BACKGROUND: The OKH, Oberkommando des Heeres, (High Command of the Army), and the OKW, Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, (High Command of the Armed Forces), both realized the importance of propaganda and as early as 1938 they both actively began recruiting artists, photographers and journalists who were assigned to Propaganda Companies which accompanied all three branches of service in the field. The Allied forces also realized the importance of propaganda and established specific governmental departments with the British Ministry of Information and the American PWB, Psychological Warfare Branch dealing specifically with combat propaganda. One popular form of propaganda was the use of leaflets on the battlefield. The leaflets were distributed amongst enemy troops in a variety of ways including airplane drops and propaganda rifle rounds. The allied leaflets most often questioned the Germans inevitable failure, raised suspicion of their loved ones behavior back home and enticed them to surrender. Generally soldiers on both sides avoided picking these leaflets up on fear of punishment. This example is an American leaflet/safe conduct pass with both German and English text as dropped by the Allies on German troops from D-Day until the end of the war.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 22cm x 14cm, dual sided, light-weight paper leaflet with black printed, German and English text. Shows usage and wear.