Hello everyone I'm your host James Rogers and this is the History Hit Warfare Podcast.

I'm excited to say we have the brilliant Professor Simon Elliot from the School of Advanced Study at the University of London.

He's here on the podcast. When I was in the archives a few weeks ago,

I was rooting around and looking for reports of the bombing of the UK by the Lufwaffe during the Second World War

for a new book that I'm writing and I came across files that showed how many of these public reports on Lufwaifuava bombing had been censored.

And then I stumbled across the Ministry of Information and I needed to know more.

Simon is an expert on the MOI, the Ministry of Information,

which was established by the British government

at the outbreak of the Second World War. It was responsible for

issuing national propaganda at home and abroad, as well as centering information

deemed to be of military value. Now as Simon explains they used all

available forms of communication. They issued pamphlets and posters to local

authorities, they issued guidance to the press on what they should and shouldn't publish.

They published their own books and illustrated magazines on key aspects of the Second World War,

and they ran thousands of public meetings, curated exhibitions, produced films, organized

radio broadcasts and they even placed snoopers in pubs and at bus stops to listen to rumors. This was government communication on an unprecedented scale.

So here is Simon Elliot on the Ministry of Information. Hi Simon welcome to the history hit. How are you doing today?

I'm fine.

Thank you very much for having me.

No, not a problem at all.

Thank you for joining us.

It's getting later in the evening where you are.

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