From Friendship to Hate. Comparison of the Media Image of the Soviet Union after the Signature of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pack and after the Operation Barbarossa
Abstract
After approval of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union was defined as a partner, which helped Germany to maintain "peace and order" in Europe. After the Operation Barbarossa, the Soviet Union was presented as an enemy of Germany and therefore also as an enemy of Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
In both situations newspapers acted in accordance with German propaganda. The examination of both events coverage revealed that the monitored newspapers had not paid to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the Operation Barbarossa the same space and energy.
There was also detected a large difference in polarity of the rating scale - while the "friendly" Soviet Union was presented rather neutral, the hostile Soviet Union was presented in an extremely negative way.