Falsedad en tiempos de guerra: mentiras propagandísticas de la Primera Guerra Mundial

by Arthur Ponsonby

En este libro conciso y revelador, Arthur Ponsonby, miembro del parlamento británico durante las primeras décadas del siglo XX, desacredita las mentiras propagandísticas más difamatorias de la Primera Guerra Mundial. Recurriendo a un hábil trabajo de investigación, se analiza cómo funciona la creación de la propaganda en tiempos de guerra y cómo afecta a la población que la recibe, asume, recrea y es, asimismo, creadora de nuevos bulos animada por los gobiernos. El libro, un verdadero clásico en el mundo anglosajón, y que contiene episodios memorables por su inquina e imaginación contra el enemigo alemán, rompe hábilmente las acusaciones más notorias lanzadas contra los «hunos» durante la guerra para «hacer que el mundo sea seguro para la democracia» y «acabar con la guerra».

Ponsonby se apoya en un buen número de casos concretos que incluyen: la «fábrica de cadáveres» donde se extraían aceites a partir de los cuerpos de los soldados muertos; la niña belga cuyas manos fueron cortadas por las bestias alemanas; el soldado canadiense crucificado; el cobarde hundimiento del crucero de pasajeros Lusitania y hasta una treintena de casos de propaganda fraudulenta, junto a las mentiras de los gobiernos y parlamentos europeos, informes manipulados, tratados ocultos, fotografías falseadas y la fabricación de noticias, para demostrar y acusar de qué forma devastadora los políticos y periodistas engañan y mienten para incitar a la gente a la guerra. Un auténtico repertorio de falsedad que confirma la célebre frase «Cuando estalla la guerra, la primera víctima es la verdad».

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, World War I, War, Sociology, Military History

207 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1928

About the author

Arthur Augustus William Harry Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede

Reviews

[Michael Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most surprising thing I learned from this book is not that the British, American, French and German governments concocted lies, spread rumors, or doctored photos to sell WWI to their citizens; and it’s not that the same governments so blithely admitted to it after the fact; it’s that the people so duped and led into such a staggering catastrophe didn’t care when they learned the truth. Governments continue to pull out the same old propaganda techniques every time they need to convince their citizens that involvement in the war is necessary. Atrocity stories, especially ones involving infants or children, are an old standby. In WWI it was the “handless Belgian babies” lie. In the first gulf war it was the “babies taken from incubators and left to die” lie. Now it’s the “beheaded children” story used against nearly every terrorist organization, often using the same photograph repeatedly for each story. Then and now, atrocities do happen; unfortunately, it’s impossible to know when we’re being lied to and when we’re not. Reading this book has convinced me to take all such stories with a large measure of salt – they're usually lies. Why do citizens in democratic countries continue to fall for them every time?

[Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read focusing primarily on falsehoods and exaggerations that were purposefully perpetuated for propaganda purposes during WWI by the British.

Sometimes I think the author overstates his case. For instance, he tries to show that it was false to place the blame for the war on Germany's invasion of Belgium, because France was prepared to invade Belgium before the war started, and Belgium would have been invaded by someone eventually. But in doing so, he underemphasizes the fact that Germany did in fact invade Belgium, and (in my mind) therefore should in fact get considerable blame for the war, whatever France was prepared to do.

With that said, the author still effectively proves his point: that falsehoods are perpetuated by all sides in war; that such falsehoods are a necessary incident of war, because "[i]f the truth were told from the outset, there would be no reason and no will for war;" and that "war is, in itself, [the] atrocity."

[AskHistorians]

A hugely influential volume outlining what Ponsonby believed to be the pernicious efforts of various actors (both state-based and otherwise) to trick the public into the war. Ponsonby was a socialist and pacifist, and had what is to my mind a somewhat extravagant view of the public's peace-loving innocence. In any event, the book is a seriously important one, as it helped cement (not entirely correctly) the idea among the public that tales of German atrocity France and Belgium were wholly invented, thus helping to inoculate them against similar claims focusing on the Nazis in the 1930s and onwards -- an unfortunate consequence indeed.

[Hadi Najjar · Rating 2 out of 5]

When war is declared, Truth is the first casualty.
In every major conflict that happened in the past or now and in the future it's clear that governments involved directly or remotely in any conflict will use falsehood against the population.
The psychological factor in war is just as important as the military
factor, this is what this book documents and clarify clearly of all major events that happened during WWI.
After nearly a century of this bloody war I was surprised how a lot of event were falsified even that a lot I didn't know the truth behind them till I read this book.
The thing that made me read this book is because of the current Syrian conflict however the falsehood used in this conflict is in another league, maybe this is what they call now "media war", the old fashioned ways that were used in WWI are nothing compared to now and who knows what is still unknown.

[Warren Paris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a clear book about the issues that exist with belief. If you are patriotic, it is a huge problem. It means you love a country that, literally, is indifferent to your existence. It is necessary for the country that you love it. It is necessary for the economy that you love certain aspects/things, society that you love the way of life, military that you love soldiers, police that you love authority, etc.etc.etc.

This is not limited to one country, one war, one era. It is a longstanding issue that exists.

The book goes over this, and does highlight that people, upon hearing the truth, will either not care, or will feel upset by it. This is definitely visible today in numerous conflicts.

Love for these concepts helps society (an individual society) function. It does not help society (global human society) thrive.
Well worth reading.

[Eli Kentner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ponsonby does a great job at showing how propaganda in the 20th century 'West' actually works. Its not a single figure/authority that orders the publication/broadcasting of ideas and headlines. Rather, its that falsehoods are generated from a source, then said falsehood passes through various institutions and persons that give it a certain level of "credibility" that allows it to be accepted.

Ponsonby really shows how networks of journalists, correspondents, political operatives and military reporters can cause a chain of events that takes a story, and deliberately blows it out of proportion in order to serve short term characterizations about an event/conflict.

[Ronnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arthur Ponsonby's book, Falsehoods in Wartime, is a book that discusses British wartime propaganda and lies during World War II. It discusses specific falsehoods that were spread during the war, with some attempt to discern where they may have come from.

There's very little analysis, if that was something you were looking for. It is exactly what it is stated. "This is something that was said during the war. It is false. These are the people who spread it. These are the people who did not refute it." Pretty simple. Some common tactics of propaganda discussed explicitly. Decent if you're writing a paper about propaganda and need a citable source for common tactics.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

A breathtaking collection of disinformation, misinterpretation, misunderstanding and whoppers from the Great War. The very first lie I learned about is one I was taught in history class, described to me as a proven fact of the sequel from 20 years later. I guess it never happened in either war! This is a fascinating study of how to get people to sign up to fight in a war, to buy war bonds and generally suspend disbelief. Don't miss it.

[Vincent Caliendo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book that clearly outlines and illustrates how countries use propaganda (lie) to their citizens to garner support for a specific cause. This book is all about concrete examples which I really enjoyed. I wish there was more insight into the effect of propaganda. But for what it is, it’s great.

[Fer Soria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow.
Quizá por eso seguimos repitiendo la historia, porque en realidad no la conocemos. Lean este libro.

[Peter J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was disturbed to find within this work a vigorous apology for wide-scale lying by national leaders to their own citizenry. The author showed such a disregard for ethics that he, at several points, seems disappointed that the people, when informed of their duping, are upset.