World War 2 Speech Analysis

Emperor Hirohito’s Surrender speech, Winston Churchill’s, “Blood, Toil, Sweat, and Tears” (speech), Goebbel’s “Nation, Rise Up, and Let the Storm Break Loose” all use many similar stylistic devices that alter the readers perception and interpretation of their speeches and the events occurring.

 A prime example lies within the victimizing in Emperor Hirohito’s Surrender speech and Goebbel’s “Nation, Rise Up, and Let the Storm Break Loose. Discarding the fact that the Japanese killed innocent civilians and did extremely detrimental things to those in World War 2 their main reason for surrendering appeared to be “ the war situation has not developed not necessarily to Japan’s advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.” Hirohito’s diction and use of a litote(understatement) allowed him to victimize Japan rather than taking the actual blame in the situation. Using similar diction and stylistic devices Goebbels speech on total war allows him to victimize himself and Germany in their decision to start the war. “It was two minutes before midnight. Waiting any longer could easily have led to the destruction of the Reich and a total Bolshevization of the European continent.” Using slippery slope fallacy Goebbels justifies and victimizes himself and Germany in their decision.

Another prevalent idea within Goebbels “Nation, Rise Up, and Let the Storm Break Loose and Winston Churchill’s, “Blood, Toil, Sweat, and Tears” is to call upon the patriotism and instill unity within its citizens. At the end of Goebbels speech has a series of questions that he asks his supporters in the war. “ Are you resolved to follow the Fuhrer through thick and thin...... Are you and the German people willing to work, if the Fuhrer orders…..Is your confidence in the Fuhrer greater……?” These series of rhetorical questions creates a bandwagon effect and instills patriotism within the reader. Giving an either or fallacy Goebbels instills guilt in the reader if he does not follow the bandwagon. In Winston Churchill’s, “Blood, Toil, Sweat, and Tears” Churchill gives the same effect to his readers by instilling the idea of unity and a “together we can win but divided we fall apart” effect. “ At this time I feel entitled to claim the aim of all, and I say, “ Come then, lets go forward together with our united strength.”” Churchill’s diction with his “entitlement” to ask for help creates a bandwagon and instills patriotism within the reader.

A common stylistic device between all three of the World War 2 speeches is by zoomorphism and making their enemy seem like the most eminent threat in the world. Churchill said “….to wage a war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark and the lamentable catalogue of human crime.” Goebbels said “International Jewry is the devilish ferment of decomposition that finds cynical satisfaction in plunging the world into the deepest chaos and destroying ancient cultures that it played no role in building.” Hirohito said “The enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb..” All three speeches give the effect that the enemies are the most important and evil danger in the world.

All three speeches use many similar stylistic devices that hide the truth by altering the readers perception of the situations.