Ustasha Propaganda Rhetorical Analysis

Ustasha Propaganda Rhetorical Analysis

During the Serbian genocide, the Ustasha used propaganda to encourage the Croats to help them as they strived to establish a pure Independent State of Croatia or NDH. This image serves as an example of how the Ustasha called for everyone’s cooperation in achieving their main goal. It uses antimetabole and emotional appeals that suggest a mandatory unity among the Croats in order to protect and defend their homeland from the unwanted inhabitants, the Serbs.

First of all, the title of the poster which is “One for All, All for One” is an example of antimetabole that motivates the Croatian nation to join the Ustasha as Croatia’s future depends on them. The phrase is commonly used to express unity, and it is a form of sharing the ups and downs one experiences in life. For the Nazi-puppet, the only way to achieve eternal bliss and harmony is if Croatia becomes home to only the Roman Catholics. Because of this, they strived to implement a society of pure Croat, and they believed that this could only be attained if everyone commits to the act of expulsion and extermination of the Serbs who were Christian Orthodox. Because the Serbs had a different religion, the Ustasha saw them as a threat, and they feared that they will have the power to take over and overrule them. By participating, the Croats are aiding in creating a more unified, indestructible force that is essential in keeping the country safe from adversaries. If one decides not to partake in this call for action, then they are putting the whole country’s welfare in jeopardy and this would be a downfall to their nation. During the ethnic cleansing in Croatia, the Croats were strictly

prohibited from helping the Serbs. They were not allowed to conceal them nor protect them, and a defiance of this command leads them to persecution as it shows that they are against the Ustasha’s objective. As it is pictured in the poster, everyone from peasants and farmers to doctors were called to combat against the threats which were the non-Catholics.

The propaganda is also effective