PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMUNIST REGIME

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R008900570001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 10, 1999
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 31, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2000/04/19 : CIA-RDP82-00457R008900570001-5
CLASSIFICATION CO! FIIDE1,i : AL
ol-
SUBJECT Propaganda Activities of the Communist
COUNTRY Bulgaria
PLACE
15X1AACQUIRE
DATE OF
INFO.
6
CENTRAL IN fEW06EP C J AGEt4a ' REPORT NO.
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
Regime
DATE DISTR.. 31 Oct. 1951
NO. OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCLS.
` T E SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO
TRlB 10c .. 2TlT CO!lTAlllll lpV08ll wlO3 AVFGCITldOTi9S NATiOFlA4.06PCN1i&
OF T448 YAT66D mw OITHln TN@ f1r"Irla OR TU t3P102A?C RCT 00
V. R. C., as AND 32.43 AU S 4 20.. 453 TR23221211403 Oat T3R 112V #7402
OP 1111 00/472323 lit A4IIY 1Alm28 TO AW !lUABTFlORIER'O 8082,03 le P440.
3434T34t 3T LA V. 82P110Er41C7O4$ or 74112 V022 43 8301333145.
SOURCE
25X1X
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
1. The Ministry of Propaganda has been dissolved and its activity has been taken
over by the Committee of Science? !.rt, and Culture (KNIK)A which directs the
theaters, motion pictures, radio, press, and the other means of mass propa-
ganda. This Committee, under the leadership of the Centr 1. Committee of the
Bulgarian Communist Party, chooses the plays for the theaters, pictures for
the movies, radio programs and press material.
2? In Sofia there is the National Theater, the Youth National Theater, the
National Opera, the Labor Front Theater; there are also theaters at the
General ,7orkers Professional Union and other organizations. In the larger
towns of Bulgaria there are local national theaters and opera houses. The
actors and actresses are among; the most privileged citizens in the country:
Fecause of this, a great many of the old actors have sold themselves to the
Communists, and the Communists have honored them with titles such as 1"People4s
rctcrsl" and "Deserving t.ctors". Some of those who lv:ve received titles are
Vlado Tren. afi.lov, Nelt Karov.a, Mind. #Falkanska and Mihail Popov.
3. Most of the motion pictures shown in Bulgaria are made in the Soviet Union,
but a few are received from the Satellite countries. Because practically
all of the movies are for propaganda purposes, the attendance is not large2
The Communist Party., however, uses a system of mass attendance; for example,
The Fatherland Front Organization of a certain sector of the town will buy
tickets for a picture, and then take the citizens in formation to the
t,,eater.
na unangs to Class.
Q Declassified
.. he State interprise, Bulgarian ::ta,te Cinematography, a branch of the
Committee of Science, arts, and Culture, haas a monopoly on the distribution
of motion pictures in Bulgaria. Several of the movies which it has distributed
area "Kalin Orelut"", "The blue ',,omen Slaves", 11 r.1a_rm and Ivan Cousarin'" a
5, The programs broadcast over the radio in Bulgaria are so much like the Soviet
programs that the people any, 10If you want to hear Moscow, listen to Radio
Sofia." Broadcasts consist almost exclusively of Russian songs, Russian
news, end Russian propaganda, and as a result, few Bulgarians listen to
their radio stations. Bulgaria has the follo,,ring stationaa Khristo Botev,
the National Radio Station in : ofia; Radio Sofia 2; Radio Sofia 3, a short
wave station; Radio Stara 2r^gora; and Radio Varna.
STATE
ARMY
W- DISTRIBUTION
dFW
AIR f
Approved For Release 2000/04/19 : CIA-RDP82-004
Class. Cl4naean Ts: Tit a
Dafet _4 5 5Lr- WI
CLASSIFICATION co:YILaITIIL
 ? Approved For Release 2000/04/19 : CIA-RDP82-00457R008900570001-5
CZ-WTRAL INTELLIOkNCE AG !
6 The chief purpose of propaganda in Bulgaria is to create respect and love
for Stalin and the Soviet Unions and hatred for the Wester Other themes are:
hatred for Tito; the misery of the great numbers of unemployed in the West,
compared to the prosperity of the people in therast; the tremendous success
in the construction of socialism; and, since last year, the "Justifiable" war
of the people of Korea against the American imperialists. Propaganda themes
in the villages are: the struggle against the Kulaks; increased production;
and,, beginning on 1 January 1$51, propaganda for the voluntary state loans
which will help the socialist construction in Bulgaria.
7. Despite the years of repetition of the above propaganda themes, the effect
has been contrary to the expectations of the Communist rulers. The people
do not believe the propaganda and listen to radio programs from Western
stations to get the news.
Approved For Release 2000/04/19 : CIA-RDP82-00457R008900570001-5
CONFIDJ IAL