An Informal history of the 1st Radio Broadcasting and Leaflet Battalion adds:

In the summer of 1951, the 2nd Leaflet and Loudspeaker Company participated in the first maneuver in which a psychological warfare unit was deployed. This major maneuver, Operation Southern Pines, took place in the Ft. Bragg area…Supporting the aggressor, the 2nd L&L Company succeeded in the dissemination of some half million leaflets, despite the fact that the presses at the time could not operate under the humid conditions and leaflets had to be flown to Ft. McPherson, Georgia for printing. Local girls were recruited to record and type the L&L’s nostalgic appeal, “The Velvet voice of Lorelei,” the L&L’s answer to the Axis Sally and Tokyo Rose broadcasts of WWII.

Lorelei also appears in a Propaganda Newspaper

This idea of the pretty girl named Lorilei working with the Aggressors seems to have been popular, because we also find her in a Ft. Bragg wargame newspaper dated 24 August 1951. This is Volume 1, Number 6 of The Forward Observer. The front depicts a map of the battle with the 28th and 43rd Divisions pushing back the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division and the headline “Aggressor smashes ahead.” A second story is “Life at Aggressor Rest Camp Described as “real Vacation’.” Notice it is not a “POW Camp,” it is a “Rest Camp.” The back page depicts Lorilei and features stories like: “Lorilei remains a mystery;” "Lorelei visits captured GIs as Aggressor Rest Camps;” and “Many deadly reptiles here.” At the bottom of the newspaper we see "Lorelei, the beautiful velvet voice of Aggressor chats with a GI besides a luxurious swimming pool at an Aggressor Rest Camp during her tour last week” and: “Army Ft. McPherson GA 1323 51.”

 

Your Platoon Sergeant never looked like this

This wargame leaflet also uses a pretty female face to catch the attention of the enemy. The back is covered with kisses and says in part:

Miss something out here friend?

The dreamy armful on the reverse side is one of those things you’ll have to do without on this maneuver. The only armful you get out here is some sweaty tent partner rolling over in his sleep. And besides, he snores….

What I found most interesting about this leaflet is that the owner placed it for sale estimated at $99.99 and described as Original 1940's WWII Enemy Propaganda Flyer/Leaflet Germany/USA/British. This training leaflet was so well done that a dealer 60 years later assumed it was a genuine German leaflet aimed at the Allies and valued it at about $100.

While the 1st L&L Company was in Korea and the 5th L&L Company was in Germany, the 2nd L&L Company (November 1950 to February 1955) remained in the United States for training purposes. They took part in several war games and exercises, most noticeably Southern Pine at Ft. Bragg in August 1951 where they printed 485,800 leaflets, Snow Fall at Ft. Drum in February 1952 where they printed 50,000 leaflets, and Long Horn at Ft. Hood where they designed 16 different leaflets and printed over 500,000 leaflets.

Exercise SNOW FALL

Exercise SNOW FALL Map
(Photo courtesy of Veritas magazine)

Tracy mentions SNOWFALL in Veritas:

In late 1951, the 2nd L&L received notice of upcoming Exercise SNOW FALL at Camp Drum, New York. SNOW FALL would emphasize: “1) individual survival, over-snow movement, and the use and care of weapons, equipment, and supplies; 2) planning and executing offensive and defensive operations, to include defense on a wide front [and] night operations; 3) airborne operations; 4) tactical air operations; 5) air, motor, and rail movement; and 6) logistical support.” According to the hypothetical SNOW FALL training scenario, Aggressor forces occupying and consolidated in New Brunswick, Quebec, and Montreal, Canada had recently pushed southward into the U.S., advancing toward Potsdam. Thanks to the 2nd L&L, U.S. forces dropped nearly 50,000 leaflets and made fifteen loudspeaker broadcasts to Aggressor. Propaganda Platoon personnel wrote and designed leaflets and six issues of Frigid Times, an exercise newsletter.

Exercise Flintlock

We show several leaflets above that have Allied radio stations as a theme. This leaflet for Exercise Flintlock depicts a rather odd looking dragon and tells the enemy where to find the radio station WIZZ that broadcasts four times a day. Eurock (European Rock) was apparently a popular form of music for young men at the time.

This exercise Flintlock was supported by the 6th PSYOP Battalion in Germany in 1987. Later the same name, Exercise Flintlock, was used for an annual regional exercise among African, Western, and U.S. counterterrorism forces. Occurring in nations across the Sahel region of Africa, the exercises were planned by Special Operations Command-Africa to develop the capacity and collaboration among African security forces to protect civilian populations. Flintlock participation has included ground and air forces from over 16 countries across a broad spectrum of operations.

Operation Equinox – Germany – 1952

Mud Typhus

As the Korean War continued American troops in Baden-Baden, Germany, took part in an Operation Equinox Training Exercise in September, 1952. This major exercise pitted the French I Corps, the U.S. 43rd Infantry Division, The French 5th Armored Group and the French 2nd Infantry against the US VII Corps, the U.S. 28th Infantry Division, the French 4th Infantry Division and the French 24th Airborne Division. This exercise was designed to produce better communication and coordination between the U.S. and their French allies and this goal was achieved.

The leaflet is quite good and shows the circulatory system of a man and warns of the danger of an imaginary disease called “mud typhus,” and basically tells the soldier to go on sick call immediately or suffer the consequences. Of course, when enemy soldiers go “sick,” they are off the front lines and cannot fight.

Soldiers of the French 5th Armored Division…

This is one of the few war game leaflets I have seen in the French language. The owner thought it was a German propaganda leaflet and priced it at $24.99. I would have thought the origin was clear because it does mention “aggressor” twice and at the bottom actually says: This is an example of a psychological warfare leaflet. The image is a caricature of the symbol of the French 5th Armored Division and it is about to be enveloped by an Aggressor pincer movement. After the end of WWII the French 5th Armored Division served as occupation troops in Germany. The text is:

Soldiers of the 5th Armored Division.

[From the] Aggressor Army

You overestimated your strength and have gone too far. Now you could be encircled….

You have no reason to continue the fight. Avoid unnecessary losses and further weariness!

Come to the Aggressor army! You will be well treated.

This is an example of psychological warfare leaflet

Hell on Wheels

Another leaflet that mentions a unit talks about the 2nd Armored Division, the famous “Hell on Wheels” unit. The 2nd Armored played an important role during World War II in the invasions of North Africa and Sicily and the liberation of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands and the invasion of Germany. During the Cold War, the division was primarily based at Fort Hood, Texas, and had a reinforced brigade forward stationed in West Germany. After participation in the Persian Gulf War, the division was deactivated in 1995. This leaflet tries to divide the enemy infantry and armor by telling the foot soldiers that the tankers are nice and dry and ride everywhere. The back of this leaflet is blank.

Encircled!

Another leaflet that mentions encirclement depicts a giant pair of pincers surrounding the military map symbol of the 9th Infantry Regiment. The text is:

Encircled! Now, what can you do?

The back of the leaflet has a rather long message that we will quote in part:

Infantry of the 9th Regiment

The high ground on your left and right is controlled by our forces and ahead of you we have superior firepower. Behind you, you have the sea. What will they expect you to do now?

The Jaws of this trap can close at any time

Be smart and come on over to our lines. Take a break as many of your buddies have already done.

Remember - Aggressor treats prisoners’ right.

The 9th Infantry Regiment was one of the first units authorized in the United States Army; 16 July 1798. During WWII, they broke out from the beachhead at Normandy and then took part in the Battle of the Bulge. They crossed the Rhine in March 1945 and ended the war with three Presidential Unit Citations. During the Korean War they were part of the 2nd Infantry Division. They were successful at Bloody Ridge, Heartbreak Ridge, Old Baldy, and Pork Chop Hill.

 

Aggressor treats Prisoners right!

Since the leaflet above uses a line of almost the same text as the title of this leaflet it seemed like a good place for it. We see an Aggressor soldier lighting a cigarette for a soldier who has surrendered himself. Notice the old helmet that was used in the 50s to clearly indicate that they were the enemy. The back depicts a group of prisoners and pretty women enjoying themselves at a Service club and the text:

AGGRESSOR HAS A GOOD TIME. JOIN US! SURRENDER NOW

Counting the days?

This leaflet reminds the soldier that although the weather is nice at present, he will be back playing again in January and it will be much colder then. It mentions Maneuver, so we know it is a war game leaflet. The text on the back of the leaflet recommends malingering and surrender:

A heavy cold means a trip to the hospital – long enough to keep you out of the rest of maneuvers…Aggressor troops have it made during this exercise. They’re based in warm comfortable barracks. If you are smart you will get away from these war games and come over to Aggressor…Stay high and dry with Aggressor!

This is a dogface

This is a nice low-key leaflet that almost reminds one of Beetle Bailey. It depicts a beat-up dogface at the top looking tired and confused. He is in the field and poorly fed during night maneuvers. Below we see another soldier, happy and sleeping in a warm, bed. He has come over to the “Aggressors” and is being treated well.

He isn’t Getting Anywhere….are you?

This is another leaflet that mentions maneuvers. This training leaflet hints that taking one’s time is the way to travel on maneuvers. In other words, take it easy, malinger and don’t tire yourself. Of course, if a military unit practices that, they will not accomplish any missions and will be regularly late for everything.

Two Ways to End a Maneuver

Another leaflet that mentions maneuvers. Many times you can tell who was involved in a maneuver or exercise because the training leaflet mentions the unit. In this case the leaflet mentions the 84th Infantry Division. The 84th Training Command (“Rail splitters”) is a formation of the United States Army. During World War I and World War II, it was known as the 84th Infantry Division. From 1946 to 1952, the division was a part of the United States Army Reserve. In 1959, the division was re-designated once more to the 84th Division. The division was headquartered in Milwaukee in command of over 4,100 soldiers divided into eight brigades, including an ROTC brigade, spread throughout seven states. In September 2010, the 84th was renamed 84th Training Command and began reorganization. The 84th mission currently supports three training divisions: The 78th Training Division, the 86th Training Division, and the 91st Training Division. We assume that when this leaflet was printed the 84th was taking part as a training command. The back of the leaflet has alternating horizontal bands of red and white.

28th Division
Courtesy of Veritas

This leaflet was produced by the 2nd L&L Company for use in Exercise Southern Pine targeting the 28th U.S. Army Division that had just been federalized. The triangle in the handle of the scissors is the symbol of the Aggressor forces. The major U.S ground units were the 82nd Airborne Division, the 28th Infantry Division and the 43rd Infantry Division. The major aggressor ground units were the 315th Airborne Infantry Regiment and the 511th Airborne Infantry Regiment. The text is:

Wondering where to go now since you’ve been cut off?

The back of the leaflet depicts Aggressor troops marching through the city and promises that US forces will soon return. Notice that most training leaflets do not admit what they are but at the top there is a brief message: “Simulated for maneuver purposes.” The text on the back is:

THE U.S. WILL RETURN

While aggressor troops are in your city – while aggressor cockily parades in your streets – the U.S. is preparing the counterattack which will drive the enemy from your city.

   

Here is a Total Loss

This is an interesting leaflet. Nowhere does it state that it is a training leaflet and the owner thought it was a genuine war leaflet. There are clues that give it away. The leaflet has English text. That would imply that it is from the enemy, but it tells the reader not to believe enemy propaganda. The enemy wants you to believe his propaganda. So, we can assume it was a training leaflet aimed at our own soldiers as an instructive leaflet warning them about the dangers of propaganda. The leaflet ends with, Don’t be a propaganda casualty.

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