Military Collaboration and Nazi Printed Propaganda on the Territory of Crimea in 1941-1944 (Based on the Materials of Newspaper Golos Kryma)

Abstract

Introduction. This paper deals with the problem of military collaboration as a factor of Nazi printed propaganda in the occupied Crimea. It is emphasized that, despite its relevance, this problem has not yet become the object of scientific research. Methods and materials. The publication is based on a wide range of published and unpublished sources from Russian and foreign archives. The analysis of the coverage of the collaborationist theme is based on the materials of the Russian-language occupation newspaper Golos Kryma (‘Voice of Crimea’), which was published in Simferopol from 1941 to 1944 and was the basic printing body for the Nazi propaganda model implemented in Crimea. Analysis. With the help of general scientific and specific historical methods of research, as well as a systematic approach, the main theme of publications about the topic of military collaborationism, which were placed in the newspaper, is revealed. It is shown that until the spring of 1943 coverage of this problem was not systematic, for both Nazi propagandists and their local assistants. After the appearance of publications about the topics of the Vlasov movement and Russian liberation army, the coverage of the problem of military collaboration is changing radically. The reasons, which led to these changes, are specified. Results. It is argued that up to a certain point the forms and methods of presenting collaboration themes on the pages of the newspaper had an effective result. However, since the autumn of 1943, for a number of reasons, the force of their impact on the population fell sharply and has not restored.