Germany-USSR relations in the press of the Second World War era

This thesis aims to analyse the media coverage of the relations between Germany and the Soviet Union (USSR) during the Second World War. The research aims to provide an analysis in terms of the aims and scopes of propaganda affecting the actual war and its course by comprehending the coincidence of the concepts of propaganda and war. The fact that two totalitarian regimes with different views, Germany and the USSR, sat at the same table on 23 August 1939 marked a turning point in the political and military relations in the world. In this study, the differences in perceptions between the political leaders and the people of the two countries will be analysed, and the tension in Germany-USSR relations and the propagandist strategies of the period will be discussed in depth. The Second World War was a global conflict with few precedents in history, and Germany and the USSR were major players at the centre of this process. Relations between these two countries followed a complex course under the influence of political and ideological differences. In particular, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact signed on 23 August 1939, although it seemed to be an agreement of interest between Germany and the USSR, was in fact a manoeuvre to ensure the balance of power in line with the two countries' own objectives. However, this relationship was not sustainable and relations were strained again when Germany launched "Operation Barbarossa" on Soviet territory on 22 June 1941. With the Soviet Union's final offensive on Berlin on 2 May 1945, the German factor in the Second World War disappeared. By meticulously analysing the propaganda used by the German and Soviet press organs from the beginning of the war, it aims to understand the differences in perceptions and the tensions in relations between the political leaders and the people of both countries. World War II was a global conflict of a scale rarely seen in history, and Germany and the USSR were major players at its centre. At the beginning of the war, the German press described the war in enthusiastic and heroic terms, emphasizing the military superiority and rapid advance of the German army. Germany's successes on the Eastern Front became a source of great pride in the German press and were used to belittle the enemy. Through propaganda, Germany's military power and victories were constantly emphasised to increase public support and enthusiasm for the war. On the other hand, the USSR press blamed the Germans for violating the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact and described the war as the USSR's war of defence and justification. The v allegation that Germany was aggressive towards the Soviet Union was frequently covered in the USSR press and Germany's aggression was emphasized as the basis of the war. Through propaganda, the people were encouraged to be in national unity and solidarity and the seriousness of the war was explained to the public. This thesis aims to reveal how the language, tone and content used by various press organs of states such as Germany, the USSR, the UK and Turkey differed from the beginning of the war. The presentation of the same events in different ways is a result of the efforts of both countries to reflect their national interests and political goals to the public. The historical documents, archives and international media reports used in the research show that the press of both countries effectively use propaganda and perception management towards their own people.