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| Army Home Page / Units and Organisations / Specialist Units / 15(UK) PSYOPS Gp / History |
History of British PSYOPS
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The first experience that British forces had with PSYOPS techniques was during the Boer War. To begin with the British were at the receiving end of hostile PSYOPS. British counter-PSYOPS policy consisted, in the main, of burning homesteads, slaughtering livestock and concentrating Boer civilians in internment camps. The purpose of this campaign was to deprive the Boers of their logistic support, undermine their morale, and convince them that they would not win against a superior adversary.
Some 26,000 Boers died in the Internment camps, largely from poor hygiene. German, Dutch and French newspapers who were sympathetic to the plight of the Boers, published scathing cartoons and articles criticising the use of these camps. Although peace was concluded in 1902, the moral justification for the UK conduct of the Boer War was questioned around the world.
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Boer families in British Internment camp
(Picture courtesy of the NAM)
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World War I 1914 - 1918
As a result of the Boer War, the British Government was determined to support their war effort in 1914 with PSYOPS activity. British PSYOPS activities were eventually co-ordinated by the Ministry of Information. In essence, the following features characterised the campaign:
Recruitment posters, atrocity stories in the media, air-dropped newspapers for those living in occupied lands, balloon-dropped leaflets on the enemy
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British troops prepare leaflets for
dissemination from a balloon
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| World War II 1939 - 1945
The growth of adult literacy and the expansion of radio broadcasting during the 1930s, significantly altered the importance of PSYOPS and the conduct of this art form, during WWII. The control and co-rdination of UK PSYOPS during 1939-45 was more complicated than in WWI, but several consistent campaigns and themes emerged:
Radio broadcasts, including the use of the morse code for the letter 'V', signifying 'Allied Victory', and the letter or its Morse code was chalked on walls all over occupied Europe. British-sponsored broadcasts to enemy troops with mixture of news and popular music. Popular radio stations broadcast to German troops in Northwest Europe during 1943-5 were 'Soldatensender Calais' and 'Der Chef', broadcast by Sefton Delmer. Home Front posters, emphasis throughout the war was placed on security of information – eg. 'Careless talk Costs Lives' and on the successful unifying image of Winston Churchill. Air-dropped newspapers, information and surrender leaflets for those living in Occupied Europe and Axis troops– 'Le Courier de L'Air' was resurrected, and 'Nachtrichten Fur Die Truppe'. False documents including false leave passes, counterfeit banknotes, ration books and stamps. Loudspeaker announcements, vehicle and man-mounted amplifiers broadcast messages relating to local tactical situations, urging capitulation.
Psycholgical Warfare and Aerial Propoganda Leaflets
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Sefton Delmer broadcasting during WW2
More information on Sefton Delmer at
www.seftondelmer.co.uk
(Picture courtesy of Felix Sefton Delmer)
British airmen prepare leaflets
for aerial dissemination
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Malayan Emergency 1948 - 1960
Between 1941 - 45 the Malayan Communist Party grew out of a British-backed resistance movement to the Japanese. After the war, the MCP evolved into an underground force determined to turn Malaya into a communist republic. Many British farmers and settlers were executed or tortured. The peak of PSYOPS activity was conducted during the most intense period of struggle, 1952 - 55. The primary aim was to defeat the MCP so that democratic elections could be held in a peaceful climate that would lead to independence. PSYOPS persuaded the government to rename the MCP guerrillas the Communist Terrorist Organisation (CTO), thus dispelling the myth of communist 'liberation'. Rewards were offered for named terrorists, and defectors were used to sow distrust within CTO groups, along religious, ethic and class lines. Leaflets were air-dropped or distributed by jungle patrols and an aircraft nicknamed 'the truth bird' broadcast prerecorded messages by surrendered terrorists.
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British troops on a jungle patrol
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Suez (Op MUSKETEER) 1956
The failure of the Anglo-French military intervention to re-establish control over the port of Suez in 1956 was matched by a poorly planned and executed PSYOPS campaign. Despite the successes of Malaya and Kenya, Op MUSKETEER was a low point in the conduct of British post-war PSYOPS. With little prior warning for research, leaflets designed and radio broadcasts (broadcast from Cyprus)to undermine President Nasser actually served to achieve exactly the opposite, Subsequent research suggests that the main cause of this may have been the use of translators who deliberately undermined the British campaign due to their sympathies for the Egyptian president.
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British paratroopers descend on Suez
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Borneo 1962 - 66
British PSYOPS were used successfully during the conflict with Indonesia
Hong Kong 1967
British PSYOPS was used during the border confrontations and internal unrest that accompanied the 'cultural revolution' in the People's Republic of China
Dohfar 1970 - 76
A PSYOPS unit designated No2 Army Information Team was deployed, to provide support to the Omani Information Service and the Dohfar Development Council
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http://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk/
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The Falklands Campaign (Op CORPORATE) 1982
A limited British PSYOPS campaign was developed during the brief Argentine occupation and subsequent liberation of the Falkland Islands. A radio station was set up on the Ascension Island, known as 'Radio Atlantico del Sur' and broadcast to Argentine troops and included music, news and sport. Printed literature including Safe Conduct Passes, were developed but never deployed due to the UK's inability to air-drop leaflets at this time.
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Information Leaflet-Radio Atlantico Del Sur
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| The Gulf War (Op GRANBY) 1990 - 91
In response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, a coalition of national forces was assembled to provide a framework for the conduct of PSYOPS.
PSYOPS activities were: Counter-propaganda, Iraq set up several radio stations, 'Voice of Peace', also known as 'Baghdad Betty' broadcast to Arab coalition forces in Saudi Arabia, although had limited impact, as sound and content quality were poor.
Leaflets, winning early air supremacy enabled extensive leaflet distribution by air, totalling 29 million leaflets dropped during the conflict and included encouragement to desert and instruction for surrender. PSYOPS and deception, leaflets were also dropped with information to aid strategic deception and led Iraq to falsely believe that there would be a marine assault east of Kuwait. Allied use of radio, A coalition PSYOPS radio station, 'Voice of the Gulf' – supplemented the leaflet campaign and broadcast messages to particular enemy formations. Loudspeakers, US troops deployed loudspeaker teams, who negotiated surrender, withdrawals of enemy formations, assisted in PW control and rounded up stragglers.
It was discovered that up to 40% of all surrenders, defections and desertions could be attributed in some degree to coalition PSYOPS activity. This success, led the UK to recreate a permanent capability, which was eventually established in the form of 15 (UK) PSYOPS Group in 1998.
Link to 15(UK) PSYOPS Group in action
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