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Bombs, broadcasts and resistance: Allied intervention and domestic opposition to the Nazi regime during World War II

Author

Listed:
  • Adena, Maja
  • Enikolopov, Ruben
  • Petrova, Maria
  • Voth, Hans-Joachim

Abstract

Can bombs and broadcasts instigate resistance against a foreign regime? In this paper, we examine the canonical case of bombing designed to undermine enemy morale-the Allied bomber offensive against Germany during World War II. Our evidence shows that air power and the airwaves indeed undermined regime support. We collect data on treason trials and combine it with information on the bombing of over 900 German towns and cities. Using plausibly exogenous variation in weather, we show that places that suffered more bombardment saw noticeably more opposition. Bombing also reduced the combat motivation of soldiers: fighter pilots from bombed-out cities performed markedly less well after raids. We also provide evidence that exposure to BBC radio, especially together with bombing, increased the number of resistance cases. We corroborate these findings with the evidence on people's opinions and behavior using unique survey data collected in 1945.

Suggested Citation

  • Adena, Maja & Enikolopov, Ruben & Petrova, Maria & Voth, Hans-Joachim, 2021. "Bombs, broadcasts and resistance: Allied intervention and domestic opposition to the Nazi regime during World War II," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Economics of Change SP II 2021-301, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:wzbeoc:spii2021301
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hagenbach, Jeanne & Koessler, Frédéric, 2022. "Selective memory of a psychological agent," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Maja Adena & Julian Harke, 2022. "COVID-19 and pro-sociality: How do donors respond to local pandemic severity, increased salience, and media coverage?," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 25(3), pages 824-844, June.
    2. Munroe, Ellen & Nosach, Anastasiia & Pedrozo, Moises & Guarnieri, Eleonora & Riano, Juan Felipe & Tur-Prats, Ana & Valencia Caicedo, Felipe, 2023. "The Legacies of War for Ukraine," CEPR Discussion Papers 17841, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Mario F. Carillo, 2022. "Fascistville: Mussolini’s new towns and the persistence of neo-fascism," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 27(4), pages 527-567, December.
    4. Sergei Guriev & Daniel Treisman, 2019. "Informational Autocrats," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 33(4), pages 100-127, Fall.
    5. Aparicio, Juan P. & Jetter, Michael & Parsons, Christopher, 2023. "Peacefully Demobilizing Rebels: Identity, Emotional Cues, and the FARC," IZA Discussion Papers 16054, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Nicolas Berman & Björn Brey & Jérémy Laurent-Lucchetti, 2023. "Panic politics on the US West Coast," Discussion Papers 2023-06, Nottingham Interdisciplinary Centre for Economic and Political Research (NICEP).
    7. Ernest Liu & Aleh Tsyvinski, 2021. "Dynamical Structure and Spectral Properties of Input-Output Networks," Working Papers 2021-13, Princeton University. Economics Department..
    8. Thomas Baudin & Robert Stelter, 2023. "Kinder, Küche und Kirche, Family policies and fertility in the Third Reich," Working Papers 2023-iFlame-04, IESEG School of Management.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Media; BBC; bombing; resistance; WWII;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • N44 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Europe: 1913-

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