„Naprostý propagandistický úspěch“? Humoristický časopis Ejhle (1944–1945)

Abstract

“A Full Propaganda Success”? The Cartoon Journal Ejhle (1944–1945)

Humor can be an effective tool to manipulate population. The Nazi occupation regime in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia knew this quite well. When the German armed forces began to retreat on several fronts at a growing pace, the Czech population became practically resistant to the German propaganda. In order to retain the ability to make the Czech population more receptive to the goals of the occupying power, the persons responsible in the German State Ministry exploited novel methods. Among other things, they founded a cartoon periodical entitled Ejhle. To make it interesting to its readership, political content was hidden behind seemingly apolitical jokes and sometimes lewd drawings. In addition, the State Ministry sought to hide the fact that the persons behind Ejhle were German. The present contribution explores how the periodical was planned, how it functioned and how its work was assessed at the time. Moreover, its content is examined in some depth.

Keywords: Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, Nazi occupation, WWII, propaganda, mass media, Ejhle