Kto je náš a kto je Nemec? Lojálny československý občan a „nemeckosť“ v rokoch 1948–1956

Abstract

Who is “Ours” and Who is German? Loyal Czechoslovak Citizens and Topics Related to Germanness, 1948–1956

The study focuses on ways in which the Czechoslovak state propaganda instrumentalized topics related to Germanness while striving to build and strengthen Czechoslovak citizens’ loyalty to the new regime after the communist accession to power in 1948. The main target group of the research were children and the youth. The results show that the post-war image of a “German” equaled to a “danger” was intentionally neutralized with the help of a wide spectrum of propagandist tools. The necessity of stabilization and integration of the Soviet bloc and reinforcement of its military strength was safeguarded by representing Western Germans as unfortunate victims oppressed by the imperialists and Eastern Germans as “trusted neighbors” who could be relied upon even as the armed allies. The task of supporting the social cohesion of the “working class” demanded the introduction of a new political discourse which could guarantee the inclusion of remaining members of the German minority in Czechoslovakia.

Keywords: Czechoslovak-German relations, youth, communism, propaganda, regime loyalties