British Propaganda to France, 1940-1944

Tim Brooks studies the organization, operation, and nature of the British propaganda effort in France during the Second World War, focusing on "white" propaganda (BBC broadcasts, leaflets dropped by the RAF) and "black" propaganda (secret broadcasting stations, "German" documents distributed clandestinely, and rumors). Brooks briefly covers the British propaganda effort from the outbreak of war to the fall of France then assesses the effectiveness of the campaign.

Tim Brooks

The book is ideally suited to students of wartime propaganda! It is an excellent textbook. Due to Brooks' thorough research and precise writing, I believe this book is now the key reference for British psychological warfare to France in the Second World War. Falling Leaf Highly informative and thoughtfully argued, this is the first book in English to focus uniquely on British propaganda to France in the Second World War. Covering radio broadcasts as well as printed leaflets, Brooks analyses in detail how propaganda material was created and distributed but, more importantly, he attempts the difficult task of evaluating its overall effectiveness and the extent to which, as part of Britain's war effort, it represented a well-directed use of scarce resources. This is a complex story told with clarity and elan. -- Dr Valerie Holman, University of Reading A highly readable account of a very fascinating story. -- Dr Simon Kitson, University of Birmingham This is a superb and well-documented book that describes very clearly how skillfully Great Britain communicated with the French during the occupation to encourage resistance against Nazi tyranny and to make possible the eventual liberation of France. Research libraries should acquire this superb critical study. -- Edmund Campion, University of Tennessee The European Legacy Tim Brooks has produced a well-researched study of the British wartime propaganda effort to France and, in doing so, fills a gap in the historiography of World War II... This book tells a fascinating story authoritatively and convincingly. -- Martyn Cornick, University of Birmingham American Historical Review Brooks carefully charts the need for propaganda to France, examines how the machinery of government was set up to produce it, how it was distributed, what was said, and what impact it had. As such, the book provides a valuable addition to our understanding of the use of propaganda duringWorld War II. -- Martin Moore H-Net Brooks has done a great job of exploring British propaganda efforts regarding France between 1940 and 1944. He discusses the broader implications of their work for the campaign in France, and for the war in general, and uses those implications to validate his thesis that British propaganda to France served a useful purpose. Consequently, this book makes an important contribution to Second World War scholarship and is a valuable resource for intelligence historians interested in counter-intelligence activities. -- Mary Kathryn Barbier, Mississippi State University War in History The book is ideally suited to students of wartime propaganda! It is an excellent textbook. Due to Brooks' thorough research and precise writing, I believe this book is now the key reference for British psychological warfare to France in the Second World War. Highly informative and thoughtfully argued, this is the first book in English to focus uniquely on British propaganda to France in the Second World War. Covering radio broadcasts as well as printed leaflets, Brooks analyses in detail how propaganda material was created and distributed but, more importantly, he attempts the difficult task of evaluating its overall effectiveness and the extent to which, as part of Britain's war effort, it represented a well-directed use of scarce resources. This is a complex story told with clarity and elan. A highly readable account of a very fascinating story. This is a superb and well-documented book that describes very clearly how skillfully Great Britain communicated with the French during the occupation to encourage resistance against Nazi tyranny and to make possible the eventual liberation of France. Research libraries should acquire this superb critical study. Tim Brooks has produced a well-researched study of the British wartime propaganda effort to France and, in doing so, fills a gap in the historiography of World War II... This book tells a fascinating story authoritatively and convincingly. Brooks carefully charts the need for propaganda to France, examines how the machinery of government was set up to produce it, how it was distributed, what was said, and what impact it had. As such, the book provides a valuable addition to our understanding of the use of propaganda duringWorld War II. Brooks has done a great job of exploring British propaganda efforts regarding France between 1940 and 1944. He discusses the broader implications of their work for the campaign in France, and for the war in general, and uses those implications to validate his thesis that British propaganda to France served a useful purpose. Consequently, this book makes an important contribution to Second World War scholarship and is a valuable resource for intelligence historians interested in counter-intelligence activities.