92.
18
From the Latin sibilare to whisper.
19
Garnett, op. cit., p. 214.
20
AIR 29/22 (Operations Record Book of M Balloon Unit RAF): AIR 41/1 (Balloon Defences,
1914-1945), pp. 385-390.
17

11

Finally, PWE conducted specific operations such as Operation Braddock that involved the
dropping into Germany of small incendiary devices with appeals to ordinary Germans to
use them against the Nazi authorities.21 Other operations included attempts to deceive the
enemy authorities. However, the real wartime triumph of deception was not directly the
work of PWE but rather that of the London Controlling Section (LCS). This agency
planned and co-ordinated the dissemination of manipulated, distorted and falsified
evidence to the enemy to induce key decision-makers to take decisions prejudicial to their
interests. The LCSs outstanding achievement was during 1944, Operation Fortitude
South, which delayed the commitment of the 15th German Army from the Pas de Calais to
Normandy after D-Day through the dissemination of evidence portraying the phantom
1st United States Army Group as being poised to make a major landing in the area of
Calais.
Although falsehood was the hallmark of black propaganda, deception and subversion
activities, there was a certain caution in embracing initiatives that might generate post-war
legends in Germany of Allied victory through trickery or involve the deception of Allied
publics. These were, after all, people committed to democratic principles, people who
broadly adhered to the principles of the Atlantic Charter and the Four Freedoms. Fighting
an enemy of the nature of Nazi Germany, especially in a Total War situation, may have
required some compromising of those principles, but there remained a reservation that the
ends never quite justified the means. Delmer may have described his team as the ruffians
of the black, the disavowable scallywags who did the dirty work,22 but the conduct of
black propaganda by democracies to this day remains highly controversial. It has
contributed towards giving the word propaganda a bad name, which is why white
propagandists remain so keen to keep their distance from it and, indeed, why they
sometimes maintain that they are not in the propaganda business at all, but rather are
simple providers of straight information. The BBCs wartime relationship with PWE is a
classic example of this tension.

Achievements of the Political Warfare Executive

Ultimately, therefore, the actual wartime record of PWE can boast no equivalent success
to that of its intelligence counterpart, SOE. The German armed forces fought to the bitter
end and there was no successful internal revolt against Hitler. The template for PWEs
aims and objectives had been derived from the experience of Crewe House that had been
instrumental in promoting internal uprisings with Germany and Austria-Hungary. The
main reason why PWE failed to emulate the experience of 1918 was the policy of
Unconditional Surrender announced at the Casablanca conference of January 1943. This
policy denied the psywarriors the very core of their We are not fighting the people of
Germany, only the Nazis or Surrender and return to the community of nations
messages. It placed all Germans in the Nazi boat, and linked their destiny to that of the
Nazi Party in a way that Goebbels who knew this had never been able to achieve for
all his own Ministrys propaganda since 1933. So whereas historians of SOE can
justifiably claim that breaking the Ultra Secret probably knocked off a couple of years of
the war, historians of PWE can make no similar claims. The views of its practitioners
were mixed. As Bruce Lockhart maintained about the role of psychological warfare in

21

See N.C.F. Weeks and Philip M. Taylor, Breaking the German Will to Resist 1944-45: allied
efforts to end World War Two by non-military means, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and
Television, Vol. 18 (1998) No. 1, pp. 5-48.
22
Delmer, op. cit.

12

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

ending the conflict: political warfare did not noticeably weaken German resistance.23
Richard Crossmans judgement, on the other hand, was to place subversive operations and
black propaganda alongside strategic bombing as the only aspects of war at which ... [the
British] ... achieved real pre-eminence.24

Legacy of the Political Warfare Executive in Modern Warfare

The main lesson here is that policy and propaganda must go hand in hand. When the
policy gets ahead of the presentation, or vice versa, the credibility of propaganda will
suffer. But the British were always uneasy with the concept of propaganda, even in Total
War. But as these files reveal, they approached psychological warfare with a creativity
and imagination that belied this inherent suspicion and all the bureaucratic in-fighting that
went with it. That very suspicion was responsible for closing down the PWE as soon as
the war ended, but any surviving illusions about there being no role for psychological
warfare in the post-war era were soon to be shattered by the outbreak of the Cold War. In
1948, again in strict secrecy, the British created the Information Research Department to
conduct clandestine worldwide propaganda against communism.25 Although this effective
successor to PWE survived until 1977 the British were no longer the chief exponents of
psychological warfare. That mantle had passed to the Soviet Union and the United States
who waged their ideological conflict as a struggle both overtly through such channels as
the Voice of America and Radio Moscow and covertly, in a war between the CIA and
the KGB. That struggle lasted for almost 50 years and ended with the collapse of
communist control in Eastern Europe and, indeed, within the Soviet Union itself.
In a sense, the Cold War was one gigantic strategic psychological operation. Many of the
techniques used in it were pioneered by PWE. And leaflets, broadcasts and loudspeaker
teams still remain part of the arsenal available to military commanders. In the 1991 Gulf
War, 30 million leaflets were dropped by American forces. In Kosovo 1999, 103 million
leaflets were dropped. In Afghanistan 2001-2002, the figure was 80 million and in Iraq in
2003, it was 40 million. These were backed up with overt and covert radio and, to a lesser
extent, television broadcasts by flying broadcast platforms. What is now termed
psychological operations (PSYOPS) has become an integral part of the Perception
Management campaign in the global war against terrorism following the September 11th
2001 attacks on New York and Washington. In March 2002, the Pentagon admitted to the
existence of an Office of Strategic Influence whose work was said to include deception.
The resultant media outcry resulted in this body having to be closed down. One wonders
whether the same fate would have befallen the PWE had its existence been known at the
23

Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart, Political Warfare, Journal of the Royal United Service Institution,
Vol. XCV, No. 578 (May 1950) p. 200.
24
R.H.S. Crossman, The Wartime Tactics that Led to Watergate The Times, 16 May 1973, p. 18.
Crossman served as the senior British member of PWD/SHAEF. Earlier in the war he had been
Director of PWEs German and Austrian Regional Directorate.
25
Paul Lashmar and James Oliver, Britains Secret Propaganda War, 1948-1977 (Stroud, Sutton
Publishing, 1998).

13

time. The lessons of history are too frequently forgotten. These files should go some way
towards rectifying this lamentable loss of memory. In that event, perhaps PWEs real
legacy will prove to be greater in the twenty first century than it was in the 20th.
Professor Philip M. Taylor
Institute of Communication Studies
University of Leeds

NOTE ON OMISSIONS
The following files have not been included in this publication as they are classified either
as closed documents or have been retained by the Foreign Office. Please note that a
number of other FO 898 files have been omitted from this publication because they
contain material deemed to be of limited interest or material duplicated in files that have
been included.
File No.
FO 898/91
FO 898/96
FO 898/257
FO 898/259
FO 898/529

Description
Stentor
Awards and decorations
Istanbul Press Reading Bureau: Organisation
SHAEF (PWE) evaluation of documents: correspondence

15

Dates
1944
1944-45
1941-45
1942-43
1944

CONTENTS OF REELS
File No.

Description

Dates

Foreign Office pre-war propaganda policy

Mobilisation: instructions from Ministry of Information
Department EH and SO1 organisation, policy and aims:
general correspondence

1938-39
1939
1939-41

Department EH and SO1 organisation, policy and aims:

general correspondence
Co-ordination and Policy Committee meetings
Consultative Committee meetings and press conferences

1939-41

Planning and Broadcasting Committee meetings

Planning and Broadcasting Committee and General
Discussion Committee meetings

1939-40
1940-41

Meetings at CHQ and Ministerial correspondence on SO1

and SO2 weekly progress reports for 1941
Charter, organisation and functions
Standing Ministerial Committee: minutes, memoranda, and
correspondence

1940-41

REEL 1
FO 898/1
FO 898/2
FO 898/3
REEL 2
FO 898/4
FO 898/5
FO 898/6

1939-41
1939-41

REEL 3
FO 898/7
FO 898/8
REEL 4
FO 898/9
FO 898/10
FO 898/11

1941-42
1941-42

REEL 5
FO 898/12

Executive Committee, organisation and functions: minutes

and memoranda 1941-1942; Director Generals meeting:
minutes and memoranda 1943-1944

1941-44

Propaganda Policy Committee meetings, minutes and

correspondence
Foreign Office
Canada House

1941-46

REEL 6
FO 898/13
FO 898/14
FO 898/15

17

1941-45
1943-44

18

File No.

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

Description

Dates

War Office
Ministry of Economic Warfare
Admiralty

1941-44
1940-45
1941-44

Ministry of Information
Ministry of Information
Ministry of Information

1941
1941-44
1941-45

War Cabinet: Joint Intelligence Committee and Intelligence

Section (Operations)
War Cabinet: co-ordination with Chiefs of Staff
War Cabinet: Joint Planning Staff
General correspondence

1943-45

Information and guidance

Executive Committee meeting with SOE representation:
PW(S), 1941-1942 and Co-ordination Committee meetings,
1942-1943: minutes and correspondence

1941-44
1941-45

PWE/SOE co-ordination procedure: reports and

correspondence
Political Intelligence Department relations with Foreign
Research and Press Service (Chatham House)

1941-44

REEL 7
FO 898/16
FO 898/17
FO 898/18
REEL 8
FO 898/19
FO 898/20
FO 898/21
REEL 9
FO 898/22
FO 898/23
FO 898/24
FO 898/25

1941-44
1941-44
1941-44

REEL 10
FO 898/26
FO 898/27

REEL 11
FO 898/28
FO 898/29

1939-41

REEL 12
FO 898/30

Political Intelligence Department Propaganda Research

Section weekly analysis of propaganda, Political
Intelligence Department (EH Series), and correspondence
with pre-PWE intelligence sources

1939-42

Wiener Library and Demuth Research Organisations

1939-46

Wiener Library and Demuth Research Organisations

Wiener Library and Demuth Research Organisations

1939-44
1941-46

REEL 13
FO 898/31
REEL 14
FO 898/32
FO 898/33

19

File No.

Description

Dates

Wiener Library and Demuth Research Organisations

1943-45

Formation and organisation

Formation and organisation

1941-45
1941-45

General correspondence on policy and administration

1941-45

Contingency plans: weekly Intelligence Reviews, Northern

and Polish Regions, Intelligence Series memoranda on
Europe

1942-44

Intelligence reports from Northern and Southern regions of

Europe

1943-45

Post-war policy: correspondence with JIC and CIOS

Relationships with BBC: meetings, memoranda and
correspondence

1944-45
1941-46

Purchase, installation and proposed uses

History
Minutes of meetings, correspondence and memoranda on
policy

1941-43
1940-42
1941-45

Correspondence and memoranda on policy

General
Role in operation Intruder

1942-45
1943-45
1945

Radio Luxembourg: directive and guidance, control of news

broadcasts by PWE/O/W/I
Post-hostilities of Radio Luxembourg
Propaganda Policy Committee, PW(P): progress reports

1944-45

REEL 15
FO 898/34
REEL 16
FO 898/35
FO 898/36
REEL 17
FO 898/37
REEL 18
FO 898/38

REEL 19
FO 898/39
REEL 20
FO 898/40
FO 898/41
REEL 21
FO 898/42
FO 898/43
FO 898/44
REEL 22
FO 898/45
FO 898/46
FO 898/47
REEL 23
FO 898/48
FO 898/49
FO 898/50

1945-46
1941-43

20

File No.

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

Description

Dates

Research Unit stations: organisation and general

correspondence
Underground broadcasting stations: locations, descriptions
and reports

1941-44

REEL 24
FO 898/51
FO 898/52

1940-45

REEL 25
FO 898/53

Roumania

1940-44

Balkans
Bulgaria
Yugoslavia
Belgium, Denmark, Norway and Poland

1941-44
1941-44
1941-43
1941-43

Hungary

1942-45

Hungary (programme scripts only)

1944-45

Italy, France and Germany

Policy meetings and correspondence

1941-43
1941-45

Leaflets and related correspondence

1942-45

Correspondence and Intelligence reports

Progress reports, leaflet and correspondence

1942-44
1941-44

Reports, plans, Intelligence information, and

correspondence
France: reports and correspondence
Germany: reports and correspondence

1942-45

REEL 26
FO 898/54
FO 898/55
FO 898/56
FO 898/57
REEL 27
FO 898/58
REEL 28
FO 898/59
REEL 29
FO 898/60
FO 898/61
REEL 30
FO 898/62
REEL 31
FO 898/63
FO 898/64
REEL 32
FO 898/65
FO 898/66
FO 898/67

1942-44
1941-44

21

File No.

Description

Dates

Low Countries: report and correspondence

Underground Propaganda Committee: meetings, minutes,
and reports

1942-45
1940-45

Procedure, general correspondence and reports

General index, correspondence and reports

1940-42
1940-45

German (RUG9) rumours

1941-45

Joint activities in field work in Norway: reports,

correspondence and minutes
Derby: missions to Norway

1941-45
1943-45

Oscar
Steeno
Sands
Simoens

1942-43
1942-44
1942-44
1942-44

Claudius and Tybalt

1943-44

Claudius and Tybalt

Othello

1943-44
1943-44

Samoyede
Samoyede

1942-44
1943

Samoyede
Gibbon
Montano

1944
1942-44
1943-44

REEL 33
FO 898/68
FO 898/69
REEL 34
FO 898/70
FO 898/71
REEL 35
FO 898/72
REEL 36
FO 898/73
FO 898/74
REEL 37
FO 898/75
FO 898/76
FO 898/77
FO 898/78
REEL 38
FO 898/79
REEL 39
FO 898/80
FO 898/81
REEL 40
FO 898/82
FO 898/83
REEL 41
FO 898/84
FO 898/85
FO 898/86

22

File No.

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

Description

Dates

Fabius
Socrates
Lena
Emilia
Mardian

1943-44
1943-44
1944
1944
1944

Menas
Monthly reports
Records of W/T telegrams and pigeon post messages
Diaries of resistance in occupied countries and
correspondence
Joint Selection Board: organisation and functions

1944
1944
1943-44
1943-44

Lectures
Anglo-American Brondesbury courses: correspondence,
syllabus and reports

1943
1943-44

Compilation of manual for training personnel in the field

Col. Donovan's organisation, US Office of War Information
(OWI): correspondence and reports

1942-44
1941-45

SO1 in New York: broadcasts to various countries on US

Christian Science station (WRUL)
Liaison with OWI
Liaison with OWI
Washington Mission: correspondence and reports

1941-42

Establishment of Mission: appointment of Mr. Bowes-Lyon

as head of Mission, organisation and reports
Correspondence and reports

1942
1942-44

Mission to San Francisco

Policy towards Italian prisoners of war
Correspondence
Reports and correspondence

1944
1940-43
1941-42
1941-43

REEL 42
FO 898/87
FO 898/88
FO 898/89
FO 898/90
FO 898/92
REEL 43
FO 898/93
FO 898/94
FO 898/95
FO 898/97
FO 898/98

1943-44

REEL 44
FO 898/99
FO 898/100
REEL 45
FO 898/101
FO 898/102
REEL 46
FO 898/103
FO 898/104
FO 898/105
FO 898/106

1941-42
1943-45
1941-42

REEL 47
FO 898/107
FO 898/108
REEL 48
FO 898/109
FO 898/110
FO 898/111
FO 898/112

23

File No.

Description

Dates

SOE activities
SOE activities

1940-42
1940-41

Telegrams
Policy papers and correspondence

1940-42
1940-42

PWE/SOE relations
Correspondence concerning Mr. Paul Vellacott, Director of
PWE Mission

1942-44
1942-44

Mission organisation and administration files

Situation reports, including propaganda leaflets with
translations

1942-45
MaySeptember
1943

FO 898/121

Situation reports, including propaganda leaflets with

translations

FO 898/122

Situation reports, including propaganda leaflets with

translations

SeptemberNovember
1943
November
1943-January
1944

REEL 49
FO 898/113
FO 898/114
REEL 50
FO 898/115
FO 898/116
REEL 51
FO 898/117
FO 898/118
REEL 52
FO 898/119
FO 898/120

REEL 53

REEL 54
FO 898/123
FO 898/124

Situation reports, including propaganda leaflets with

translations
Organisation of Mission (Lagos) and correspondence

April-May
1944
1940-45

Organisation of Mission (Accra): terms of reference

Policy and planning: propaganda activities
Propaganda broadcasts, correspondence, etc.
Propaganda activities, leaflet translations (Arabic)

1942-43
1940-42
1941-43
1941-42

Operation "Torch": policy and plans

Operation "Torch": policy and plans

1942
1942-43

REEL 55
FO 898/125
FO 898/126
FO 898/127
FO 898/128
REEL 56
FO 898/129
FO 898/130

24

File No.

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

Description

Dates

Operation "Torch": files of Director General and others

Operation "Torch": Head of French Section's files

1942-43
1942

North African campaign: reports and correspondence

Operation "Torch": congratulatory letters
Committee meetings and correspondence

1942-43
1942
1941-45

Plans for Tunisian operation

PWE participation in PWB
Intelligence reports on PWB and Tripolitania

1943
1943-44
1943-44

Organisation
Weekly directives, correspondence and reports
Reorganisation of political warfare in Mediterranean area

1943-45
1941-45
1943-45

Bari and Trieste Missions

SOE activities: treatment of partisans and Mikhailovic
Planning reports

1943-45
1940-43
1941-44

Correspondence
Correspondence
Policy and planning

1941-45
1941-45
1940-44

Scheme for transfer of population and territory between

Bulgaria and Roumania
Free Roumanian Movement
Policy and correspondence, including some material on
Hungary
Policy and correspondence, including some material on
Hungary
Background and policy guidance

1939

REEL 57
FO 898/131
FO 898/132
REEL 58
FO 898/133
FO 898/134
FO 898/135
REEL 59
FO 898/136
FO 898/137
FO 898/138
REEL 60
FO 898/139
FO 898/140
FO 898/141
REEL 61
FO 898/142
FO 898/143
FO 898/144
REEL 62
FO 898/145
FO 898/146
FO 898/147
REEL 63
FO 898/148
FO 898/149
FO 898/150
FO 898/151
FO 898/152

1940-41
1940-42
1941-44
1941-44

25

File No.

Description

Dates

Broadcasting policy
PWB submission
Director Generals file
Future of Anglo-Greek Information Service
Mihailovic/Partisan questions

1941-44
1944-45
1944-45
1945-46
1941-43

Relations with Yugoslav Government: broadcasting policy

General Policy and reports on missions in Yugoslavia
Major Randolph Churchills activities

1941-44
1941-45
1944

Free Italy Movement

Policy, plans and directives
Policy, plans and directives

1940-42
1941
1941-42

Policy, plans and directives

1941-42

Policy, plans and directives

Policy, plans and directives

1941-44
1942-43

Policy, plans and directives

Policy, plans and directives
Policy, plans and directives

1943
1943
1943-44

Policy, plans and directives

Policy, plans and directives
Record of PWB activities and Italian armistice

1943-45
1943-44
1943-45

Opinion Survey Section (PWB)

Intelligence guidance (SOE)
Correspondence
Report on political warfare in General Eisenhowers
command

1943-44
1944-45
1944-45
1943

REEL 64
FO 898/153
FO 898/154
FO 898/155
FO 898/156
FO 898/157
REEL 65
FO 898/158
FO 898/159
FO 898/160
REEL 66
FO 898/161
FO 898/162
FO 898/163
(Part 1)
REEL 67
FO 898/163
(Part 2)
FO 898/164
FO 898/165
REEL 68
FO 898/166
FO 898/167
FO 898/168
REEL 69
FO 898/169
FO 898/170
FO 898/171
REEL 70
FO 898/172
FO 898/173
FO 898/174
FO 898/175

26

File No.

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

Description

Dates

Psychological warfare: final report by US Director of PWB,

Mediterranean theatre
Religious broadcasts to Germans: policy
Attack on morale of German troops and civilians
Propaganda for and about foreign workers in Germany

1945-46

German Region Committee: memoranda, agenda and

minutes of meetings; schedules and transcripts of
broadcasts to Germany
Propaganda and policy plans
Policy for BBC broadcasts to Germany; Lord Vansittarts
Black Record

1940-41

Committee meetings, general directives and correspondence

Summary of and comments on German Propaganda
Ministry broadcasts

1941-44
1940-45

Summary of and comments on German Propaganda

Ministry broadcasts

1942-43

Summary of and comments on German Propaganda

Ministry broadcasts

1943-44

Summary of and comments on German Propaganda

Ministry broadcasts
Propaganda plans

1944-45

REEL 71
FO 898/176
FO 898/177
FO 898/178
FO 898/179

1939-42
1939-44
1940-44

REEL 72
FO 898/180
FO 898/181
FO 898/182

1939-41
1941-43

REEL 73
FO 898/183
FO 898/184
REEL 74
FO 898/185
REEL 75
FO 898/186
REEL 76
FO 898/187
FO 898/188

1941-45

REEL 77
FO 898/189
FO 898/190
FO 898/191
FO 898/192

Propaganda planning on general correspondence

Research into German morale and propaganda: organization
and procedure
Free Germany and Austrian Movements
Plans and policy; report on internal German propaganda

1941-45
1942-43
1942-45
1940-45

27

File No.

Description

Dates

Correspondence, reports and memoranda

Anglo-French Enemy Propaganda Council: minutes of
meetings
Anglo-French co-operation in propaganda
Propaganda suggestions
Syria, Lebanon and Corsica: correspondence and reports
Propaganda plans for France and French colonies; minutes
of French Regional Section

1942-45
1939-40

Propaganda plans for France and French colonies; minutes

of French Regional Section
Propaganda plans for France and French colonies; minutes
of French Regional Section
Policy and policy projects
Broadcasting services to Committee of National Liberation
Correspondence

1941-45

Correspondence
Correspondence
PWE/SOE co-operation in distribution of propaganda
Propaganda material for delivery in France by SOE
PWE/SOE agents intelligence reports

1942-44
1944-45
1941-44
1941-44
1944-45

Regional Directors correspondence

Fighting French National Committee; policy towards Vichy
French prisoners of war
Fighting French National Committee; policy towards Vichy
French prisoners of war
Reactions to BBC broadcasts to France and other European
countries; analysis of BBC, Paris and Vichy radio
programmes

1942-44
1942-44

BBC broadcasts to clandestine press; broadcasting facilities

for the Fighting French
General propaganda correspondence and memoranda
Policy and propaganda plans
Correspondence
Director Generals file
Policy and plans

1942-44

REEL 78
FO 898/193
FO 898/194
FO 898/195
FO 898/196
FO 898/197
FO 898/198

1939-40
1941-42
1941-44
1940-44

REEL 79
FO 898/199
FO 898/200
FO 898/201
FO 898/202
FO 898/203

1942-44
1941-44
1941-44
1941-44

REEL 80
FO 898/204
FO 898/205
FO 898/206
FO 898/207
FO 898/208
REEL 81
FO 898/209
FO 898/210
FO 898/211
FO 898/212

1942-44
1943-44

REEL 82
FO 898/213
FO 898/214
FO 898/215
FO 898/216
FO 898/217
FO 898/218

1939-41
1940-41
1942-45
1940-43
1941-44

28

File No.

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

Description

Dates

General letters
General correspondence
PWE/SOE co-operation
Correspondence
Reports on Poland under occupation: general
correspondence
Correspondence
Policy and planning

1941
1941-45
1943-44
1944-45
1939-40

Polish and Czechoslovak, regional

Russo-Polish relations: the Katin Wood murders
Director Generals files
Policy
Working plan for Belgium

1942-44
1943-44
1943-45
1941-44
1941-42

Medium and long term plans for Belgium and Luxembourg

Correspondence with Belgian Government in London
Correspondence with Belgian Information Office in London
Planning for Belgium, Holland and the Dutch Colonies
Broadcasts to Holland (Radio Orange)
Correspondence with Netherlands Government Information
Bureau

1941-43
1941-44
1941-44
1940-44
1941-44
1941-43

Correspondence and reports

Belgium files: general correspondence
Meetings, Directives and Reports on activities in Belgium
Regional plans: correspondence and reports on PWE/SOE
collaboration

1943-44
1943-45
1943-44
1940-45

Relations with Norwegian Government in London

Propaganda planning for Norway
Propaganda planning in general and in preparation for the
invasion of Norway
Clandestine press reports

1941-45
1942-44
1943-45

REEL 83
FO 898/219
FO 898/220
FO 898/221
FO 898/222
FO 898/223
FO 898/224
FO 898/225

1942-43
1942-45

REEL 84
FO 898/226
FO 898/227
FO 898/228
FO 898/229
FO 898/230
REEL 85
FO 898/231
FO 898/232
FO 898/233
FO 898/234
FO 898/235
FO 898/236
REEL 86
FO 898/237
FO 898/238
FO 898/239
FO 898/240
REEL 87
FO 898/241
FO 898/242
FO 898/243
FO 898/244

1944-45

29

File No.

Description

Dates

Denmark: policy files

Contingency planning in the event of occupation by Axis
Powers
Portugese neutrality: joint British/United States plan for
preservation
Propaganda: policy plans
Contingency planning

1941-45
1942-43

Contingency planning
Contingency planning
Stockholm Press Reading Bureau: Intelligence reports

1942-43
1942-43
1940-42

Stockholm Press Reading Bureau: Organisation and staff

Contingency planning
Stockholm directives
Berne Press Reading Bureau: Intelligence reports

1942-43
1942
1942-45
1941-42

Contingency planning
Istanbul Press Reading Bureau: Intelligence reports
Co-ordination of propaganda relations: correspondence and
memoranda

1941-43
1942-44
1941-45

Policy: general files

Russian radio and press propaganda
Director Generals file
Monitoring of Russian radio and press

1939-42
1942-44
1943-44
1943-45

Singapore Bureau correspondence and papers. Killery

Mission
Anglo-American Plan for Far East (Japan)
Anglo-American liaison: Ministry of Information
Propaganda Committee reports
Japan: regional planning; analysis of targets for PW

1941-42

REEL 88
FO 898/245
FO 898/246
FO 898/247
FO 898/248
FO 898/249

1943
1941-44
1942

REEL 89
FO 898/250
FO 898/251
FO 898/252
REEL 90
FO 898/253
FO 898/254
FO 898/255
FO 898/256
REEL 91
FO 898/258
FO 898/260
FO 898/261
REEL 92
FO 898/262
FO 898/263
FO 898/264
FO 898/265
REEL 93
FO 898/266
FO 898/267
FO 898/268
FO 898/269

1941-42
1941-42
1942

30

File No.

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

Description

Dates

REEL 94
FO 898/270
FO 898/271
FO 898/272
FO 898/273
FO 898/274

Director Generals files (Japan)

Intelligence reports for Propaganda Directives subcommittee
Japan plan. Catalogue of directives and accumulated data
and intelligence
Minutes, agenda and correspondence
Minutes, agenda and correspondence

1942
1942-43

Minutes, agenda and correspondence

Anglo-American co-ordination: correspondence and
papers

1942-43
1942-44

PWE responsibilities in Far East. Co-ordination of roles

with other bodies
Overseas Planning Committee PWE/MOI Plan for China
Correspondence between Washington and San Francisco
BPW Missions
Overseas Planning Committee: appreciation of PW plan
for Far East (Parts A and B)

1942-45

1942-43
1942-43
1942-43

REEL 95
FO 898/275
FO 898/276
REEL 96
FO 898/277
FO 898/278
FO 898/279
FO 898/280

1941-45
1943-45
1943-45

REEL 97
FO 898/281
FO 898/282
FO 898/283

Interdepartmental Committee agenda and minutes.

Current Far East plan
Director Generals file: General correspondence
Director Generals file: FEPD and transference of
publicity responsibilities in Far East. PID Policy meeting
minutes

1944-45
1944-45
1945-46

REEL 98
FO 898/284
FO 898/285

Director Generals file: PW Division of SACSEA

progress reports
Reports on BPWM San Francisco broadcasts

1945-46
1945-46

REEL 99
FO 898/286
FO 898/287
FO 898/288

Papers relating to procedure and committee meetings.

Correspondence and memoranda. Ad hoc directives
Organisation of Annexes to central Directives
Regional directives: correspondence and criticisms

1942-45
1942-45
1942-45

31

File No.

Description

Dates

FO 898/289

Central and ad hoc directives

FO 898/290

Central and ad hoc directives

2 SeptemberDecember 1942
January-April
1943

REEL 100

REEL 101
FO 898/291

Central and ad hoc directives

FO 898/292

Central and ad hoc directives

May-August
1943
SeptemberDecember 1943

REEL 102
FO 898/293

Central and ad hoc directives

FO 898/294

Central and ad hoc directives

January-April
1944
May-August
1944

REEL 103
FO 898/295

Central and ad hoc directives

FO 898/296

Central and ad hoc directives

SeptemberDecember 1944
January-July
1945

REEL 104
FO 898/297
FO 898/298
FO 898/299
FO 898/300
FO 898/301
FO 898/302
FO 898/303

Plan of operational propaganda: Policy Committee work.

Papers and reports
Overseas Planning Committee PWE/MOI Liaison details.
Correspondence. Central Planning Group papers
Basic strategy plan
Contingency Planning Committee: methods and procedure
Directors folder: planning
Directors folder: campaigns
Central plans for Europe

1941-42
1941-43
1942
1942
1942
1942
1942

REEL 105
FO 898/304
FO 898/305
FO 898/306

Policy Planning Committee: meetings, minutes, reports

and papers
Central and Regional Phase planning, Committee
minutes, correspondence, construction and policy
General Brooks file: plans and reports

1942-43
1942-43
1942-44

32

File No.

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

Description

Dates

General planning: organization of planning machinery.

Establishment of Director. Central plan formulation
PWE/OWI and SOE/OSS joint plans
Propaganda in the field: PWE responsibilities
Policy Planning Committee meetings (Occupied countries):
papers and correspondence

1942-44

Projects and targets. Reports and bulletins. Background

notes
Targets: Holland and Belgium: reports and reactions
Morale bombing
Plan to accompany RAF attacks on targets outside
Germany: Progress reports
Progress reports. Effects on enemy morale. Reactions to
allied bombing of Belgium
Broadcasting of targets in Germany drafts of
correspondence between SOS Foreign Office and SOS for
Air
Broadcast by Air Marshal Harris to German people:
Correspondence re. Ministerial inquest. Director Generals
report

1940-42

Targets: general bombing policy: papers reports and

correspondence
RAF raids on France: correspondence and reports
Reports on interviews with POWs (CH Brooks)
POWs: general correspondence, memoranda and reports

1942-45

Letter writing campaign

Italian POWs: plan for political warfare in Italian camps.
Correspondence re. Agreement modifying their treatment
Camps policy
Treatment and status of Italian prisoners: Correspondence
and reports
General correspondence

1941-44
1942-44

REEL 106
FO 898/307
FO 898/308
FO 898/309
FO 898/310

1943
1943-44
1943-44

REEL 107
FO 898/311
FO 898/312
FO 898/313
FO 898/314
FO 898/315
FO 898/316
FO 898/317

1941-43
1941-42
1942
1942; 1944
1942
1942

REEL 108
FO 898/318
FO 898/319
FO 898/320
FO 898/321

1942-43
1940-42
1940-42

REEL 109
FO 898/322
FO 898/323
FO 898/324
FO 898/325
FO 898/326

1942-45
1943-45
1944

33

File No.

Description

Dates

Responsibility for Parliamentary Questions about reeducation of German prisoners

Maltreatment of Allied prisoners warning
Coordinating Committee meeting, minutes and notes
PID progress reports
PWE sub-committee on agriculture and food: projects and
reports
Peasant propaganda: Broadcasts, programme and
background reports

1944-45

REEL 110
FO 898/327
FO 898/328
FO 898/329
FO 898/330
FO 898/331
FO 898/332

1944-46
1945
1945-46
1940-42
1942-44

REEL 111
FO 898/333
FO 898/334
FO 898/335

General correspondence. Information, guidance and

proposals
Peasant revolt thesis (Major Baker White)
Dawn peasants radio programmes: information and scripts

1940-42

Regional plans. Basic policy plan

Dawn peasants news items and scripts
Reports, analyses and general correspondence

1942-43
1942-44
1941-44

Inflation and currency

Trojan Horse: foreign labour in Germany

1939-44
1941-44

Joint sub-committee: minutes and reports

General correspondence, reports, memoranda and
programme directives
Colonel Brittons broadcasts: scripts, reviews, programme
notes and directives
Extend: operation for occupation of Madagascar:
background propaganda information

1941-44
1941-44

Combined operations: raids on French coast: background

propaganda file
U Boat campaign: Central directives and guidance on
campaign statements
Transport campaign (to increase German transport
difficulties): committee meetings and correspondence
Transport campaign: policy directives

1942

1942
1942

REEL 112
FO 898/336
FO 898/337
FO 898/338
REEL 113
FO 898/339
FO 898/340
REEL 114
FO 898/341
FO 898/342
FO 898/343
FO 898/344

1941-44
1942

REEL 115
FO 898/345
FO 898/346
FO 898/347
FO 898/348

1942-44
1942-44
1942-44

34

File No.

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

Description

Dates

Husky": invasion of Italy (Maj.-Gen. Brooks file):

Correspondence, directives and policy papers
Post Husky (Maj.-Gen. Brooks file)
Priceless: Italian surrender (Maj.-Gen. Brooks file)

1943

Crossbow: Germanys V weapons campaign (rockets

and flying bombs): central directives, reports and
correspondence
Camel: bombings of French and Belgian railways (Maj.Gen. Brooks file). broadcast plans for warning civil
population in target areas. Reports on reactions
Periwig: breaking the German will to resist. Background
operation policy papers
Periwig: War Cabinet directives and sub-committee
reports
Periwig: Operational plan. General correspondence.
Progress reports

1943-44

REEL 116
FO 898/349
FO 898/350
FO 898/351

1943
1943

REEL 117
FO 898/352
FO 898/353
FO 898/354
FO 898/355
FO 898/356

1944
1944-45
1944-45
1944-45

REEL 118
FO 898/357
FO 898/358
FO 898/359
FO 898/360
FO 898/361

Casement: rumour that German leaders preparing to take

refuge in Eire: outline of plan and its development
Bivouac: infiltration of PWE officers behind enemy lines:
plan, memoranda and directives
Formation of PWB organisation in Europe: proposals for
composition. Personnel training school. Evaluation of
certain intelligence material
Formation of PWB organisation in Europe: background
notes and memoranda. Planning arrangements and
amendments
Directors master file: minutes and papers on finance,
personnel, radio, printed matter, films and liaison

1944-45

Minutes, Meetings and reports, sub-committee reports

General papers (PWB organisation), correspondence,
memoranda, interim briefs and reports
General papers (PWB organisation) and correspondence.
Committee reports and revisions of Section 16 Military
Manual of Civil Affairs

1943-44
1943-44

1944
1943-44
1943-44
1943-44

REEL 119
FO 898/362
FO 898/363
FO 898/364

1943-44

35

File No.

Description

Dates

General correspondence. Law Committee (Political

Disarmament Sub-Committee) notes and reports, AMGOT
(Italy): Correspondence, Reconstruction of Eastern Europe:
planning
OWI Material from Washington BPW mission.
Correspondence
European countries: general correspondence reports and
bulletins, FUSAG-PWB outline plan
European countries: Holland and Belgium: Working plans
for PWD

1943-45

European countries: Italy: Plan for propaganda controls

European countries: Germany: PWD Planning Committee
papers and correspondence. PWE Paper on propaganda
controls. Correspondence
Memoranda, agenda, minutes and general correspondence
Director-General's file: Correspondence re. Co-ordination
of (1) Anglo-American propaganda (1) Anglo-Russian
propaganda. LP PC memoranda etc
PWE/SOE campaign Cockade (strategic deceptions): C in
C telegrams; plans; C of S papers: weekly progress reports;
minutes and correspondence

1943-44
1943-44

REEL 120
FO 898/365

FO 898/366
FO 898/367
FO 898/368

1942-44
1943-44
1943-44

REEL 121
FO 898/369
FO 898/370
FO 898/371
FO 898/372
FO 898/373

1943-44
1943-44
1943

REEL 122
FO 898/374
FO 898/375
FO 898/376

PWE/OWI: draft pw plan submitted to Secretary of State

(Mr Eden). Directives and correspondence re. official
statements and declarations etc. Propaganda guidance notes
Tripartite Planning Committee (PWE/OWI/PWD): agenda,
meetings, minutes and correspondence. Indexed record of
plans and activities
PWE/OWI/SOE - proposals for joint action in support of
invasion. PWE operations file

1943-45
1943-45
1943-45

REEL 123
FO 898/377
FO 898/378
FO 898/379

PWE/SHAEF: outline plan, annexes, regional summaries

and support plan
Rankin plan: Case C
General files. PWB memoranda, directives and policy
papers. Occupied Territories Planning Committee, agenda,
minutes and correspondence

1944
1944
1943-44

36

File No.

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

Description

Dates

Denmark and Norway files (Rankin Case B and C):

plans and operational directives
Denmark files: draft plans; directives and correspondence
Norway files: plans, operational directives, propaganda policy
papers and correspondence. PWD/Norwegian Action
Committee minutes of meetings
Holland and Belgium files: Declaration on flooding. General
Correspondence: Minutes of meeting between PWB and Dutch
Information Service

1943-44

General liaison and policy files: correspondence and reports

Organisation: Directives, charters and minutes, correspondence
Arrangements for Intelligence material to
Arrangements for Intelligence material from

1944-45
1944-45
1944-45
1944-45

Arrangements for Intelligence material from 21st Army Group,

FUSAG and G2 Organisation, general liaison and policy files,
Noon Conferences minutes. Counter Martian Reports January
and February 1944
GS Civil Affairs organisation liaison and policy files.
Arrangements for Intelligence material to and from

1943-45

Political survey section: directives, charters and minutes,

Progress reports. Organisation and policy files
PWD: General correspondence, directives and miscellaneous
papers
Closing down of PWD: plan, minutes and correspondence
PWE/PWB/OSS/OWI Joint Creative Planning Group: agenda
minutes, memoranda, propaganda projects, reports and
correspondence

1943-44

PWD German Planning Committee: minutes, agenda and

papers. PWD directives for Operation Talisman.
Correspondence re. plan for use of POWs in Overlord
propaganda
PWE/SHAEF evacuation campaign to foster panic in combat
areas: SHAEF broadcasts, plans, directives, guidance notes and
correspondence
Voice of Shaef: radio broadcasts scripts and correspondence

1944

REEL 124
FO 898/380
FO 898/381
FO 898/382
FO 898/383

1943-44
1944-45
1944-46

REEL 125
FO 898/384
FO 898/385
FO 898/386
FO 898/387
REEL 126
FO 898/388

FO 898/389

1943-45

REEL 127
FO 898/390
FO 898/391
FO 898/392
FO 898/393

1944-45
1945
1944

REEL 128
FO 898/394

FO 898/395
FO 898/396

1945
1944-45

37

File No.

Description

Dates

Braddock campaign: use of incendiary missiles:

Correspondence, reports and papers on
Dragoon: landings in France in support of Overlord:
correspondence; propaganda guidance notes; proclamations
and directives Associated leaflet campaign: Barclay
Hugenot: campaign to undermine German air force: plan,
appreciation and correspondence
Talisman PWD/SHAEF plans for control of information
services after German surrender. Correspondence re. the
confusion about the proper authority for post-occupation
propaganda policy planning
Policy of German Information Services for Germany: Cooperation between PID (extension of charter for this purpose)
and Control Commission for Germany: correspondence and
reports re. progress of policy

1944-45

Eclipse directive and memoranda and Manual for control of

German Information Service: correspondence re. PIDs
reaction to these plans
Eclipse directive and memoranda and Austrian organisation
Eclipse directive and memoranda and Control Commission
(British Element): Radio Luxembourg and Berlin:
Correspondence re. PWDs plans during SHAEF period: policy
agreement between PWE and SHAEF Personnel question
Handling of displaced persons. Correspondence re. servicing of
Informational work to dps
German and Austrian Division: correspondence, reports and
policy papers re. future arrangements and new Establishment
South East Europe: Policy papers, memoranda and
correspondence on reconstruction plans

1944-45

War Cabinet (Joint Planning Staff): Armistice terms and PostWar Planning Policy: correspondence memoranda, reports and
directives
Draft German armistice
Unconditional surrender formula for Germany and Axis
satellites: Discussion of policy

1943-44

REEL 129
FO 898/397
FO 898/398
FO 898/399
FO 898/400

FO 898/401

1943-44
1943-45
1944-45

1945-46

REEL 130
FO 898/402
FO 898/403
FO 898/404

FO 898/405
FO 898/406
FO 898/407

1945-46
1944-45

1944-45
1945-46
1941-42

REEL 131
FO 898/408
FO 898/409
FO 898/410

1943-44
1943-44

38

File No.

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

Description

Dates

Allied war aims to a defeated Germany

Enemy peace feelers: German Exploitation of suggestions of
peace overtures: PWE policy
Projection of Britain: propaganda to Europe: general policy
papers and plans
Policy plans for post-war relief to Europe

1942-44
1942-45

General File
Transfer of PWE responsibility for British information services
to MOI
PWE post-war reorganisation: discussion of role
Future of PID (formerly PWE): discussion

1942-45
1945-46

History of PWE: background to compilation

Post mortem on political warfare
Parliamentary questions. PWEs procedures for dealing with
and drafting of answers to
War crimes and war criminals question: Policy proposals and
decisions
War crimes and criminals: PID co-operation with UNW CC in
build-up of profiles

1944-46
1944-45
1941-46

War crimes and criminals: PID co-operation with UNW CC in

build-up of profiles
War Criminals: Ashcan (SHAEF detention and interrogation
camp): Visit of PID official and report on outcome of
interrogation of top German prisoners
Policy: Department EH liaison with Air Ministry: Propaganda
Broadcasting
Production organisation

1944-45

Policy committee meetings

Sub-committee PWE/Air Ministry: Sample Leaflets
Standing Committee: minutes and agenda
SHAEF weekly leaflet meetings
General correspondence
Co-ordination: PWB/PWE/OWI

1940-43
1942-44
1943-44
1944
1940-44
1942-44

REEL 132
FO 898/411
FO 898/412
FO 898/413
FO 898/414

1942-45
1942-45

REEL 133
FO 898/415
FO 898/416
FO 898/417
FO 898/418

1944-45
1945

REEL 134
FO 898/419
FO 898/420
FO 898/421
FO 898/422
FO 898/423

1942-45
1942-45

REEL 135
FO 898/424
FO 898/425
FO 898/426
FO 898/427

1945
1939
1939-43

REEL 136
FO 898/428
FO 898/429
FO 898/430
FO 898/431
FO 898/432
FO 898/433

39

File No.

Description

Dates

General policy correspondence

Leaflets, publications and books: general correspondence
Italy: leaflets: general correspondence on
Balkans: leaflets: general correspondence on
Yugoslavia: leaflets: general correspondence on

1941-44
1943
1939-44
1940-44
1941-43

PWE Arabic and Hebrew material for leaflets

PWE North Africa: leaflets: dissemination and reports on
enemy reaction to
Correspondence on leaflets for Malta for dropping on Tunisia

1941-43
1941-44

Leaflets in support of Torch campaign (PWB):

correspondence
PWE Middle East leaflets
French leaflets: correspondence

1942-43

French and Corsican leaflets: correspondence

Leaflets for Czechoslaovakia: correspondence

1940-44
1940-45

Leaflets for Norway: correspondence

Leaflets for Norway Operation Aladdin
Leaflets for Netherlands: correspondence

1940-45
1945
1940-43

Flemish and Belgian leaflets correspondence

German leaflets correspondence
German leaflets (Anglo-American reports and maps)
Russian leaflets: correspondence
Polish leaflets: correspondence
Danish leaflets: correspondence

1940-41
1941-45
1944-45
1942
1941-44
1942-45

PWE/PWB D Day leaflet operations and reports

Leaflet units: distribution statistics
Methods of dissemination

1944
1939-44
1940-45

REEL 137
FO 898/434
FO 898/435
FO 898/436
FO 898/437
FO 898/438
REEL 138
FO 898/439
FO 898/440
FO 898/441

1940-42

REEL 139
FO 898/442
FO 898/443
FO 898/444

1943-45
1940-44

REEL 140
FO 898/445
FO 898/446
REEL 141
FO 898/447
FO 898/448
FO 898/449
REEL 142
FO 898/450
FO 898/451
FO 898/452
FO 898/453
FO 898/454
FO 898/455
REEL 143
FO 898/456
FO 898/457
FO 898/458

40

File No.

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

Description

Dates

Leaflet bombs: drawings and specifications: specimen

metallised leaflets
M balloon unit: dropping leaflets by balloons
Parliamentary question concerning leaflets asked by Bishop of
Chichester and proposed reply to
Effects of and reactions to PWE leaflets
Evidence of reception of leaflets and broadcasts

1942-45

Dutch reactions
Black leaflet comebacks: reports on reactions to
Report on reactions of German prisoners of war to PWE
leaflets
PWE General leaflet reactions and comeback
PWE General leaflet reactions and comeback

1942-45
1943-45
1944

PWE General leaflet reactions and comeback

Belgian reactions to leaflet and radio propaganda:
Questionnaire replies
Joint Publication Committee: minutes

1941-44
1941-45

Joint Publication Committee: correspondence

PWE Editorial Board (Illustrated Magazine for liberated
Europe)
D Day publications: general file

1945
1944-45

D Day publications: Pan Plan draft texts

D Day publications: various copies

1943-44
1943-44

D Day publications: general correspondence

Pocket guide for invasion forces: France
Pocket guide for invasion forces: Italy
Pocket guide for invasion forces: Germany

1944
1943
1943
1943-45

REEL 144
FO 898/459
FO 898/460
FO 898/461
FO 898/462
FO 898/463

1940-45
1942
1939-40
1941-45

REEL 145
FO 898/464
FO 898/465
FO 898/466
FO 898/467
FO 898/468

1942-45
1944-45

REEL 146
FO 898/469
FO 898/470
FO 898/471

1944-45

REEL 147
FO 898/472
FO 898/473
FO 898/474

1943-44

REEL 148
FO 898/475
FO 898/476
REEL 149
FO 898/477
FO 898/478
FO 898/479
FO 898/480

41

File No.

Description

Dates

Pocket guide for invasion forces: Norway

Pocket guide for invasion forces: Denmark
Pocket guide for invasion forces: various other countries
Basic manuals for natives of occupied countries:
correspondence

1943-45
1945
1943-45
1944

Basic intelligence handbooks on occupied countries:

correspondence

1942-46

Examples of early subversive leaflets

PWE Cairo produced leaflets for Tripolitania
SHAEF combat leaflet operations
PWE Italian leaflets news sheets Notizie del Soldato

1939-40
1943
1944-45
1943

PWE German leaflets

PWE German newspaper Nachrichten Fur Die Truppe
PWE German news sheets Reichs Verkehrs Blatt; Soldaten Nachrichten: SHAEF newspapers

1944-45
1944
1942-45

Yugoslav leaflet Londonsko Pismo Series

Yugoslav leaflet Londonski Vestnik Series: Glas Pobede
Booklets
Yugoslav leaflet Izvestaj Omladini Series
Magyar leaflets and booklets (Hungarian, Czech and Polish)

1944-45
1944-45

PWE Dutch leaflets and booklets

PWE Dutch leaflets and booklets
PWE Dutch news sheets De Vliegende Hollander

1940-42
1943-45
1944

PWE Dutch news sheets De Vliegende Hollander

PWE Danish leaflets and booklets
PWE Norwegian leaflets and booklets

1945
1941-45
1941-45

REEL 150
FO 898/481
FO 898/482
FO 898/483
FO 898/484
REEL 151
FO 898/485
REEL 152
FO 898/486
FO 898/487
FO 898/489
FO 898/497
REEL 153
FO 898/500
FO 898/501
FO 898/502
REEL 154
FO 898/503
FO 898/504
FO 898/505
FO 898/506

1944-45
1942-45

REEL 155
FO 898/507
FO 898/508
FO 898/509
REEL 156
FO 898/510
FO 898/511
FO 898/512

42

File No.

ALLIED PROPAGANDA IN WORLD WAR II

Description

Dates

PWE Scandinavian leaflets and booklets

PWE French leaflets and booklets

1942-43
1939-43

PWE subversive leaflets for distribution over Free French

North Africa and France: correspondence and statistics on
PWE French Courrier and Presse Libre
PWE French Courrier and Presse Libre

1940-42

PWE French Courrier and Presse Libre

PWE French Courrier and Presse Libre
PWE La France Libre booklets

1943
1944
1941-43

PWE French leaflets and La Revue Du Monde Libre: Accord

PWE French leaflets and La Revue Du Monde Libre Accord:
La France Libre

1943
1944

PWE various French pamphlets

PWE French Monthly Review Choix and pamphlets for
other countries
Leaflets for Channel Islands

1944
1944-45

Various odd pamphlets

Various odd leaflets
German black leaflets
Correspondence on: Mussolini documents and archives

1943-44
1943-45
1942-43
1945-46

Policy to secure and publicity release for captured German

documents
PID copies of enemy documents covering the Third Reich era
1933-1945

1943-45

REEL 157
FO 898/513
FO 898/514
REEL 158
FO 898/515
FO 898/516
FO 898/517

1940-42
1943

REEL 159
FO 898/518
FO 898/519
FO 898/520
REEL 160
FO 898/521
FO 898/522
REEL 161
FO 898/523
FO 898/524
FO 898/525

1940-44

REEL 162
FO 898/526
FO 898/527
FO 898/528
FO 898/530
REEL 163
FO 898/531
FO 898/532

1945

43

File No.

Description

Dates

General policy
Appointment of departmental archivist to dispose of archives:
correspondence of British Political Warfare Mission
Leaflet section files and stocks: supplying interested parties
with examples and whole sets of
Leaflet distribution and disposal: recommendations on whom
to supply with (such as official archives)
Leaflet distribution and disposal: dissemination figures:
correspondence concerning requests for leaflets

1944-46
1944-46

REEL 164
FO 898/533
FO 898/534
FO 898/535
FO 898/536
FO 898/537

1944-46
1942-46
1939-46

REEL 165
FO 898/538
FO 898/539
FO 898/540
FO 898/541
FO 898/542
FO 898/543

Transfer to FO Research Department of PID records:

correspondence on staff transfers
PWI Directorate: post-war policy
PWI Directorate: transfer to FO Research Department
PWI Directorate: transition and reallocation of functions
PWI Directorate: registry files
PWI Directorate: regional files: post-war proposals

1945-46

PWI Directorate: Joint Intelligence Committee on disposal

PWI Directorate: liquidation
Documents relating PWE (gift of RG Auckland)
Policy and propaganda plans
Propaganda leaflets dropped by Allies over German territory
A complete index of Allied Airborne Leaflets and
Magazines, 1939-1945
Weekly Intelligence Summaries for Psychological Warfare:
reports by the PID

1945
1945
1939-40
1942-44
1939-45
1945

1944-45
1945
1945
1943-45
1944-45

REEL 166
FO 898/544
FO 898/545
FO 898/546
FO 898/548
FO 898/549
FO 898/550
FO 371/46894

1945