Agitation and Propagandistic Work in Soviet POW Camps

• Main Author: Gulzhaukhar K. Kokebayeva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sochi State University 2014-06-01
• Series: Bylye Gody
• Subjects: prisoners of war; World War II; the camp; agitation; propaganda; ideological struggle; anti-fascist school; flyer
• Online Access: http://bg.sutr.ru/journals_n/1403110268.pdf

The paper studies the problem of agitation work done among POWs in Soviet camps, the creation of military units and political organizations from POWs. Not only armed force was used during the Second World War, but also the power of words. The battles were accompanied by the information warfare. Opponents tried to use all possible means to manipulate people’s minds. Main directions of agitation and propaganda were defined by the «Soviet bureau of military and political propaganda», as well as the 7th Division of Soviet army. In the propaganda work among German POWs, the priority was given on shaping the ideological and political views of former soldiers and officers of the Wehrmacht. As the result of the analysis of sources the author comes to conclusion that POWs of the Second World War period became the object of testing means and methods of ideological struggle of warring nations.