Historical examples where repetition was central to propaganda

1) “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” (1903 onward): a forged text kept alive by constant republishing

What happened: The Protocols appeared in the Russian Empire in 1903 and spread internationally through many editions, translations, and adaptations, repeatedly promoting a conspiratorial narrative.

Why it fits the effect: The Holocaust Memorial Museum notes the text was exposed as a lie repeatedly, yet continued to circulate for more than a century—classic “familiarity persistence.”

The Museum describes it as the “most widespread antisemitic publication of modern times,” with versions constantly repackaged for new events and audiences, evoking a sense of how persistent and influential repetition can be in shaping beliefs.

Illusory-truth effect: When a forgery is encountered repeatedly across “different” sources and formats, familiarity increases, leading people to confuse exposure with verification

2) Post–World War I Germany (1918–1930s): the “stab‑in‑the‑back” myth repeated until it felt explanatory

What happened: After Germany’s defeat, a narrative spread claiming that the army hadn’t truly lost militarily but had been betrayed by disloyal internal actors.

Institutional repetition: The USHMM notes that senior military figures helped spread this false idea; one key moment was Paul von Hindenburg’s 1919 testimony that promoted the myth.
Political use through repetition: The myth became widespread and was then used by extremist politics to attack the legitimacy of the Weimar Republic and scapegoat targeted groups.

Illusory-truth link: A repeated “simple explanation” can outcompete complex reality—especially after national trauma—because familiarity increases perceived plausibility.

3) Nazi Germany (1933–1945): synchronized repetition across every medium

What happened: The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum documents that Nazi propaganda used sophisticated techniques and then, once in power, worked through a dedicated ministry to shape opinion through press, radio, film, education, and the arts.

The Museum emphasizes that many stereotypes used were already familiar to the audience—propaganda amplified what people recognized and then repeated it at scale, tapping into emotions like fear or loyalty to reinforce messages.

Repetition + deception: Another USHMM article describes systematic efforts to deceive the public, including euphemistic framing and staged narratives (e.g., portraying aggression as defensive and masking genocidal intent).

Illusory-truth link: Repetition boosts processing fluency; synchronized multi-channel messaging ensures people encounter the same “truthy” story everywhere.

4) United States WWI (1917–1919): the Committee on Public Information and mass message saturation

What happened: The U.S. government created the Committee on Public Information (CPI) to mobilize public support for World War I using “every available form of mass communication.”

Repetition architecture: The CPI placed material broadly in newspapers and produced recurring content such as the Official Bulletin, while also coordinating posters and publications.

Human repetition engine: PBS describes the CPI’s network of “Four Minute Men”—tens of thousands of local speakers delivering CPI-provided talking points in community venues, creating repeated exposure through trusted neighbors.

Familiar messages delivered repeatedly by familiar people can feel self-evident—exactly the route repetition takes to become “truthy,” fostering trust and confidence in the message among the audience.

5) China’s Cultural Revolution (1966–1976): “Little Red Book” repetition and ritualization

What happened: Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung (“The Little Red Book”) were designed as short, pointed statements meant to be easily repeated and remembered, and they became central during the Cultural Revolution.

Scale of repetition: Britannica notes extraordinary distribution (hundreds of millions printed early; billions over time), making repeated encounter almost unavoidable.
Public repetition: Contemporary documentation shows slogans and quotations displayed publicly on posters and signage during the period, reinforcing daily exposure and recitation.

Illusory-truth link: When short slogans are repeated in rituals (carrying, quoting, displaying), familiarity becomes constant, and constant familiarity can be mistaken for correctness.

6) Rwanda (1994): Radio RTLM and repeated dehumanizing narratives

What happened: Scholarship analyzing RTLM broadcasts describes radio as a significant force in mobilizing violence during the genocide, using repeated framing, rumor, and directives delivered through a widely consumed medium.
Why repetition mattered: The academic analysis notes that radio messaging helped create a “kill‑or‑be‑killed” interpretive frame and spread fear and panic—effects amplified when repeated by a dominant source.
Necessary caution: This is a case where repetition was paired with extreme incitement; I’m not repeating inflammatory language—only highlighting the documented mechanism of sustained broadcast repetition.

Illusory-truth link: Repetition doesn’t just shape belief; it can shape behavior, including sharing and acting, because repeated claims feel more accurate.

7) Soviet WWII poster campaigns (1941–1945): repeated slogans in public space (“TASS Windows”)

What happened: A library exhibit on TASS Windows describes a state news agency poster program that produced large volumes of wartime posters displayed in public places, often under recurring slogans and themes.

Why it fits: This is a classic “public repetition” environment—short messages repeated visually in storefronts and streets where citizens encounter them frequently.

Illusory-truth link: Repeated exposure—especially in everyday civic space—builds familiarity, which can inflate perceived truth independent of evidence.

What these examples have in common (the historical pattern)

Across regimes and eras, repetition tends to be paired with:

·       Many channels (posters + speeches + schools + radio)

·       Short, sticky statements are easy to remember and repeat

·       High frequency early on (the “second exposure” can be disproportionately influential)

·       Emotional framing and scapegoating (fear and identity make repetition “stickier”)