In this Museum After Hours presentation, former FWWM intern Sullivan Friebus, a history major at Whitman College, will discuss psychological warfare of the Pacific Ocean theater during World War II.

 During Sullivan’s internship, the museum received an assortment of documents and photographs that detailed the struggles and victories of the Allied forces in the Pacific theater. These documents, collected by World War II veteran and Walla Walla local Donald A. Anderson, include examples of propaganda utilized by both the Allied and Axis powers. The psychological tactics developed in the U.S. campaign against Japan sought to undermine the morale of the Japanese soldiers, encourage them to surrender, and ultimately prevent American casualties. At first primarily targeting individual soldiers or units, psychological warfare would eventually attempt to influence the unconditional surrender of Japan itself.

 Sullivan Friebus will share his research and talk about the lessons learned from the use of psychological warfare, which are relevant in a world where foreign and domestic organizations continue to mobilize propaganda within the United States. The presentation will begin at 5 pm.