Korean War Psychological Warfare Propaganda Leaflets Collection
Collection
Identifier: Mss 159
Scope and Contents
The Albert G. Brauer Korean War Psychological Warfare Propaganda Leaflets Collection provides a unique look into an aspect of the war often overlooked. Based upon what President Truman called “the campaign of truth” these leaflets became one of the primary means of winning the hearts and minds of enemy troops and Korean civilians. This collection of over 638 leaflets was amassed by NDSU alumnus Albert G. Brauer who served in the Eighth U.S. Army Korea as Chief of the Projects Branch, Psychological Warfare Division, G3 Section (February 1951 to January 1952). Under his direction he transformed a small nucleus of relatively untrained personnel into an integrated team of writers, artists and oriental language specialists of professional caliber who produced many hundreds of propaganda leaflets and voice messages for dissemination by aircraft, artillery and by air and ground loudspeaker units.
In addition to the leaflets produced by the U.S. Army, there are twenty-four leaflets produced by the communist forces, various Psychological Warfare School course materials, and a number of publications related to psychological warfare. Fifteen related photographs accessioned with the collection have been processed as Photo Mss 159 collection, and are available online as part of Digital Horizons. The collection has been organized into four series: Propaganda leaflets, Communist propaganda, Extension course material, and Publications.
The Propaganda Leaflets Series is divided into two subseries: those produced by the Eighth United States Army Korea (EUSAK), Psychological Warfare Section, and those produced by the General Headquarters (GHQ), Far East Command, Military Intelligence Section's Psychological Warfare Branch which was located in Japan. Each series is in turn divided by language: Korean or Chinese and then by the leaflet serial number assigned by the section or branch. Each leaflet has been placed in a separate folder along with the documentation sheet prepared at the time by the section or branch staff. These documentation sheets give the following information: date, leaflet title, language, serial number, target, audience, remarks, art work, and an English translation of the text. From these sheets the leaflet title, serial number and date have been recorded in this finding aid. Only a very small number of the leaflets and documentation sheets are not original but rather photocopies. A number of the GHQ leaflets were also issued by the EUSAK under a different serial number. When found this was noted by the term Companion Leaflet and the other serial number. Also, a small number of the GHQ leaflets were issued by the 1st Radio Broadcasting & Leaflet Group of the 8239th U.S. Army. Mr. Brauer wrote some commentary for a small number of the leaflets. Those leaflets with his notes are indicated by the symbols *, +, or #. The * symbol indicates general notes made by Mr. Brauer, the + symbol for those leaflets intended for South Korean civilians in areas controlled by the communist forces, and the # symbol for leaflets intended for the South Korean civilian population. The Communist Propaganda Series contains six original and eighteen photocopies of leaflets issued by the communist forces. There is also a short commentary by Mr. Brauer on them. The Extension Course Material Series includes a number of course workbooks issued by the Army Extension and the Psychological Warfare School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. They deal with such topics as the Geneva Conventions of 1949, propaganda, leaflet writing and artwork, radio programming, propaganda analysis, psychological warfare staffs and operations, and other related topics. The Sub-course 14 folder contains a copy of The Kazakhs: a Background Study for Psychological Warfare, by Lawrence Krader and Ivor Wayne (1955). The Publications Series includes a variety of miscellaneous pamphlets including several issued by the Committee for a Free Asia, Inc. There is a book report by Tsun-chun Chang on Paul M.A. Linebarger's Psychological Warfare (2nd ed.), a 1952 article from Officer's Call titled "Psychological Warfare," and Study of Tactical Leaflets issued by The Psychological Warfare School. Finally, there is a copy of Mr. Brauer's paper for a 1953 Georgetown University course on international relations entitled "Psychological Warfare Korea 1951." It gives a good summary of the psychological warfare operation in Korea, techniques used, a critique of United Nations leaflets, and his conclusions on the effort in Korea.
The Propaganda Leaflets Series is divided into two subseries: those produced by the Eighth United States Army Korea (EUSAK), Psychological Warfare Section, and those produced by the General Headquarters (GHQ), Far East Command, Military Intelligence Section's Psychological Warfare Branch which was located in Japan. Each series is in turn divided by language: Korean or Chinese and then by the leaflet serial number assigned by the section or branch. Each leaflet has been placed in a separate folder along with the documentation sheet prepared at the time by the section or branch staff. These documentation sheets give the following information: date, leaflet title, language, serial number, target, audience, remarks, art work, and an English translation of the text. From these sheets the leaflet title, serial number and date have been recorded in this finding aid. Only a very small number of the leaflets and documentation sheets are not original but rather photocopies. A number of the GHQ leaflets were also issued by the EUSAK under a different serial number. When found this was noted by the term Companion Leaflet and the other serial number. Also, a small number of the GHQ leaflets were issued by the 1st Radio Broadcasting & Leaflet Group of the 8239th U.S. Army. Mr. Brauer wrote some commentary for a small number of the leaflets. Those leaflets with his notes are indicated by the symbols *, +, or #. The * symbol indicates general notes made by Mr. Brauer, the + symbol for those leaflets intended for South Korean civilians in areas controlled by the communist forces, and the # symbol for leaflets intended for the South Korean civilian population. The Communist Propaganda Series contains six original and eighteen photocopies of leaflets issued by the communist forces. There is also a short commentary by Mr. Brauer on them. The Extension Course Material Series includes a number of course workbooks issued by the Army Extension and the Psychological Warfare School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. They deal with such topics as the Geneva Conventions of 1949, propaganda, leaflet writing and artwork, radio programming, propaganda analysis, psychological warfare staffs and operations, and other related topics. The Sub-course 14 folder contains a copy of The Kazakhs: a Background Study for Psychological Warfare, by Lawrence Krader and Ivor Wayne (1955). The Publications Series includes a variety of miscellaneous pamphlets including several issued by the Committee for a Free Asia, Inc. There is a book report by Tsun-chun Chang on Paul M.A. Linebarger's Psychological Warfare (2nd ed.), a 1952 article from Officer's Call titled "Psychological Warfare," and Study of Tactical Leaflets issued by The Psychological Warfare School. Finally, there is a copy of Mr. Brauer's paper for a 1953 Georgetown University course on international relations entitled "Psychological Warfare Korea 1951." It gives a good summary of the psychological warfare operation in Korea, techniques used, a critique of United Nations leaflets, and his conclusions on the effort in Korea.
Dates
- 1951-1956.
Creator
- Brauer, Albert G. (Person)
Language of Materials
English, Chinese, and Korean.
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.
Copyrights
The copyright is held by the Institute for Regional Studies or in the public domain.
Biography
Albert G. Brauer, a native of Bismarck, N.D., was born May 27, 1913 to German Russian immigrants Michael F. and Elizabeth Brauer. He graduated from the North Dakota Agricultural College in 1938. Mr. Brauer began his teaching career at the West Fargo High School in 1938 where he taught social studies and introduced football. In December 1939 he resigned his position at West Fargo to go on active duty as a
United States Army Reserve officer, serving at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was stationed in Hawaii at the time of the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, and served most of World War II there. Later duty included service in Japan and Korea. During the Korean War he served in the Eighth United States Army Korea (EUSAK) as Chief of the Projects Branch, Psychological Warfare Division, G3 Section (February 1951 to January 1952). Under his direction he transformed a small nucleus of relatively untrained personnel into an integrated team of writers, artists and oriental language specialists of professional caliber who produced many hundreds of propaganda leaflets and voice messages for dissemination by aircraft, artillery and by air and ground loudspeaker units.
Albert Brauer married Celeste Pivelis in June 1942 in Hawaii. Mrs. Brauer, a native of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, joined the Army Nurse Corps in 1939 and was serving at Tripler Army Hospital in Hawaii at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. After their marriage she was required to leave the Army. Mr. and Mrs. Brauer moved to Kent, Ohio in 1958 where he was assigned to the ROTC unit at Kent State University. During his army career Brauer attended a number of service schools and did graduate work at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.; and Kent State University. He earned a master's degree in education from Kent State University.
Mr. Brauer retired from active duty in 1962 with the rank of lieutenant colonel after more than twenty years of service. After retiring he taught at Kent Roosevelt High School until 1980. Celeste Brauer was a nurse at the Student Health Center at Kent State for over twenty-five years. Albert and Celeste Brauer raised two sons, Albert Brauer II and Gerald Brauer. Mr. Brauer died December 18, 2003 in Ohio. Mrs. Brauer died May 28, 2009.
Extent
2.3 Linear Feet (2.3 linear ft.)
Abstract
Korean War Psychological Warfare Propaganda Leaflet Collection developed by Brauer who served in the U.S. Army and was in charge of the unit developing these leaflets.
Provenance
Donated by Albert G. Brauer, Kent, Ohio in 1989 and 1990. (Acc. 2254, 2266).
Separation Record
Photographs (Institute Photograph Collection 481)
4 : Psychological Warfare staff, Psychological Warfare Branch (EUSAK) 1951-1952 10 : View taken while Mr. Brauer was assigned to the 24th Infantry Regiment in Korea 1 : "Psychological Warfare officer class 1-57"
4 : Psychological Warfare staff, Psychological Warfare Branch (EUSAK) 1951-1952 10 : View taken while Mr. Brauer was assigned to the 24th Infantry Regiment in Korea 1 : "Psychological Warfare officer class 1-57"
Property rights
The Institute for Regional Studies owns the property rights to this collection.
- Brauer, Albert G.
- Fort Bragg (N.C.)
- Kazakhs.
- Kazakhstan.
- Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Propaganda.
- Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Psychological aspects.
- Leaflets dropped from aircraft.
- Pamphlets.
- Propaganda, American.
- Propaganda, Communist.
- Psychological Warfare School (U.S.)
- Psychological warfare.
- Soldiers -- China.
- Soldiers -- Korea.
- United Nations. -- : Armed Forces.
- United States. Army. -- : Officers -- : Military and personal papers -- : 20th century.
- United States. Army. Army, 8th. Korea. Psychological Warfare Section.
- United States. Far East Command. Military Intelligence Section.
- United States. Far East Command. Psychological Warfare Branch.
- United States. Far East Command. Radio Broadcasting and Leaflet Group, 1st.
Creator
- Brauer, Albert G. (Person)
- Wayne, Ivor. (Person)
- Krader, Lawrence. (Person)
- United States. Far East Command. Military Intelligence Section. (Organization)
- United States. Far East Command. Radio Broadcasting and Leaflet Group, 1st. (Organization)
- United States. Far East Command. Psychological Warfare Branch. (Organization)
- United States. Army. Army, 8th. Korea. Psychological Warfare Section. (Organization)
- Psychological Warfare School (U.S.) (Organization)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Albert G. Brauer Korean War Psychological Warfare Propaganda Leaflets Collection
- Description rules
- Appm
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu