Образи німців та народів Австро-Угорщини у роки Першої світової війни за матеріалами газети «Русское слово»

  • Валерія Сергіївна Лавренко

Abstract

The article attempts to reconstruct the generalized image of the enemy (on the example of the Germans and Austro-Hungarians). The author relying on verbal materials presented on the pages of the all-Russian weekly newspaper «Russian Word». Civilizational, military, social, everyday and evaluation aspects are highlighted in the perception of those peoples by the Russian society.

The periodical emphasized the fact that the practice of waging war by the German and Austro-Hungarian troops was inherently anachronistic and barbaric. It completely crossed out the mentioned ethnicities from the “family” of the civilized European peoples. Emphasis was made on the contrast between high achievements of German philosophy and culture and the real actions of the German army at the beginning of the war, that the Russian propaganda used to desacralize the pre-war piety before the Germans. The «Russian Word» emphasized that the enemy was not ready for bayonet attacks and they  showed  dishonest methods of warfare that affected  interests of non-combatants. The purpose of such allegations was to loosen the fighting spirit of the Russian army in the fight against the more technically powerful enemy. In terms of everyday life, the Germans and the troops of Austria-Hungary were characterized as peoples with an «amalgam of culture». It was also said that the war changed the limits of things that “were allowed” as a normal way and the Germans immediately began to resort to the most vile practices of looting and robbery. Considering about the moral values of the enemy, the newspaper focuses on their unjustified cruelty, anti-clericalism and efforts above all to “fill their stomach”.

Published
2019-12-13
How to Cite
Лавренко, В. (2019). Образи німців та народів Австро-Угорщини у роки Першої світової війни за матеріалами газети «Русское слово». Modern Studies in German History, 28-36. https://doi.org/10.15421/311903