THE NEWSPAPER «OVRUCHSKI VISTI» IN THE NAZI INFORMATION SPACE (AUGUST – OCTOBER 1943)

Abstract

This article aims to examine the newspaper «Ovruchski Visti», published in Ovruch between August and October 1943, as part of the Nazi information space during World War II. The research methodology is based on general scientific and special historical methods, integrating the fundamental principles of historical knowledge: historicism, scientificity, objectivity, and systematicity. The principles of historicism and scientificity have been used to recreate the history of the newspaper «Ovruchski Visti» in all its complexity and diversity in connection to the events of the time. The principle of objectivity has assisted in considering the outlined issues, taking into account objective historical regularities with a critical analysis of the available literature and source base. The principle of systematicity has enabled the reconstruction of a holistic picture of the history of the newspaper «Ovruchski Visti» as part of the Nazi information space in the occupied territory of Ukraine. The scientific novelty of the research consists in its comprehensive account of the history of the newspaper «Ovruchski Visti» in the context of the Nazi information space from August to October 1943, which was first carried out on a broad source base. The authors have come to the following conclusions. The occupation authorities initiated the publication of the newspaper «Ovruchski Visti» to strengthen anti-Soviet propaganda and influence the communist resistance movement and its supporters. The newspaper «Ovruchski Visti» mostly included German materials, with minimal publications on issues of all-Ukrainian and local life. The approach used to the thematic content of the newspaper met the general requirements for Ukrainian-language newspapers set forth by the Reichskommissariat «Ukraine». This also applied to the main propaganda topics in Ukrainian-language periodicals. The newspaper «Ovruchski Visti» disseminated anti-Soviet propaganda; anti-Jewish propaganda; and propaganda aimed at supporting the occupation policy and directives from the occupation administration.