Humour is not a strategy in war

Journal of European Studies

Volumn 31, Issue 3-4, 2001, Pages 395-412

  Davies, Christie ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF READING   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

HISTORY; HUMOR; MENTAL HEALTH; MILITARY PHENOMENA; MORALITY; PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT; REVIEW; SOLDIER; WAR;

HISTORY, 20TH CENTURY; MENTAL HEALTH; MILITARY PERSONNEL; MILITARY SCIENCE; MORALE; WAR; WIT AND HUMOR;

EID: 0035458050     PISSN: 00472441     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/004724410103112309     Document Type: Review

References (127)

1. 1. John Ashton, English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I (London: Chatto and Windus, 1888); Will Dyson, Kultur Cartoons (London: Stanley Paul, 1915); Fougasse [Cyril Kenneth Bird], Sorry - No Rubber (London: Methuen, 1942); William Heath Robinson, Heath Robinson at War (London: Duckworth, 1978; first published 1915, 1916, 1919); JON [W. J. P. Jones], JON's Complete Two Types (London: Bellew, 1991); Osbert Lancaster, New Pocket Cartoons (London: John Murray, 1941); David Low, Years of Wrath: a Cartoon History 1932-45 (London: Gollancz, 1949); Mr Punch in War-time (London: Educational, 1933); The New Yorker War Album 1943 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1943); Pont [Graham Laidler], Most of Us are Absurd (London: Collins, 1946); Michael Wynn Jones, The Cartoon History of Britain (London: Tom Stacey, 1971).
2. 1. John Ashton, English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I (London: Chatto and Windus, 1888); Will Dyson, Kultur Cartoons (London: Stanley Paul, 1915); Fougasse [Cyril Kenneth Bird], Sorry - No Rubber (London: Methuen, 1942); William Heath Robinson, Heath Robinson at War (London: Duckworth, 1978; first published 1915, 1916, 1919); JON [W. J. P. Jones], JON's Complete Two Types (London: Bellew, 1991); Osbert Lancaster, New Pocket Cartoons (London: John Murray, 1941); David Low, Years of Wrath: a Cartoon History 1932-45 (London: Gollancz, 1949); Mr Punch in War-time (London: Educational, 1933); The New Yorker War Album 1943 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1943); Pont [Graham Laidler], Most of Us are Absurd (London: Collins, 1946); Michael Wynn Jones, The Cartoon History of Britain (London: Tom Stacey, 1971).
3. 1. John Ashton, English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I (London: Chatto and Windus, 1888); Will Dyson, Kultur Cartoons (London: Stanley Paul, 1915); Fougasse [Cyril Kenneth Bird], Sorry - No Rubber (London: Methuen, 1942); William Heath Robinson, Heath Robinson at War (London: Duckworth, 1978; first published 1915, 1916, 1919); JON [W. J. P. Jones], JON's Complete Two Types (London: Bellew, 1991); Osbert Lancaster, New Pocket Cartoons (London: John Murray, 1941); David Low, Years of Wrath: a Cartoon History 1932-45 (London: Gollancz, 1949); Mr Punch in War-time (London: Educational, 1933); The New Yorker War Album 1943 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1943); Pont [Graham Laidler], Most of Us are Absurd (London: Collins, 1946); Michael Wynn Jones, The Cartoon History of Britain (London: Tom Stacey, 1971).
4. 1. John Ashton, English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I (London: Chatto and Windus, 1888); Will Dyson, Kultur Cartoons (London: Stanley Paul, 1915); Fougasse [Cyril Kenneth Bird], Sorry - No Rubber (London: Methuen, 1942); William Heath Robinson, Heath Robinson at War (London: Duckworth, 1978; first published 1915, 1916, 1919); JON [W. J. P. Jones], JON's Complete Two Types (London: Bellew, 1991); Osbert Lancaster, New Pocket Cartoons (London: John Murray, 1941); David Low, Years of Wrath: a Cartoon History 1932-45 (London: Gollancz, 1949); Mr Punch in War-time (London: Educational, 1933); The New Yorker War Album 1943 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1943); Pont [Graham Laidler], Most of Us are Absurd (London: Collins, 1946); Michael Wynn Jones, The Cartoon History of Britain (London: Tom Stacey, 1971).
5. 1. John Ashton, English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I (London: Chatto and Windus, 1888); Will Dyson, Kultur Cartoons (London: Stanley Paul, 1915); Fougasse [Cyril Kenneth Bird], Sorry - No Rubber (London: Methuen, 1942); William Heath Robinson, Heath Robinson at War (London: Duckworth, 1978; first published 1915, 1916, 1919); JON [W. J. P. Jones], JON's Complete Two Types (London: Bellew, 1991); Osbert Lancaster, New Pocket Cartoons (London: John Murray, 1941); David Low, Years of Wrath: a Cartoon History 1932-45 (London: Gollancz, 1949); Mr Punch in War-time (London: Educational, 1933); The New Yorker War Album 1943 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1943); Pont [Graham Laidler], Most of Us are Absurd (London: Collins, 1946); Michael Wynn Jones, The Cartoon History of Britain (London: Tom Stacey, 1971).
6. 1. John Ashton, English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I (London: Chatto and Windus, 1888); Will Dyson, Kultur Cartoons (London: Stanley Paul, 1915); Fougasse [Cyril Kenneth Bird], Sorry - No Rubber (London: Methuen, 1942); William Heath Robinson, Heath Robinson at War (London: Duckworth, 1978; first published 1915, 1916, 1919); JON [W. J. P. Jones], JON's Complete Two Types (London: Bellew, 1991); Osbert Lancaster, New Pocket Cartoons (London: John Murray, 1941); David Low, Years of Wrath: a Cartoon History 1932-45 (London: Gollancz, 1949); Mr Punch in War-time (London: Educational, 1933); The New Yorker War Album 1943 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1943); Pont [Graham Laidler], Most of Us are Absurd (London: Collins, 1946); Michael Wynn Jones, The Cartoon History of Britain (London: Tom Stacey, 1971).
7. 1. John Ashton, English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I (London: Chatto and Windus, 1888); Will Dyson, Kultur Cartoons (London: Stanley Paul, 1915); Fougasse [Cyril Kenneth Bird], Sorry - No Rubber (London: Methuen, 1942); William Heath Robinson, Heath Robinson at War (London: Duckworth, 1978; first published 1915, 1916, 1919); JON [W. J. P. Jones], JON's Complete Two Types (London: Bellew, 1991); Osbert Lancaster, New Pocket Cartoons (London: John Murray, 1941); David Low, Years of Wrath: a Cartoon History 1932-45 (London: Gollancz, 1949); Mr Punch in War-time (London: Educational, 1933); The New Yorker War Album 1943 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1943); Pont [Graham Laidler], Most of Us are Absurd (London: Collins, 1946); Michael Wynn Jones, The Cartoon History of Britain (London: Tom Stacey, 1971).
8. 1. John Ashton, English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I (London: Chatto and Windus, 1888); Will Dyson, Kultur Cartoons (London: Stanley Paul, 1915); Fougasse [Cyril Kenneth Bird], Sorry - No Rubber (London: Methuen, 1942); William Heath Robinson, Heath Robinson at War (London: Duckworth, 1978; first published 1915, 1916, 1919); JON [W. J. P. Jones], JON's Complete Two Types (London: Bellew, 1991); Osbert Lancaster, New Pocket Cartoons (London: John Murray, 1941); David Low, Years of Wrath: a Cartoon History 1932-45 (London: Gollancz, 1949); Mr Punch in War-time (London: Educational, 1933); The New Yorker War Album 1943 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1943); Pont [Graham Laidler], Most of Us are Absurd (London: Collins, 1946); Michael Wynn Jones, The Cartoon History of Britain (London: Tom Stacey, 1971).
9. 1. John Ashton, English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I (London: Chatto and Windus, 1888); Will Dyson, Kultur Cartoons (London: Stanley Paul, 1915); Fougasse [Cyril Kenneth Bird], Sorry - No Rubber (London: Methuen, 1942); William Heath Robinson, Heath Robinson at War (London: Duckworth, 1978; first published 1915, 1916, 1919); JON [W. J. P. Jones], JON's Complete Two Types (London: Bellew, 1991); Osbert Lancaster, New Pocket Cartoons (London: John Murray, 1941); David Low, Years of Wrath: a Cartoon History 1932-45 (London: Gollancz, 1949); Mr Punch in War-time (London: Educational, 1933); The New Yorker War Album 1943 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1943); Pont [Graham Laidler], Most of Us are Absurd (London: Collins, 1946); Michael Wynn Jones, The Cartoon History of Britain (London: Tom Stacey, 1971).
10. 1. John Ashton, English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I (London: Chatto and Windus, 1888); Will Dyson, Kultur Cartoons (London: Stanley Paul, 1915); Fougasse [Cyril Kenneth Bird], Sorry - No Rubber (London: Methuen, 1942); William Heath Robinson, Heath Robinson at War (London: Duckworth, 1978; first published 1915, 1916, 1919); JON [W. J. P. Jones], JON's Complete Two Types (London: Bellew, 1991); Osbert Lancaster, New Pocket Cartoons (London: John Murray, 1941); David Low, Years of Wrath: a Cartoon History 1932-45 (London: Gollancz, 1949); Mr Punch in War-time (London: Educational, 1933); The New Yorker War Album 1943 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1943); Pont [Graham Laidler], Most of Us are Absurd (London: Collins, 1946); Michael Wynn Jones, The Cartoon History of Britain (London: Tom Stacey, 1971).
11. 1. John Ashton, English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I (London: Chatto and Windus, 1888); Will Dyson, Kultur Cartoons (London: Stanley Paul, 1915); Fougasse [Cyril Kenneth Bird], Sorry - No Rubber (London: Methuen, 1942); William Heath Robinson, Heath Robinson at War (London: Duckworth, 1978; first published 1915, 1916, 1919); JON [W. J. P. Jones], JON's Complete Two Types (London: Bellew, 1991); Osbert Lancaster, New Pocket Cartoons (London: John Murray, 1941); David Low, Years of Wrath: a Cartoon History 1932-45 (London: Gollancz, 1949); Mr Punch in War-time (London: Educational, 1933); The New Yorker War Album 1943 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1943); Pont [Graham Laidler], Most of Us are Absurd (London: Collins, 1946); Michael Wynn Jones, The Cartoon History of Britain (London: Tom Stacey, 1971).
12. 2. John Aye, Humour in the Army (London: Universal, 1931); Major Mario Affonso de Carvalho, O bom humor no C.E.P. (França 1917-18) (Lisbon: n.p., 1944); Habt acht! 244 militarische Anekdoten und Witze (Vienna: Moritz Perles, 1910); Miles Noonan, Tales from the Mess, a Military Miscellany (London: Hutchinson, 1983); S. Evelyn Thomas, Laughs with the Home Guard (London: Harrap, 1942); S. Evelyn Thomas, Laughs with the Navy (St Albans: Harrap, 1944); H. von Platen, Und dan lachen wir (Berlin: Wilhelm von Schließen, 1926).
13. 2. John Aye, Humour in the Army (London: Universal, 1931); Major Mario Affonso de Carvalho, O bom humor no C.E.P. (França 1917-18) (Lisbon: n.p., 1944); Habt acht! 244 militarische Anekdoten und Witze (Vienna: Moritz Perles, 1910); Miles Noonan, Tales from the Mess, a Military Miscellany (London: Hutchinson, 1983); S. Evelyn Thomas, Laughs with the Home Guard (London: Harrap, 1942); S. Evelyn Thomas, Laughs with the Navy (St Albans: Harrap, 1944); H. von Platen, Und dan lachen wir (Berlin: Wilhelm von Schließen, 1926).
14. 2. John Aye, Humour in the Army (London: Universal, 1931); Major Mario Affonso de Carvalho, O bom humor no C.E.P. (França 1917-18) (Lisbon: n.p., 1944); Habt acht! 244 militarische Anekdoten und Witze (Vienna: Moritz Perles, 1910); Miles Noonan, Tales from the Mess, a Military Miscellany (London: Hutchinson, 1983); S. Evelyn Thomas, Laughs with the Home Guard (London: Harrap, 1942); S. Evelyn Thomas, Laughs with the Navy (St Albans: Harrap, 1944); H. von Platen, Und dan lachen wir (Berlin: Wilhelm von Schließen, 1926).
15. 2. John Aye, Humour in the Army (London: Universal, 1931); Major Mario Affonso de Carvalho, O bom humor no C.E.P. (França 1917-18) (Lisbon: n.p., 1944); Habt acht! 244 militarische Anekdoten und Witze (Vienna: Moritz Perles, 1910); Miles Noonan, Tales from the Mess, a Military Miscellany (London: Hutchinson, 1983); S. Evelyn Thomas, Laughs with the Home Guard (London: Harrap, 1942); S. Evelyn Thomas, Laughs with the Navy (St Albans: Harrap, 1944); H. von Platen, Und dan lachen wir (Berlin: Wilhelm von Schließen, 1926).
16. 2. John Aye, Humour in the Army (London: Universal, 1931); Major Mario Affonso de Carvalho, O bom humor no C.E.P. (França 1917-18) (Lisbon: n.p., 1944); Habt acht! 244 militarische Anekdoten und Witze (Vienna: Moritz Perles, 1910); Miles Noonan, Tales from the Mess, a Military Miscellany (London: Hutchinson, 1983); S. Evelyn Thomas, Laughs with the Home Guard (London: Harrap, 1942); S. Evelyn Thomas, Laughs with the Navy (St Albans: Harrap, 1944); H. von Platen, Und dan lachen wir (Berlin: Wilhelm von Schließen, 1926).
17. 2. John Aye, Humour in the Army (London: Universal, 1931); Major Mario Affonso de Carvalho, O bom humor no C.E.P. (França 1917-18) (Lisbon: n.p., 1944); Habt acht! 244 militarische Anekdoten und Witze (Vienna: Moritz Perles, 1910); Miles Noonan, Tales from the Mess, a Military Miscellany (London: Hutchinson, 1983); S. Evelyn Thomas, Laughs with the Home Guard (London: Harrap, 1942); S. Evelyn Thomas, Laughs with the Navy (St Albans: Harrap, 1944); H. von Platen, Und dan lachen wir (Berlin: Wilhelm von Schließen, 1926).
18. 2. John Aye, Humour in the Army (London: Universal, 1931); Major Mario Affonso de Carvalho, O bom humor no C.E.P. (França 1917-18) (Lisbon: n.p., 1944); Habt acht! 244 militarische Anekdoten und Witze (Vienna: Moritz Perles, 1910); Miles Noonan, Tales from the Mess, a Military Miscellany (London: Hutchinson, 1983); S. Evelyn Thomas, Laughs with the Home Guard (London: Harrap, 1942); S. Evelyn Thomas, Laughs with the Navy (St Albans: Harrap, 1944); H. von Platen, Und dan lachen wir (Berlin: Wilhelm von Schließen, 1926).
19. 3. André Clément, Les 100 Meilleures Histoires de l'Occupation (Paris: Lesourd, 1945); Kathleen Stokker, Folklore Fights the Nazis, Humor in Occupied Norway 1940-1945 (Cranbury NJ: Associated UP, 1995).
20. 3. André Clément, Les 100 Meilleures Histoires de l'Occupation (Paris: Lesourd, 1945); Kathleen Stokker, Folklore Fights the Nazis, Humor in Occupied Norway 1940-1945 (Cranbury NJ: Associated UP, 1995).
21. 4. Christie Davies, Jokes and their Relation to Society (Berlin and New York: Mouton de Gruyter, 1998).
22. 5. Norman Barry, 'The tradition of spontaneous order', Literature of Liberty, 5 (2) (1998), 7-58; Michael Polanyi, The Logic of Liberty (London: Routledge Kegan Paul, 1941).
23. 5. Norman Barry, 'The tradition of spontaneous order', Literature of Liberty, 5 (2) (1998), 7-58; Michael Polanyi, The Logic of Liberty (London: Routledge Kegan Paul, 1941).
24. 6. Joseph Darracott and Belinda Loftus, Second World War Posters (London: Imperial War Museum, 1981); The New Yorker War Album (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1943).
25. 6. Joseph Darracott and Belinda Loftus, Second World War Posters (London: Imperial War Museum, 1981); The New Yorker War Album (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1943).
26. 7. Christie Davies, 'The savage style of Jaroslav Hašek: the good soldier Švejk as a politically incorrect masterpiece', Stylistyka, 9 [Stylistyka czeska] (2000) 301-15.
27. 8. R. E. Weise, 'Partisan perceptions of political humor', Humor, 9 (2) (1996)
28. 9. Wynn Jones, The Cartoon History of Britain, 258.
29. 10. Ibid.
30. 11. Charles R. Gruner, The Game of Humor: A Comprehensive Theory of Why We Laugh (New Brunswick NJ: Transaction, 1997).
31. 12. Thomas Hobbes, 'Human nature or the fundamental elements of policie', in The English Works of Thomas Hobbes (London: Bohn 1840; first published 1650).
32. 13. Sigmund Freud, Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious, Vol. 8 of Complete Psychological Works (London: Hogarth 1960; first published 1905).
33. 14. Christie Davies, The Mirth of Nations (forthcoming New Brunswick NJ: Transaction, 2002).
34. 15. Egon Larsen, Wit as a Weapon: The Political Joke in History (London: Frederick Muller, 1980).
35. 16. Davies, The Mirth of Nations.
36. 17. Ruth L. Coser, 'Some social functions of laughter: a study of humor in a hospital setting', Human Relations, 12 (1959), 171-82.
37. 18. Jack Haas, 'Learning real feelings: a study of high iron workers' reactions to tear and danger', Sociology of Work and Occupations, 4 (2) (1977), 147-70.
38. 19. Antonin J. Obrdlik, 'Gallows humor - a sociological phenomenon', American Sociological Review, 47 (1942), 709-16.
39. 20. Stokker, Folklore Fights the Nazis.
40. 21. Obrdlik, 'Gallows humor '.
41. 22. Stokker, Folklore Fights the Nazis.
42. 23. Clément, Les 100 Meilleures Histoires; Obrdlik, 'Gallows humor'; Stokker, Folklore Fights the Nazis.
43. 23. Clément, Les 100 Meilleures Histoires; Obrdlik, 'Gallows humor'; Stokker, Folklore Fights the Nazis.
44. 23. Clément, Les 100 Meilleures Histoires; Obrdlik, 'Gallows humor'; Stokker, Folklore Fights the Nazis.
45. 24. Stokker, Folklore Fights the Nazis, 205-6 and 213.
46. 25. Ibid., 206-10.
47. 26. Madeleine Bunting, The Model Occupation: the Channel Islands under German Rule 1940-1945 (London: Harper Collins, 1996).
48. 27. Ibid., 252-66, 303-14, 337-44; Stokker, Folklore Fights the Nazis, 212-13.
49. 27. Ibid., 252-66, 303-14, 337-44; Stokker, Folklore Fights the Nazis, 212-13.
50. 28. Christie Davies, 'Stupidity and rationality: jokes from the iron cage', in Chris Powell and George E. C. Paton (eds), Humour in Society: Resistance and Control (London: Macmillan, 1988); Christie Davies, 'Humor for the future and a future for humor', in Alexander Shtromas and Morton Kaplan, The Soviet Union and the Challenge of the Future, Vol. 3: Ideology, Culture and Nationalism (New York: Paragon, 1989), 299-319; Davies, Jokes and their Relation to Society.
51. 28. Christie Davies, 'Stupidity and rationality: jokes from the iron cage', in Chris Powell and George E. C. Paton (eds), Humour in Society: Resistance and Control (London: Macmillan, 1988); Christie Davies, 'Humor for the future and a future for humor', in Alexander Shtromas and Morton Kaplan, The Soviet Union and the Challenge of the Future, Vol. 3: Ideology, Culture and Nationalism (New York: Paragon, 1989), 299-319; Davies, Jokes and their Relation to Society.
52. 28. Christie Davies, 'Stupidity and rationality: jokes from the iron cage', in Chris Powell and George E. C. Paton (eds), Humour in Society: Resistance and Control (London: Macmillan, 1988); Christie Davies, 'Humor for the future and a future for humor', in Alexander Shtromas and Morton Kaplan, The Soviet Union and the Challenge of the Future, Vol. 3: Ideology, Culture and Nationalism (New York: Paragon, 1989), 299-319; Davies, Jokes and their Relation to Society.
53. 29. Petr Beckmann, Whispered Anecdotes: Humor from behind the Iron Curtain (Boulder CO: Golem, 1969); Petr Beckmann, Hammer and Tickle (Boulder Colorado: Golem, 1980); Emil Draitser, Forbidden Laughter: Soviet Underground Jokes (Los Angeles: Almanac, 1978); Emil Draitser, 'Sociological aspects of the Russian Jewish jokes of the Exodus', Humor, 7 (3) (1994), 245-67; Alexander Drozdzynski, Der politische Witz im Ostblock (Munich: DTV, 1978); Ota Filip and Vladimir Skutina, Anekdota za Pendrek (Zurich: Konfrontation, 1979); Ota Filip and Ivan Steiger, Politischer Witz in Prag (Berlin: Universitas, 1981); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, 'On a lighter note?' Soviet Jewish Humor (New York: New York American Jewish Committee, 1986); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, The Jokes of Oppression, the Humor of Soviet Jews (Northvale NJ: Jason Aronson, 1988); John Kolasky, Look, Comrade, the People are Laughing (Toronto: Peter Martin, 1972).
54. 29. Petr Beckmann, Whispered Anecdotes: Humor from behind the Iron Curtain (Boulder CO: Golem, 1969); Petr Beckmann, Hammer and Tickle (Boulder Colorado: Golem, 1980); Emil Draitser, Forbidden Laughter: Soviet Underground Jokes (Los Angeles: Almanac, 1978); Emil Draitser, 'Sociological aspects of the Russian Jewish jokes of the Exodus', Humor, 7 (3) (1994), 245-67; Alexander Drozdzynski, Der politische Witz im Ostblock (Munich: DTV, 1978); Ota Filip and Vladimir Skutina, Anekdota za Pendrek (Zurich: Konfrontation, 1979); Ota Filip and Ivan Steiger, Politischer Witz in Prag (Berlin: Universitas, 1981); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, 'On a lighter note?' Soviet Jewish Humor (New York: New York American Jewish Committee, 1986); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, The Jokes of Oppression, the Humor of Soviet Jews (Northvale NJ: Jason Aronson, 1988); John Kolasky, Look, Comrade, the People are Laughing (Toronto: Peter Martin, 1972).
55. 29. Petr Beckmann, Whispered Anecdotes: Humor from behind the Iron Curtain (Boulder CO: Golem, 1969); Petr Beckmann, Hammer and Tickle (Boulder Colorado: Golem, 1980); Emil Draitser, Forbidden Laughter: Soviet Underground Jokes (Los Angeles: Almanac, 1978); Emil Draitser, 'Sociological aspects of the Russian Jewish jokes of the Exodus', Humor, 7 (3) (1994), 245-67; Alexander Drozdzynski, Der politische Witz im Ostblock (Munich: DTV, 1978); Ota Filip and Vladimir Skutina, Anekdota za Pendrek (Zurich: Konfrontation, 1979); Ota Filip and Ivan Steiger, Politischer Witz in Prag (Berlin: Universitas, 1981); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, 'On a lighter note?' Soviet Jewish Humor (New York: New York American Jewish Committee, 1986); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, The Jokes of Oppression, the Humor of Soviet Jews (Northvale NJ: Jason Aronson, 1988); John Kolasky, Look, Comrade, the People are Laughing (Toronto: Peter Martin, 1972).
56. 29. Petr Beckmann, Whispered Anecdotes: Humor from behind the Iron Curtain (Boulder CO: Golem, 1969); Petr Beckmann, Hammer and Tickle (Boulder Colorado: Golem, 1980); Emil Draitser, Forbidden Laughter: Soviet Underground Jokes (Los Angeles: Almanac, 1978); Emil Draitser, 'Sociological aspects of the Russian Jewish jokes of the Exodus', Humor, 7 (3) (1994), 245-67; Alexander Drozdzynski, Der politische Witz im Ostblock (Munich: DTV, 1978); Ota Filip and Vladimir Skutina, Anekdota za Pendrek (Zurich: Konfrontation, 1979); Ota Filip and Ivan Steiger, Politischer Witz in Prag (Berlin: Universitas, 1981); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, 'On a lighter note?' Soviet Jewish Humor (New York: New York American Jewish Committee, 1986); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, The Jokes of Oppression, the Humor of Soviet Jews (Northvale NJ: Jason Aronson, 1988); John Kolasky, Look, Comrade, the People are Laughing (Toronto: Peter Martin, 1972).
57. 29. Petr Beckmann, Whispered Anecdotes: Humor from behind the Iron Curtain (Boulder CO: Golem, 1969); Petr Beckmann, Hammer and Tickle (Boulder Colorado: Golem, 1980); Emil Draitser, Forbidden Laughter: Soviet Underground Jokes (Los Angeles: Almanac, 1978); Emil Draitser, 'Sociological aspects of the Russian Jewish jokes of the Exodus', Humor, 7 (3) (1994), 245-67; Alexander Drozdzynski, Der politische Witz im Ostblock (Munich: DTV, 1978); Ota Filip and Vladimir Skutina, Anekdota za Pendrek (Zurich: Konfrontation, 1979); Ota Filip and Ivan Steiger, Politischer Witz in Prag (Berlin: Universitas, 1981); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, 'On a lighter note?' Soviet Jewish Humor (New York: New York American Jewish Committee, 1986); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, The Jokes of Oppression, the Humor of Soviet Jews (Northvale NJ: Jason Aronson, 1988); John Kolasky, Look, Comrade, the People are Laughing (Toronto: Peter Martin, 1972).
58. 29. Petr Beckmann, Whispered Anecdotes: Humor from behind the Iron Curtain (Boulder CO: Golem, 1969); Petr Beckmann, Hammer and Tickle (Boulder Colorado: Golem, 1980); Emil Draitser, Forbidden Laughter: Soviet Underground Jokes (Los Angeles: Almanac, 1978); Emil Draitser, 'Sociological aspects of the Russian Jewish jokes of the Exodus', Humor, 7 (3) (1994), 245-67; Alexander Drozdzynski, Der politische Witz im Ostblock (Munich: DTV, 1978); Ota Filip and Vladimir Skutina, Anekdota za Pendrek (Zurich: Konfrontation, 1979); Ota Filip and Ivan Steiger, Politischer Witz in Prag (Berlin: Universitas, 1981); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, 'On a lighter note?' Soviet Jewish Humor (New York: New York American Jewish Committee, 1986); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, The Jokes of Oppression, the Humor of Soviet Jews (Northvale NJ: Jason Aronson, 1988); John Kolasky, Look, Comrade, the People are Laughing (Toronto: Peter Martin, 1972).
59. 29. Petr Beckmann, Whispered Anecdotes: Humor from behind the Iron Curtain (Boulder CO: Golem, 1969); Petr Beckmann, Hammer and Tickle (Boulder Colorado: Golem, 1980); Emil Draitser, Forbidden Laughter: Soviet Underground Jokes (Los Angeles: Almanac, 1978); Emil Draitser, 'Sociological aspects of the Russian Jewish jokes of the Exodus', Humor, 7 (3) (1994), 245-67; Alexander Drozdzynski, Der politische Witz im Ostblock (Munich: DTV, 1978); Ota Filip and Vladimir Skutina, Anekdota za Pendrek (Zurich: Konfrontation, 1979); Ota Filip and Ivan Steiger, Politischer Witz in Prag (Berlin: Universitas, 1981); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, 'On a lighter note?' Soviet Jewish Humor (New York: New York American Jewish Committee, 1986); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, The Jokes of Oppression, the Humor of Soviet Jews (Northvale NJ: Jason Aronson, 1988); John Kolasky, Look, Comrade, the People are Laughing (Toronto: Peter Martin, 1972).
60. 29. Petr Beckmann, Whispered Anecdotes: Humor from behind the Iron Curtain (Boulder CO: Golem, 1969); Petr Beckmann, Hammer and Tickle (Boulder Colorado: Golem, 1980); Emil Draitser, Forbidden Laughter: Soviet Underground Jokes (Los Angeles: Almanac, 1978); Emil Draitser, 'Sociological aspects of the Russian Jewish jokes of the Exodus', Humor, 7 (3) (1994), 245-67; Alexander Drozdzynski, Der politische Witz im Ostblock (Munich: DTV, 1978); Ota Filip and Vladimir Skutina, Anekdota za Pendrek (Zurich: Konfrontation, 1979); Ota Filip and Ivan Steiger, Politischer Witz in Prag (Berlin: Universitas, 1981); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, 'On a lighter note?' Soviet Jewish Humor (New York: New York American Jewish Committee, 1986); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, The Jokes of Oppression, the Humor of Soviet Jews (Northvale NJ: Jason Aronson, 1988); John Kolasky, Look, Comrade, the People are Laughing (Toronto: Peter Martin, 1972).
61. 29. Petr Beckmann, Whispered Anecdotes: Humor from behind the Iron Curtain (Boulder CO: Golem, 1969); Petr Beckmann, Hammer and Tickle (Boulder Colorado: Golem, 1980); Emil Draitser, Forbidden Laughter: Soviet Underground Jokes (Los Angeles: Almanac, 1978); Emil Draitser, 'Sociological aspects of the Russian Jewish jokes of the Exodus', Humor, 7 (3) (1994), 245-67; Alexander Drozdzynski, Der politische Witz im Ostblock (Munich: DTV, 1978); Ota Filip and Vladimir Skutina, Anekdota za Pendrek (Zurich: Konfrontation, 1979); Ota Filip and Ivan Steiger, Politischer Witz in Prag (Berlin: Universitas, 1981); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, 'On a lighter note?' Soviet Jewish Humor (New York: New York American Jewish Committee, 1986); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, The Jokes of Oppression, the Humor of Soviet Jews (Northvale NJ: Jason Aronson, 1988); John Kolasky, Look, Comrade, the People are Laughing (Toronto: Peter Martin, 1972).
62. 29. Petr Beckmann, Whispered Anecdotes: Humor from behind the Iron Curtain (Boulder CO: Golem, 1969); Petr Beckmann, Hammer and Tickle (Boulder Colorado: Golem, 1980); Emil Draitser, Forbidden Laughter: Soviet Underground Jokes (Los Angeles: Almanac, 1978); Emil Draitser, 'Sociological aspects of the Russian Jewish jokes of the Exodus', Humor, 7 (3) (1994), 245-67; Alexander Drozdzynski, Der politische Witz im Ostblock (Munich: DTV, 1978); Ota Filip and Vladimir Skutina, Anekdota za Pendrek (Zurich: Konfrontation, 1979); Ota Filip and Ivan Steiger, Politischer Witz in Prag (Berlin: Universitas, 1981); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, 'On a lighter note?' Soviet Jewish Humor (New York: New York American Jewish Committee, 1986); David A. Harris and Israil Rabinovich, The Jokes of Oppression, the Humor of Soviet Jews (Northvale NJ: Jason Aronson, 1988); John Kolasky, Look, Comrade, the People are Laughing (Toronto: Peter Martin, 1972).
63. 30. Peter Deriaben and Frank Gibney, The Secret World (London: Arthur Barker, 1960).
64. 31. Davies, The Mirth of Nations.
65. 32. Mark Bryant, The Complete Colonel Blimp (London: Bellew, 1991), 112-13.
66. 33. JON, JON's Complete Two Types.
67. 34. Ibid.
68. 35. Clément, Les 100 Meilleurs Histoires.
69. 36. Thomas, Laughs with the Navy.
70. 37. Michel de Montaigne, Essais (Paris: Gallimard, 1965; first published c. 1580), book 2, 126.
71. 38. François Rabelais, Pantagruel, Roy des Dipsodes (Pantagruel, book 2) in Oeuvres Complètes (Paris: Gallimard, 1955), 199.
72. 39. Roger Pinon, 'From illumination to folksong: the armed snail, a motif of topsyturvy land', in Venetia Newall, Folklore Studies in the Twentieth Century (Totowa NJ: D. S. Brewer/Rowman and Littlefield, 1980).
73. 40. Ibid.
74. 41. Stanislav L. Andreski, 'Causes of the low morale in the Italian army in the two world wars' and 'A rejoinder', Journal of Strategic Studies, 5 (2) (1982), 248-56 and 276-7; see also Cyril Falls, Caporetto 1917 (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1966); Denis Mack Smith, Mussolini's Roman Empire (London: Longman, 1976); Denis Mack Smith, Mussolini (London: Grenada, 1983).
75. 41. Stanislav L. Andreski, 'Causes of the low morale in the Italian army in the two world wars' and 'A rejoinder', Journal of Strategic Studies, 5 (2) (1982), 248-56 and 276-7; see also Cyril Falls, Caporetto 1917 (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1966); Denis Mack Smith, Mussolini's Roman Empire (London: Longman, 1976); Denis Mack Smith, Mussolini (London: Grenada, 1983).
76. 41. Stanislav L. Andreski, 'Causes of the low morale in the Italian army in the two world wars' and 'A rejoinder', Journal of Strategic Studies, 5 (2) (1982), 248-56 and 276-7; see also Cyril Falls, Caporetto 1917 (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1966); Denis Mack Smith, Mussolini's Roman Empire (London: Longman, 1976); Denis Mack Smith, Mussolini (London: Grenada, 1983).
77. 41. Stanislav L. Andreski, 'Causes of the low morale in the Italian army in the two world wars' and 'A rejoinder', Journal of Strategic Studies, 5 (2) (1982), 248-56 and 276-7; see also Cyril Falls, Caporetto 1917 (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1966); Denis Mack Smith, Mussolini's Roman Empire (London: Longman, 1976); Denis Mack Smith, Mussolini (London: Grenada, 1983).
78. B. D. Shaw, Is Hitler Dead? (New York: Alcaeus House, 1939).
79. See William B. Helmreich, The Things They Say Behind Your Back (New York: Doubleday, 1982).
80. BBC Written Archive in Caversham. R34/275/1, 17 June 1940.
81. Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf (London: Hutchinson, 1974; first publsihed 1925).
82. Hitler disliked the use of subtle wit and humour in propaganda generally, for he saw the witty speeches of the German Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg as vastly inferior to the 'primitiveness' and 'primordiality' of the speeches of the 'Englishman' David Lloyd George (Hitler, Mein Kampf, 433). Hitler (Mein Kampf, 165) felt that English and American propaganda representing the Germans as barbarians and Huns had been much more effective than the German attempt to ridicule their enemies as cowards, because it prepared soldiers for the brutal reality of war that they would experience. It is doubtful whether the Austrian and German comic papers had any effect one way or another on the outcome of World War I or that their subordination to strategic control would have made any difference. By contrast, Hitler's own preference for a propaganda based on serious hatred may have been a more effective strategy for promoting military determination, but it also led to his defeat, for unlike mere jokes it was translated into action as atrocities, which created resistance to his conquests.
83. Ibid., 132-3.
84. Ibid., 165.
85. William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (London: Seeker and Warburg, 1960), 740.
86. Mack Smith, Mussolini's Roman Empire, 292.
87. Clément, Les 100 Meilleurs Histoires, 11.
88. Andreski, 'Causes of the low morale'; Christie Davies, 'Itali sunt imbelles', Journal of Strategic Studies, 15 (2) (1982), 266-9; John Gooch, 'Italian military competence', Journal of Strategic Studies, 5 (2) (1982), 257-65.
89. Andreski, 'Causes of the low morale'; Christie Davies, 'Itali sunt imbelles', Journal of Strategic Studies, 15 (2) (1982), 266-9; John Gooch, 'Italian military competence', Journal of Strategic Studies, 5 (2) (1982), 257-65.
90. Andreski, 'Causes of the low morale'; Christie Davies, 'Itali sunt imbelles', Journal of Strategic Studies, 15 (2) (1982), 266-9; John Gooch, 'Italian military competence', Journal of Strategic Studies, 5 (2) (1982), 257-65.
91. Corelli Barnett, The Desert Generals (London: Pan, 1983), 64; John Connell, 'Wavell's 30, 000', in Sir Basil Liddell Hart, History of the Second World War (New York: Putnam, 1980), 105.
92. Corelli Barnett, The Desert Generals (London: Pan, 1983), 64; John Connell, 'Wavell's 30, 000', in Sir Basil Liddell Hart, History of the Second World War (New York: Putnam, 1980), 105.
93. [No author] The Conquest of North Africa: The First Complete Authoritative Account of the Entire Three Years' North African Campaign from Egypt to Tunisia (London-Burke, 1943), 17.
94. Barnett, The Desert Generals, 31.
95. BBC Written Archive in Caversham. R34/275/1, 30 January 1941.
96. Mack Smith, Mussolini's Roman Empire, 220.
97. Ernst Kris and Hans Spier, German Radio Propaganda: A Report on Home Broadcasts During the War (London: OUP, 1944), 260. See also p. 259.
98. Hans-Jochen Gamm, Der Flüsterwitz im dritten Reich (Munich: DTV, 1979), 123.
99. Ibid., 134.
100. The word Volksturm means 'the people's storm', i.e. shock troops made up of local men capable of storming an objective; in practice a kind of militia, a descendant of the Landwehr, a very rough equivalent of the Home Guard.
101. Gamm, Der Flüsterwitz, 117.
102. I.e. German optimists.
103. Victor Raskin, Semantic Mechanisms of Humor (Dordrecht: Reidel, 1985), 229.
104. Victor Klemperer, To the Bitter End, The Diaries of Victor Klemperer 1942-45 (London: Phoenix 2000; first published 1995), 383 (8 May 1944).
105. Ibid., 383-4; see also Victor Klemperer, I Shall Bear Witness, The Diaries of Victor Klemperer 1933-41 (London: Phoenix, 1999, first published 1995).
106. Ibid., 383-4; see also Victor Klemperer, I Shall Bear Witness, The Diaries of Victor Klemperer 1933-41 (London: Phoenix, 1999, first published 1995).
107. Peter Black, The Biggest Aspidistra in the World (London: BBC, 1972) 121-2; Asa Briggs, The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom, Vol. III: The War of Words (London: OUP, 1970).
108. Peter Black, The Biggest Aspidistra in the World (London: BBC, 1972) 121-2; Asa Briggs, The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom, Vol. III: The War of Words (London: OUP, 1970).
109. BBC Written Archive in Caversham. R34/275/2, 9 May 1944. It is difficult to see how those who failed to protest against the terror bombing could be so upset that others joked about it. The wrong lay in the doing of it, as Bishop Bell, almost alone, had the courage to point out, and it was sheer hypocrisy on the part of the Director-General to retreat into the kind of medical metaphor favoured by the Nazis themselves.
110. BBC Written Archive in Caversham. R34/275/2, 10 May 1944.
111. E.g. see BBC Written Archive in Caversham R34/275/3, File 1C, 8 October 1947.
112. BBC Written Archive in Caversham. R34/292/2, 6 February 1941.
113. Bunting, The Model Occupation, 319.
114. Ibid.
115. The rulers of the BBC, an institution enjoying a state monopoly potentially threatened by pirate broadcasters, clearly responded with alacrity to any suggestion by politicians committed to the maintenance of state control over the markets for most consumer goods that it was undesirable to joke about the undermining of their regulations by an activity indulged in by millions of otherwise law-abiding people. The government had an economic strategy but individuals preferred to pursue their own ends in the market place. The black market is funny because 'they', the authorities, saw it as a crime and moralized about it whereas 'we' saw it as victimless and as a way round over-regulation. Here there was ambivalence and ambiguity as well as joy in petty rule-breaking: the very ingredients of good comedy.
116. BBC Written Archive in Caversham. R34/275/3, File 1C, 8 October 1947; see also T16/157, 15 October 1947.
117. 'Allo 'Allo! De Oorlandsdagboeken van René Artois (Kampen: La Riviere & Voorhoeve, 1991, first publsihed 1988).
118. Jaroslav Hašek (trans. Sir Cecil Parrott), The Good Soldier Švejk and his Fortunes in the World War (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1974; first published 1921-3); Evelyn Waugh, Put Out More Flags (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1961; first published 1943).
119. Jaroslav Hašek (trans. Sir Cecil Parrott), The Good Soldier Švejk and his Fortunes in the World War (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1974; first published 1921-3); Evelyn Waugh, Put Out More Flags (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1961; first published 1943).
120. E.g. Patrick Robert Reid, The Latter Days at Colditz (London: Coronet, 1965; first published 1952).
121. This is only a hypothesis, but it is a testable one (though there would be more difficulty in doing this than might appear).
122. BBC Written Archive in Caversham. R34/292/2.
123. Arieh O'Sullivan and Lamia Lahoud, 'No joking about Arafat', Jerusalem Post, 18 May 2001.
124. Ibid.
125. Ibid.
126. Ibid.
127. Ibid.