Silencing Lord Haw-Haw: An Analysis of British Public Reaction to the Broadcasts, Conviction and Execution of Nazi Propagandist William Joyce
Item
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Title
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Silencing Lord Haw-Haw: An Analysis of British Public Reaction to the Broadcasts, Conviction and Execution of Nazi Propagandist William Joyce
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Author
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Matthew Rock Cahill
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Faculty Advisor
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John L. Rector
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Date
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1/1/2015
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Abstract
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This paper focuses primarily on British public reaction to the Nazi radio propaganda broadcasts of William Joyce during World War II. More popularly known as Lord Haw-Haw, Joyce, an American-born British Fascist, raised in Ireland and England who came to embrace Nazism, moved to Germany in 1939 where he was employed as the English voice of Hitler’s vision.
Utilizing archival materials gathered from dozens of newspapers of the period and historiographical contributions from authorities on the subject, this study follows British public reaction to Joyce from his earliest broadcasts to his eventual capture, trial and execution by hanging in 1946.
While vehemently anti-Semitic, and the to the British a reprehensible traitor, his broadcasts were never shown to have inflicted any substantial damage to the Allied war effort, hence the continuing controversy surrounding his execution.
While this paper does not offer moral or ethical conclusions regarding Joyce’s career and eventual conviction, it does invite the reader to consider this particular case and its broader implications concerning political and judicial decisions as influenced by war and its aftermath.
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Type
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Text
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Language
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eng
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Rights
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Western Oregon University Library has determined, as of 06/09/2022, this item is in copyright, which is held by the author. Users may use the item in accordance with copyright limitations and exceptions, including fair use. For other uses, please ask permission from the author.
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http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
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Department
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History
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Identifier
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his/46
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