Black propaganda

Black propaganda is propaganda that purports to be from a source on one side of some conflict, but is actually from the opposing side. It contrasts with White propaganda and Grey propaganda. The term is also sometimes used as a synonym for particularly malicious wartime propaganda.

Black propaganda may be generated by altering genuine enemy propaganda in such a way as to distort its message. This is a particularly powerful tool if the target audience has a poor understanding of the language of the enemy.

Anti-Semitic black propaganda

A classic example of black propaganda is the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which poses as a document written by Jewish elders, but is actually a forgery written by an opponent of the Jews.

British black propaganda in World War II

Another example was the British radio station Soldatensender Calais, which purported to be a radio station for the German military. Under the direction of Sefton Delmer, a British journalist who spoke perfect Berliner German, Soldatensender Calais and its associated shortwave station, Kurzwellesender Atlantik, broadcast music, up-to-date sports scores, speeches of Adolf Hitler for "cover", and subtle propaganda. Gustav Siegfried Eins was another British black propaganda station - purporting to be a clandestine German radio station. The speaker, 'Der Chef' purported to be a Nazi extremist, accusing Hitler and his henchmen of going soft. The station focused on alleged corruption sexual improprieties of Nazi Party members.

David Hare's play Licking Hitler provides a fictionalised account based on the British black propaganda efforts in World War II.

To do:

• the Zinoviev letter