Arhivski vjesnik, Vol. 51 No. 1, 2008.
Review article
Problem of popaganda of the German film G. P.U. in the Independent Sate of Croatia
Daniel Rafaelić
; Croatian State Archives, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Karl Ritter's G. P. U. (1942) is one of the renowned German films made during Nazi-regime. With its anti-soviet message, it was designed to accomplish propagandistic task in Germany as well as in other German satellite countries. Showing of that film in the Independent State of Croatia was followed by large mass-appeal, which was, as it was said, a result of right propaganda incitements by those appointed for it. However, just before film opening, sort of propagandistic war broke out, threatening to disturb successful showing of the film in the cinemas across the country. One particular thing was really problematic: newspaper advertising of the film itself. Namely, somebody (non)intentionally disregarded the fact that the advertisement could have double meaning when published without pointing out that it was the ad for the film – not for the soviet secret service G.P.U., forerunner of the renowned K.G.B. That mistake caused a large-scale rage amongst the heads of the propagandistic departments, causing complete G.P.U.’s ad redesign. Besides the realized one, Croatian State Archives holds in its collections the printing mould of the G.P.U.’s original ad, behind which was hidden a completely different propagandistic agenda.
Keywords
film propaganda; G.P.U.; Karl Ritter; Independent State of Croatia; advertisement; German film
Hrčak ID:
29501
URI
Publication date:
8.12.2008.
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