Russian Revolution: Propaganda

Russian Revolution: The True Use of Propaganda
"Lenin created the first truly modern propaganda machine, and its most colorful, dramatic and original form was the poster." This quote comes from a site containing propaganda posters and gives us a glimpse of the effects propaganda would have had to the people of Russia. Propaganda during the Russian Revolution was highly used by the leaders of Russia, as well as the leaders of the countries around the world. Russian leaders made these posters to show that they were respected when they were not and to show that the people supported communism, while the outside world used these posters to show that communism was bad.


"Either death to capitalism or death under the heels of capitalism." This is the direct translating on the propaganda poster on the right. This poster shows the views of the communists. They believed that capitalism would kill you if you let is stay as it was. The fact the capitalism would kill you is not entirely true. The directness of this poster makes this a very efficient propaganda poster.

The poster on the right is from the time of the 'Five Year Plans'. It translates "Let's build the Dirigible fleet in Lenin's name." This poster was most probably published by Stalin or his government. This poster is probably meant to make the people feel like they should help make a fleet because Lenin would have liked it. This would not be true because Lenin hated Stalin, and most probably have opposed this idea. The image of Lenin with his hands out seems to show that he supports building a fleet. The Zeppelins and the tower seem to show that Russia will become a very great country because of this idea.


The poster on the left is a poster showing Lenin towering a group of soldiers. It seems to show that Lenin is god and whoever is with him cannot loose. The red flags show that these soldiers are most probably red guards or communists. The tanks show that they are going into a very big battle, may be the civil war. But, this poster may be posted after the death of Lenin, suggesting that this may have been posted my Stalin in the start of WWII to motivate the people to go to war.



This poster on the right is a poster showing Lenin (Far Right) and a group of people. It seems to show that the people are paying their respect to Lenin my standing straight and smartly. The red color seems to show that these people are communists and supported the revolution. It reads "With Lenin's banner we were and will be victorious." The quote seems to suggest that the people are going to go to war or to do something big.




"The Spirit of Great Lenin and His Victorious Banner inspires us during this Great Patriotic War". This is the direct translation of the quote on the poster on the left and is a quote by Joseph Stalin. Stalin seems to be saying that he is going to war in the name of Lenin. Stalin seems to be going to WWII because Stalin ruled Russia during that time. The colorlessness of the propaganda poster seems to tell us that it was not meant and the people did not think this was the truth.

The poster on the right shows us a group of people, white, tan and black together, holding a red flag. The diverse group of skin colors seems to tell us that no matter what race you are from, if you support the revolution, you will be welcomed. the red flag represents communism, telling us that these people supported the communists who wanted a revolution. The sun tells us that if you support the communists, then a bright day is waiting for you. The diverse skin colors is a very good way of making people come together as one, destroying differences. This method seems to be a very good and effective method.


Work Cited

1. http://static.flickr.com/54/135870813_73171afa59_m.jpg
2. http://www.bibl.u-szeged.hu/bibl/mil/ww1/who/lenin.jpg
3. http://www.earthstation1.com/Warposters/jckaelin/Stalin_Lenin_jk.jpg
4. http://www.internationalposters.com/wdetail.cfm?ImageName=rul06853
5. http://www.internationalposters.com/thumbdir.cfm?startpage=1&Period=FYP1%2CFYP2%2CFYP3&CountryAbrevValue=RU&CountryName=Soviet+Union&PeriodName=First+%26+Second+Five+Year+Plans
6. http://www.russianlife.net/article.cfm?Number=147
7. http://www.internationalposters.com/thumbdir.cfm?startpage=1&Period=FYP1%2CFYP2%2CFYP3&CountryAbrevValue=RU&CountryName=Soviet+Union&PeriodName=First+%26+Second+Five+Year+Plans