Episode 13: Propaganda in WWII: The Strategic Lessons for Winning the Information Battlefield
Guest
Peter Pomerantsev
Files
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Description
In this episode of Strategy Matters, we explore the legacy of the forgotten World War II propaganda hero, Sefton Delmer, to uncover best practices for shaping the information domain. Vanya Eftimova Bellinger talks with the Ukrainian-born British journalist Peter Pomerantsev, the author of How to Win the Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler. In the episode, Pomerantsev disavows common misunderstandings about propaganda and misinformation. He explains how and why the Industrial Revolution and advanced technology made people more susceptible to them. Pomerantsev also summarizes some of Delmer's provocative yet effective ideas for understanding the role of propaganda in modern war. Finally, the guest explains why the information warfare feels so new and overwhelming, and how strategists can navigate it.
Guest Peter Pomerantsev is a Ukrainian-born British journalist, author, and TV producer. Pomerantsev has written two books about Russian disinformation and propaganda—Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible (2014), and This Is Not Propaganda (2019). His most recent book, How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler (2024), discusses the life and legacy of Sefton Delmer, a British propagandist during World War II.
The opinions expressed on this podcast represent the views of the presenters and do not reflect the official position of the Department of War, The US Navy, or US Naval War College.
Guest:
Peter Pomerantsev is a Ukrainian-born British journalist, author, and TV producer. Pomerantsev has written two books about Russian disinformation and propaganda—Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible (2014), and This Is Not Propaganda (2019). His most recent book, How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler (2024), discusses the life and legacy of Sefton Delmer, a British propagandist during World War II.
Episode Length
25:28
File Size
18.2 MB
File Format
MP3
Release Date
1-21-2026
Keywords
U.S. Naval War College, Strategy and Policy, S&P, Strategy Matters, Military History, Military Strategy, World War II, Information Warfare, Propaganda, Misinformation Hitler, Sefton Delmer, Peter Pomerantsev
Recommended Citation
Bellinger, Vanya Eftimova, "Episode 13: Propaganda in WWII: The Strategic Lessons for Winning the Information Battlefield" (2026). Strategy Matters Podcast. 13.
https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/strategy-matters/13
