主播大秀

German writer Timur Vermes examines how the 主播大秀 used humour throughout the war to counter Nazi propaganda.

Historians have pored over Joseph Goebbels and his reputedly efficient propaganda machine - particularly the Nazi manipulation of radio to gain and maintain power. But few have explored the leading opponent of his propaganda - the German Service of the 主播大秀.

Fewer still have acknowledged that the 主播大秀's radio transmissions to Germany contained not only news and comment but also drew on an unusual method of British psychological warfare, satire and humour, as a form of counter-propaganda.

From mid-1940 until the very end of the war, pioneering satire feature programmes were written by German exiles under the close supervision of British authorities.

They included Frau Wernecke - a sketch fronted by a fictional Berlin housewife, Kurt and Willi - a double act depicting two bungling Nazi propagandists, and Letters from Corporal Hirnschal - a soldier writing to his wife. Meanwhile another popular feature, Hitler on Hitler tried to point out inconsistencies in the Fuhrer's rhetoric.

What did the authors of these programmes, the 主播大秀 officials and the relevant governmental institutions hope to achieve with satire as a weapon of war?

Timur Vermes pores over the archive with experts, hears testimony from those who risked their lives listening to the satire, and tries to work out if satire is effective as wartime propaganda.

Producers: Ashley Byrne, Iain Mackness & Kristina Moorehead

A Made in Manchester production for 主播大秀 Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2019.

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