Vestnik of Orenburg State Pedagogical University. Electronic Scientific Journal. 2016. № 1 (17). P. 128—137

 

07.00.00 HISTORICAL SCIENCES AND ARCHEOLOGY

UDC 94(47)“1941/1945”

Garazha Nataliya Alekseevna, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor
Novorossiysk branch of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation

 

‘‘FREEDOM’’ OF EASTERN WORKERS: THE IMAGE OF PROPAGANDA AND HISTORICAL REALITIES. 1941—1945

Abstract

The article describes personal characteristics of Eastern workers their status as free or slave. That was due to exceptional circumstances for Soviet citizens to be on the territory of the military enemy and work on its economy. The results showed that the reflection on the analysis of one’s own new position was typical of Eastern workers, regardless of their age and gender, or social characteristics, occupies a key place in the conversations and texts (letters, diaries) on a par with the discussion of domestic burdens. At the same time thinking over such radical changes in life affected the laborers differently, from deep depression with the presentiment of death to the desires of resistance and its implementation.
In this regard, we consider it reasonable to pay attention to the ideological justification of the phenomenon of freedom by the leaders of Nazi Germany, for whom the «new consciousness of freedom» meant thirst for «new domination» and the conquest of living space. At the level of the official propaganda practice they postulated the idea of ​​«liberation» of Soviet citizens, providing them with all necessary conditions for work, recreation, creative and professional development. In everyday interaction of Eastern workers and Germans, which determined the quality of life in Germany, acts of violence and aggression leveled any campaign events or words. The population of Germany was largely convinced of the validity of using labor forced nature of Soviet citizens, naturally adding to their vocabulary the term «owner». And it also caused the whole range of emotions from ostarbeiters (Eastern workers).
Regarding all the trials experienced by Eastern workers, they were able to keep faith in themselves, in a human and humanity, to gain life experience, save their moral courage, concentrate on positive emotions and derive joy from mini-events.

Key words

Eastern workers, Ostarbaiter, freedom, the Third Reich, propaganda, National Socialism, the Great Patriotic War.

The full text of the article PDF (Russian)

 

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