Maintenance of Morale in War-time

Abstract

DR. EDWABD GLOVER has produced, as a “Penguin Special” entitled “The Psychology of Fear and Courage” (Harmondsworth and London: Penguin Books, Ltd. 6d. net), an apposite little book, which though giving evidence of a wide and deep knowledge of its subject, is written in a clear and popular style; in the main it consists of expansions of broadcasting addresses given by the author. It is concerned with morale, military and civilian, but chiefly civilian, in war-time; and it accordingly makes a searching analysis of the causes which may undermine this essential kind of courage. The technique of the enemy throughout his various Blitzkrieg campaigns has primarily been aimed at the destruction of morale by dividing against each other the citizens of the countries he intended to violate, by spreading alarming rumours, by disseminating lying propaganda and by playing upon the most vulnerable passions of his prospective victims—suspicion, fear, hatred, and the sense of guilt. Having thus attempted, with what success one knows, to subjugate their minds, he thereafter attacked them, civilians and military alike, by force of arms, overrunning their territories, destroying their cities, and murdering those who had had the temerity to withstand him. These brutally victorious campaigns are fresh in our minds; and we are now ourselves in the forefront of the battle. Our individual morale must not be shaken nor fail us; and those, who are apt to be fearful can hearten themselves and strengthen their fortitude by a realization of the nature of the deep-lying causes of fear.