Red Army Abroad: Propaganda Narratives of Liberation, 1944-1945

• In Event: Legitimizing and Contesting Soviet/Post-Soviet Authority across Time and Space

Abstract

This paper examines one of the areas of activity of the Soviet military periodical press – propaganda narratives of liberation during the Red Army’s campaign in Europe from March 1944 to May 1945. In the course of the last two years of war, several million Soviet servicemen found themselves abroad, both in hostile and friendly countries, as liberators from the domination by a foreign power – German occupation. In this regard, the military periodical press was entrusted with the task of explaining the realities of the ‘new world’ to the Red Army soldiers. The concept of ‘liberation’ includes such subjects as the representation of pro-German regimes by traitors to their peoples. At the same time, newspapers carried out a clear division between the ‘henchmen of Hitler’ and the civilian population of these countries (Romania, Bulgaria, Austria). The newspapers published materials that required the military to treat local population correctly. Propaganda placed personal responsibility on every Soviet soldier as a representative of a ‘great socialist power’ who should not have dropped its honor and dignity. Covering the interaction with the population of the liberated countries, emphasis was placed on demonstrating their positive attitude towards the Soviet military. The refrain in articles was an indication of the cordial meetings of Soviet servicemen with local residents who welcomed them. Meanwhile, an analysis of the texts of army newspapers that participated in the combat operations in Hungary shows that Hungarians, including civilians, were mentioned through negative, hostile, suspicious connotations.

Author

• Alemzhan Arinov, Al-Farabi Kazakh National U (Kazakhstan)