During World War I, the United States government had portrayed the German people as barbarians. It did the same in World War II, going further to include Italians and Japanese. The following transcript is of a film, directed by Frank Capra, part of the larger Why We Fight series, aimed at convincing American soldiers and the public that U.S. participation in the war was necessary.

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Taking advantage of their fanatical worship of the God emperor, it was no great trick to take away what little freedom they had ever known. Yes, in these lands, the people surrendered their liberties and threw away their human dignity. They gave up their rights as individual human beings.

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Sieg heil! Sieg heil! Sieg heil!

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And became a part of a mass, a human herd.

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Although these countries were far apart and different in custom and in language, the same poison made them much alike. Each got a new uniform. In Italy, the new bosses wore black shirts. In Germany, the shirts were brown. In Japan, they hid behind the uniform of the Army.

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But really they belonged to a sinister secret society. Their symbol was a black dragon. The other fellas had to have a symbol, too. Germany, a swastika. In Italy, the old Roman symbol of the fasces.

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In Germany, they called the new order National Socialism, or Naziism. In Italy, they had a shorter word—Fascism. In Japan, they had lots of names for it—the New Era of Enlightenment, the New Order in Asia, the Co-Prosperity Sphere. But no matter how you slice it, it was just plain old-fashioned militaristic imperialism. The Japs would get the “Prosperity,” and the others would get the “Co.”

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They say trouble always comes in threes. Take a good, close look at this trio. Remember these faces—remember them well. If you ever meet them, don’t hesitate.