Page View
United States. Office of the US High Commissioner for Germany. Information Services Division / RIAS, Berlin
([195-])
The Soviet German anti-RIAS campaigns, pp. 8-9
PDF (750.7 KB)
Anti-RIAS press campaign, pp. 9-10
PDF (799.3 KB)
Page 9
-8 The stories and comments from Communist sources reproduced here give a fair picture of Communist concern with BIAS broadcasts. That they do not reveal is that amnong 7'AiS's regular listeners are Communist functionaries on all levels. Reliable visitors from the Sovi et Zone have reported the fact again and again. In some tovwns of the Zone, meetings of, the -Socialist Unity Party or other CommLnist organizations cannot be started as early in the evening as the leaders wish. Until 8.oo p.m., too many members are listening to the nightly program "Berlin Speaks to the Zone." Prior to the severance of Soviet Sector telephone connections, rIdS staff members tested these reports by telephoning, under false names, prominent leaders of the Soviet German regime and expressing concern over something just broadcast.'The usual response was positive. For instance, on October 5, 195o,0 a member of the RIIAS Political Department telephoned State Secretaryr ,underlich at his East Berlin home. Announcing himself as vice-chairman of a-- Soviet Sector "peace committee," the staff member asked Wunderlich if he had heard RIAS's special broadcasts calling on East Ber- liners to take part in the ration-card balloting for all-Berlin elections. ¶underlich's reply was: "Yes, yes, -we're all listening to the broadcasts. Tomorrow we will discuss what to do about them.1'I A political refugee recently wrote: WFor three years I was a member of the TLiberal Democratic Rarty and mayor of a small town in the Soviet Zone. At 1230 and l930 (hours of two important. RIAS newscasts) everyone sat by the radio receiver. Even 'ED meetings could not be scheduled before 2000 hours. At a meeting of the National Front our State Councillor declared, 'I know you all listen to iLBS. It complicates our work a great deal."' Anti - RIAS Press Cqmaig "Yo'esstimme" , Madebur, September 22 ,952: The "Volksstimme"f reports on the trials against agents and spies: "In public discussions the population has shown its contempt for EAS criminals and agents and a resolution was adopted calling for the en- lightenment of neighbors about the infamous lies. I - 9 -
As a work of the United States government, this material is in the public domain.| For information on re-use see: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Copyright