Curtain of lies : the battle over truth in Stalinist Eastern Europe

__Curtain of Lies__ examines the role of truth in the political culture of the Cold War by looking at Eastern Europe during the period from 1948–1956. It examines how actors on both sides of the Iron Curtain tried to delineate the “truth” of Eastern Europe and how this worked to set the parameters of knowledge about the region. Eastern Europe’s Communist governments, under the guidance of the Soviet Union, tried to convince their citizens that the West was the land of imperialist warmongers and that Communism would bring a glorious future to the region. Their propaganda efforts were challenged by competing discourses emanating from the West, which claimed that Eastern Europe was a totalitarian land of captive slaves, powerless in the face of Soviet aggression. __Curtain of Lies__ investigates the ways that ordinary East Europeans were affected by and contributed to these two ways of thinking about their homelands, concentrating on the interactions between refugees who illegally fled Eastern Europe in the early 1950s and American-sponsored radio stations that broadcast across the Iron Curtain. These broadcasters interviewed refugees as sources of knowledge about life under Communist rule. Careful analysis of these interviews shows, however, that the meanings East European émigrés gave to their own experiences could be influenced by what they had heard on Western broadcasts. Broadcasters and their listeners (who also served as their sources) mutually reinforced their own assumptions about the meaning of Communism, helping to create the evidentiary foundation for totalitarian interpretations of Communist rule in Eastern Europe. "While the Cold War governments of Eastern Europe operated within the confines of the Soviet worldview, their peoples confronted the narratives of both East and West. From the Soviet Union and its satellites, they heard of a West dominated by imperialist warmongers and of the glorious future only Communism could bring. A competing discourse emanated from the West, claiming that Eastern Europe was a totalitarian land of captive slaves, powerless in the face of Soviet aggression. In Curtain of Lies, Melissa Feinberg conducts a timely examination into the nature of truth, using the political culture of Eastern Europe during the Cold War as her foundation. Focusing on the period between 1948 and 1956, she looks at how the 'truth' of Eastern Europe was delineated by actors on both sides of the Iron Curtain. Feinberg offers a fresh interpretation of the Cold War as a shared political environment, exploring the ways in which ordinary East Europeans interacted with these competing understandings of their homeland. She approaches this by looking at the relationship between the American-sponsored radio stations broadcast across the Iron Curtain and the East European émigrés they interviewed as sources on life under Communism. Feinberg's careful analysis reveals that these parties developed mutually reinforced assumptions about the meaning of Communism, helping to create the evidentiary foundation for totalitarian interpretations of Communist rule in Eastern Europe. In bridging the geopolitical and the individual, Curtain of Lies provides a perspective that is both innovative in its methodology and indispensable to its field"--Provided by publisher While The Cold War Governments Of Eastern Europe Operated Within The Confines Of The Soviet Worldview, Their Peoples Confronted The Narratives Of Both East And West. From The Soviet Union And Its Satellites, They Heard Of A West Dominated By Imperialist Warmongers And Of The Glorious Future Only Communism Could Bring. A Competing Discourse Emanated From The West, Claiming That Eastern Europe Was A Totalitarian Land Of Captive Slaves, Powerless In The Face Of Soviet Aggression. In Curtain Of Lies, Melissa Feinberg Conducts A Timely Examination Into The Nature Of Truth, Using The Political Culture Of Eastern Europe During The Cold War As Her Foundation. Focusing On The Period Between 1948 And 1956, She Looks At How The 'truth' Of Eastern Europe Was Delineated By Actors On Both Sides Of The Iron Curtain. Feinberg Offers A Fresh Interpretation Of The Cold War As A Shared Political Environment, Exploring The Ways In Which Ordinary East Europeans Interacted With These Competing Understandings Of Their Homeland. She Approaches This By Looking At The Relationship Between The American-sponsored Radio Stations Broadcast Across The Iron Curtain And The East European Aemigraes They Interviewed As Sources On Life Under Communism. Feinberg's Careful Analysis Reveals That These Parties Developed Mutually Reinforced Assumptions About The Meaning Of Communism, Helping To Create The Evidentiary Foundation For Totalitarian Interpretations Of Communist Rule In Eastern Europe. In Bridging The Geopolitical And The Individual, Curtain Of Lies Provides A Perspective That Is Both Innovative In Its Methodology And Indispensable To Its Field--provided By Publisher. Cover 1 Curtain of Lies 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction: Two Camps, Two Truths 10 1. Telling Lies, Making Truth 24 2. The Fight for Peace 54 3. Battling the Big Lie 83 4. That Funny Feeling Creeping Up Your Back 111 5. Soporific Bombs and American Flying Discs 140 6. The Power of the Powerless 166 Conclusion 198 Notes 202 Selected Bibliography 240 Index 250 Content: Introduction: Two Camps, Two Truths -- Chapter 1: Telling Lies, Making Truth -- Chapter 2: The Battle for Peace -- Chapter 3: Battling the Big Lie -- Chapter 4: That Funny Feeling Creeping Down Your Back -- Chapter 5: Soporific Bombs and American Flying Discs -- Chapter 6: The Power of the Powerless.