PROPAGANDA SPREADING THE WORD Propaganda plays a part in all wars It may be used to encourage and misinform the home population or to discourage and misinform the enemy. Its influence depends to a large extent on its sophistication and on the sophistication of those to whom it is addressed. The propaganda leaflets distributed by both sides in the Vietnam War were often simple messages aimed at inducing soldiers to stop fighting and throw in their lot with the other side. Australian and American soldiers were urged to go home to their wives and girlfriends and to stop killing defenceless civilians. The Viet Cong and thc North Vietnainese were encouraged to defect, by offers of safe conduct to resettlcment centres and rewards for handing over weapons. It is unlikely, however, that this war for the minds of men would have had much effect on a dedicated Viet Cong guerrilla or a well-trained allied soldier. Personal accounts were often used on leaflets. TO MY FRIENDS OF BATTALION D. 445", and the message states: "I, Huynh Van Thoi, alias Dong, a soldier of platoon 3, Company 1, Battalion D. 445, have returned to the national government on 27 February 1970. I now live without trouble and am well treated at the 'Chieu Hoi' centre in Phuoc Tuy .... "I call on my friends: Company Leader Quy, platoon leader Phuoc, and Non, thuan, Son to return so that you will be soon reunited with your families. "See you at the Phuc Tuy Chieu Hoi Center". "Chieu Hoi" means" Open Arms" in Vietnamese. Jungle Junk Mail printed from VC document as is AUSTRALIAN SERVICEMEN There is no resentment whatsoever between the Vietnamese and the Australian people.! Why do you come here to kill our people and to harm the Vietnam Revolutionry Movement. You yourselves have been deceived!. The Australian reactionary government are making profit on your bloods and bones by sending you to SVN to serve as cannon fodder for the US imperialists. Since stationing at Nui Dat base (Baria), you have commited untold crimes to our compatriots, especially those at Long Phuoc, Hoa Long, Long Tan, Long Dien, Dat Do,Ninh Dam area, terrorised, killed them, destroyed their homes and orchards!. All of that are but odious crimes that bring to you any profit but only a terible deathq!. Only in 20 days, from May 2nd to 22nd, at Ninh Dam mountian area, hundreds of Australian troops were shamefully killed, tens of tank or armoured car destroyed, and it is you yourselves have witnessed by your own eyes!. US defeat is evident. Nixon, the president, has been forced to withdraw 25,000 soldiers from SVN. What do you think of that!. To avoid useless and senceless death, commit no more crimes against the Vietnamese people, you should resolutely- ---Oppose the war! demand to be sent back to your families! ---Refuse to go raiding for the US puppet troops! ---Then in contact, cross over to the fronts side, you will be well treated and given safe repatriation!. ---Stay in your camps at Nui Dat base! Refuse to go for ambush! Do not harm the Vietnamese people! BARIA LIBERATION ARMED FORCES

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