OBSERVATIONS ON US PROPAGANDA AMONG MILITARY PERSONNEL OF SOVIET OCCUPATION FORCES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000100220008-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 3, 2013
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: February 19, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/03 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000100220008-7
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY SECRETREPORT NO.
INFORMATION REPORT 50X1
CD NO.
COUNTRY USSR/Germany (Soviet Zone)
SUBJECT Observations on US Propaganda Among Military
Personnel of Soviet Occupation Forces
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED BY SOURCE
T H 1 9 DOE T CONTA II S INFORMATION AFFECTING TOE TI ORAL OFFENSE
OF T" I UNITED 9T11E91 WITHIN THE "IA" I I I OF TITLE IS. TIONS 793
55O 794, O THE U.S. COOS, 55 AMENDED. ITS T MISSION 0
TION ITS CONTENTS TO RECEIPT HY UNADI1 HOSIREp RSO RYES
I ROHIBI TEO BY LAM. THE REI RO OU C T I OH CF THIS FORM 19 IAOH191 TEp,
Introduction
DATE DISTR. 1y Feb 52
NO. OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
1. The question of propaganda during peacetime plays a very important role, if
not the chief role, thus, a well-formulated political propaganda in time will
bring more profit (advantage or usefulness) than the atom bomb. During World
star II and in subseuent years, the Soviet Government considerably strengthened
its propaganda and agitation among its people, especially in the army. This
is evident merely from the fact that in all educational institutions, factories,
and even in apartment house administrations, obligatory study of "Short Course
in History of Comparty" and other such political literature has been introduced.
In the army the political apparatus has been increased in size.
2. Before the Central Committee of Comparty stands the very important task aimed
at involvement of the people, not only as a working force, but also in their
conscience. For this are used all possible means: schools, movies, theaters
press, radio, and even the church. Methods and forms of Soviet propaganda are
generally known; and in this article I don't have the purpose of describing them
in detail. Before me there is another task: to describe the general traits
of American propaganda directed toward the USSR and especially toward Soviet
occupation forces, showing in this connection to what extent it (American pro-
paganda) is able to counteract Soviet propaganda under existing conditions of the
mighty iron curtain.
Open (overt) Methods of Propaganda
3. The fact of t'-e existence of the so-called iron curtain between USA and USSR
does not permit effective utilization of itress and radio as means of propaganda.
Among overt methods of propaganda beLng: radio (Voice of America), and the
illustrated magazine, America. Neither of them is accessible to the broad
masses of the Soviet people. Listening to Voice of America broadcasts is
forbidden and, therefore, the bioadcasts are jammed by special equipment.
The magazine America is disseminated in the USSR in very restricted quantity
and among a certain circle of people. The content of the magazinea1u essences
amounts only to description of life in America, with most of its space devoted
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/03 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000100220008-7
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to articles about science and technology and not at all to political questions.
The Voice of America Broadcasts are not outstanding for their difference in
content from America magazine. There is a feeling of democracy. The majority
of the radio broadcasts are devoted to all sorts of production figures and
processes but not one word about methods for struggle by the people against the
Soviet Government. But the Soviet people know about the "good life" in America
and they ;;ould like to hear something else, namely, about paths of struggle
for freedom, about destruction of the political arbitrary regime in the country.
That is what should be the basis of American propaganda for the USSR. Can it
be considered that the Voice of American and the magazine, America,, which pene-
trate the iron curtain to a certain extent, justify their purpose (or mission)
in the matter of propagandizing revolutionary ideas in the struggle of the
people against the Soviet authorities? Of course, it is not possible to say
that. And this is very apparent, not only to the people of Russia but also
beyond its borders.
5. It is not possible to ask a great deal from the magazine, America% because its
content is decided in advance and is agreed with the Soviet Governments But the
radio? It is not subject to any kind of political censorship by the USSR.
Ho,rever,here also is not felt real propaganda language.
6. In orler to achieve the desired results on the ideological front and win the
political struggle, it is necessary to counteract Soviet propaganda with all
possible measures, to crowd it out of the mass of the people and put in its
place a propaganda which w