Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP15292
Authors: Maja Adena; Ruben Enikolopov; Maria Petrova; Hansjoachim Voth
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.
Keywords: Resistance; Nazi regime; Bombing; Radio; Propaganda
JEL Codes: D74; L82; N44
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| increased bombing of German towns (N94) | rise in acts of resistance (D74) |
| increased bombing of German towns (N94) | decline in combat motivation of German fighter pilots (H56) |
| bombing (H56) | decline in combat motivation of German fighter pilots (H56) |
| exposure to BBC radio broadcasts + bombing (Y50) | increased likelihood of resistance (Y50) |