Swingtime for Hitler: Goebbels’s Jazzmen, Tokyo Rose, and Propaganda That Carries a Tune

by Scott Simon

In this audio treasure trove, Simon explores the fascinating and unsettling history of how a Nazi swing band used catchy songs to spread hateful propaganda. Full of vintage sound recordings — and the beloved NPR host’s witty and moving insights — this Scribd Original confronts the disturbing parallels between disinformation in Hitler’s Germany and fake news today. Narrated by the author.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook, World War II

Audiobook

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

SCOTT SIMON is one of America's most admired writers and broadcasters, having reported from all over the world and from many wars. He is now the award-winning host of Weekend Edition Saturday. With over 4 million listeners it is the most-listened to news program on NPR. Simon has won a Peabody and an Emmy for his reporting and also has over 1.2 million followers on Twitter.

Reviews

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it! Some parts were hard for me to follow because I didn't have background knowledge. I liked listening to the songs and how Simon relates all he speaks of to the modern day.

[Stef · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was alright. Well narrated and quite good production with the audio snippets in there.

However the writing itself leaned a bit too much into assumptions or personal opinions, and I found the author's attempts to link it to current events a bit unconvincing. Not wrong, but not well argued or formulated.

The author also seems to have a very naive perspective on the good of democracy and the free information market in the countries of the allies during the war, as if they did not also use propaganda techniques and control of information. Very often it felt like the only point he was making was "Look at those stupid fascists! They forgot that Americans get to listen to whatever they want so their propaganda swing music was useless!" Or similar things.

Also, there was a really significant lack of good connections between the main topic, the Nazi swing band, and the other bits of war time radio history that were just one after another at one point partway through the book. I was wondering at one point if he would even return to the topic of the book.

I wanted to read this because I have an interest in swing music, and was curious how the topic he discusses contrasted with the ban of it in Germany at the time. That was present and interesting to read (listen?) about.

[Ana-Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Swingtime with Hitler by Scott Simon (2023)

To me, this short book was very educative and a little bit shocking. In our times, it seems ludicrous to imagine that some Jazz songs written and interpreted by Germans could demoralize the Allies.
The role of those tunes was to instill antisemitism, to blame Jews for economic uncertainties or economic downfall, to emphasize German greatness, and to create fear of the future. These songs, recorded in Berlin, were broadcasted via radio in Canada, the US, and the Pacific/Japan area for an English-speaking audience. There is no data on how effective those were if people were taking any of those seriously, or if they influenced any war outcomes, but as a social phenomenon, it is interesting.

Here are the lyrics from the song German Submarines (the tune can be listened to online here http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/KF/charlie/... )

Why are the ships always sinking and blinking at sea?
What makes the British start thinking of their cup of tea?
It’s now the season, the reason, it’s plain what it means
German submarines!

What makes the sailors go crazy wherever they cruise?
What makes the market go down, what frightens the Jews?
What takes the kick from the chicken, the pork from the beans?
German submarines!

Listen, listen
Can’t you hear the sound of never missin'?
Torpedoes, torpedoes
Hitting at day, and hitting at night

Who sinks the trawler, the tanker, the ship full of meat?
Who sinks destroyers and cruisers, the pride of the fleet?
It’s now the season, the reason, it’s plain what it means
German submarines!

[Kim Menier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scott Simon once sold advertising to Tokyo Rose. Who knew?
I love having new factoids after a reading, and this is no disappointment. Like a refreshing sorbet after reading Rachel Maddow's much darker look at the Nazi's attempt to infiltrate American life (Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism), Simon's piece reviews a microcosm of these efforts, an almost comical attempt at renovating swing music and the airwaves at large to serve the Fascist regime during the Second World War. Definitely worth a listen.

[Nathan Falky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super short but enjoyable listen.

I'd actually heard a few podcasts on the same or similar topics. Particularly Tokyo Rose. There's a really great Twenty-Thousand Hertz episode about her that is probably more in depth and interesting than the portion of this book that speaks on her role and life.

I mostly enjoyed the excerpts of the German propaganda swing music. Can't imagine it was super effective propaganda - book even mentions that Churchill enjoyed the ones about him.

Interesting time, interesting music, but honestly a little bit shallow of a look at the range of topics approached here.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the same amount of time it took me to drive from Indianapolis to South Bend, I learned so much about Nazi propaganda that I wasn't aware of before, and the ways in which the Third Reich used popular music styles, otherwise banned because of Jewish and Black influences, to spread their agenda. Also, I'd heard the line "and advice from Tokyo Rose" in South Pacific for years without finding out anything further about her--fascinating!

[Marlee ✨Insulin&Inkwell ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to be completely honest I went into this audiobook blind. I'm ashamed to say I know very little about WW2 outside of the Holocaust and what my spouse has info dumped in me (one of his special interests is WW2)..I was amazed to find out even though the Nazis detested jazz. They used to promote their propaganda. I loved that the audiobook used actual clip recordings from back then.

Overall good listen and I walked away learning so that was a win for me!

[Julie Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never knew that there was a musical component to the Nazi propaganda scheme. It's genius, and horribly racist and devious. The warning for this book says it all: this book contains abhorrent language and racial slurs, but also might make you tap your feet. I don't know if this is available as a hard copy book, but if so, skip it, because listening to the music samples is a crucial part of the book.

[Ana-Maria Bujor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is high quality short production I really enjoyed. It seems I had my information wrong about Tokyo Rose and also I was fascinated by Charlie. The short musical segments really make a difference, I do not think this would be as impactful in written form. As it is, it is a little piece of history worth discovering for anyone interested in war propaganda.

[Cali · Rating 3 out of 5]

the audiobook production was fantastic - creative and original use of sound. the stories were great too. at times, i was bored by the moralizing, virtue signalled, neoliberal and surface level analysis. would have liked a heavier focus on the topic at hand.

[Jorien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short audiobook that describes the weirdest story of the jazz propaganda mechanism employed by the nazis. In the audio book you get to hear the music as well which really gives a good illustration of what happened.

[Kyle Nipp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice listen, but not essential. But if you listen to the Scott Simon interview with Terry Gross on NPR, you get all the essential information from this program

[Kristaps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great unknown wartime propaganda niche topic.

[e · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 — the audiobook is *chefs kiss*

[Aefe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting audiobook.

[Troy Stirman · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY engaging audio book! The music is amazing.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suppose im just not surprised to see politicians using media to further their media agenda. Its almost like we learn from the past.

[Brooke]

I love niche historical discussions and this was a very well done, fascinating, quick listen.