Psychology Of War

Since the beginning of time, when men could barely communicate and modern technology was only a dream, war has been prevalent as a means to attain glory, land and personal wealth. Although motives and weapons have evolved, war has been a common occurrence aimed at securing nationalistic goals or heightening fame and fortune. There are however, two types of wars. The more common and stereotypical is a physical war where people are killed and injured and victory is attained by annihilating the enemy or destroying its territory. The other type of war is the moral war, the war on the mind. The war on the mind, also known as psychological warfare, can, if used properly, be a very effective means of assuring victory and success. It is a bloodless
Both the Germans and the Allies made extensive use of various psychological techniques in an effort to destroy the morale of their opponents. Hitler created the Ministry for Propaganda and Popular Enlightenment, headed by Josef Goebbels, for the sole purpose of rallying and inspiring the German people around war and Nazi principles. "Blaming all the German problems stemming from the Treaty of Versailles on other factors including Jews and Americans, and using sensational oratory skills, Hitler and the Nazis held a hypnotic grip on the citizens of the Reich." (Psywarrior) "It was the Germans who developed world- wide pre-belligerent propaganda to a fine art. They exploited every possible disunity which could contribute to the weakness of an enemy." (Linebarger) The Germans tried to drive a stake between anyone and everyone as long as it delayed action against the Reich. "Three basic propaganda accomplishments were achieved by the Germans. First, in the political warfare field, they succeeded in making large sections of world opinion believe that the world 's future was a choice between Communism and Fascism. Second, in the strategic field, they made each victim seem the last. Thirdly, in the purely psychological field the Germans used outright fright." (Linebarger) As they slowly took over Austria and the Sudetenland before the blitzkrieg of Poland, the Germans made it seem as if this was their
Psychologists are needed to figure out how the enemy feels and what psychological tactics will be most effective in each situation. Years of research are needed so that psychologists can "prescribe [effective] media, radio, leaflets and whispering agents " amongst an enemy. (Linebarger) Psychologists can understand more than anyone what will instill fear into the hearts of people so that a conventional war can be ended as quickly as possible. "He can show how to convert lust into resentment, individual resourcefulness into mass cowardice, friction into distrust and prejudice into fury." (Linebarger) Bibliography Ganor, Boaz. Psychological Warfare and