Soviet propaganda among own troops on the eve of the Red Army entering the territory of European countries (the latter half of 1944)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21847/1728-9343.2013.6(126).20674

Keywords:

Red Army, host country, foreign contingents, propaganda, moral and psychological state of troops

Abstract

The paper analyzes the content of Soviet propaganda and agitation used in working with the Red Army personnel in the European theater of military operations at the final stage of World War II. The author identifies the interdependence between the ideological work among the Soviet troops and political relations of the USSR with the European countries which the Red Army planned to enter and with guideline documents on organization and carrying out of outreach activities. It is demonstrated that the communications work ensured an appropriate moral and psychological state of Red Army soldiers and officers, contributed to establishment of adequate interrelations with local communities of foreign countries, allies in arms of other nationalities and military units of European countries. For the sake of objectivity in treating this issue, however, it should be pointed out that there were some cases of pillage, moral and physical humiliation of inhabitants of the 'liberated' countries. Their repercussions adversely affected the postwar image of the Soviet Union and dwell within the hearts of contemporaries.

It is concluded that during the work of Soviet propagandists on the eve of the Red Army entering the territory of European countries the genetic patriotism inherent in any person in circumstances which threaten his or her life, existence of his or her family and Motherland was developing into the patriotism with notes of political understanding of the goals of the Soviet Union in the European theater of military operations.

Author Biography

Olesia Kutska, Academy tactics department, Lviv

candidate of historical sciences, assistant professor, assistant professor of Army 

References

Семиряга М. И. Борьба народов Центральной и Юго-Восточной Европы против немецко-фашистского гнета / М. И. Семиряга. - М. : Наука, 1985. - 326 с.

Даниельсен Р. История Норвегии от викингов до наших дней / Р. Даниельсен, С. Дюрвик. - М., 2003. - С. 370.

Идеологическая работа КПСС в действующей армии 1941 - 1945 гг. / [А. Д. Киселев, В. А. Глазачев, П. М. Глазунов и др.]. - М. : Воениздат, 1985. - 270 с.

Внешняя политика Советского Союза в период Отечественной войны. - М. : Наука, 1946. - Т. 2. - С. 105.

Политорганы Советских Вооруженных Сил: Историко-теоретический очерк / [П. Ф. Исаков, А. М. Волков, В. Г. Колычев и др. ; под ред. Г. В. Средина]. - М. : Воениздат, 1984. - 400 с.

Гула Р. В. Армия. Война. Советский патриотизм (Украина. 1941 - 1945 гг.) : [монография] / Р. В. Гула. - Дніпропетровськ : Герда, 2013. - 276 с.

Советская военная печать. Исторический очерк / [под ред. И. А. Портянкина]. - М. : Воениздательство Министерства Обороны Союза РСР, 1960. - 418 с.

Алексеев М. А. Солдаты / М. А. Алексеев. - М. : Воениздат, 1954. - С. 215.

Веденин А. Я. Годы и люди / А. Я. Веденин. - М. : Воениздат, 1964. - С. 132.

Эренбург И. На Берлин! / И. Эренбург // Красноармеец. - 1944. - № 13-14. - С. 4; 1944. - № 17-18. - С. 2.

Байрау Д. Пропаганда как механизм самореабилитации / Д. Байрау // Отечественная история. - 2008. - № 1. - С. 95.

REFERENCES

Semiryaga M. I. (1985), The struggle of the peoples of Central and South-Eastern Europe against the German fascist oppression, Nauka, Moscow, 326 р. (rus).

Danielsen R., Dyurvik S. (2003), History of Norway from the Vikings to the present day, Moscow, р. 370 (rus).

Kiselev A. D., Glazachev V. A., Glazunov P. M. (1985), The ideological work of the Communist Party in the active army of 1941 – 1945, Voyenizdat, Moscow, 270 p. (rus).

The foreign policy of the Soviet Union during World War II (1946), Nauka, Moscow, Vol. 2, р. 105 (rus).

Isakov P. F., Volkov A. M., Kolychev V. G. (1984), Political organs of the Soviet Armed Forces: Historical and a theoretical essay, Voyenizdat, Moscow, 400 р. (rus).

Gula R. V. (2013), Army. War. Soviet patriotism (Ukraine. 1941 – 1945). Monograph, Gerda, Dnepropetrovsk, 276 p. (rus).

Portyankin I. A., ed. (1960), The Soviet military press. Historical essay, Voyenizdatelstvo Ministerstva Oborony Soyuza RSR, Moscow, 418 р. (rus).

Alekseyev M. A. (1954), Soldaty [Soldiers], Voyenizdat, Moscow, р. 215 (rus).

Vedenin A. Ya. (1964), Gody i kyudi [Years and people], Voyenizdat, Moscow, р. 132 (rus).

Erenburg I. (1944), Krasnoarmeyets, № 13-14, р. 4; № 17-18, р. 2 (rus).

Bayrau D. (2008), Otechestvennaya istoriya, № 1, р. 95 (rus).

Published

2014-01-30

How to Cite

Kutska, O. (2014). Soviet propaganda among own troops on the eve of the Red Army entering the territory of European countries (the latter half of 1944). Skhid, (6(126), 211–217. https://doi.org/10.21847/1728-9343.2013.6(126).20674

Issue

Section

History