At the beginning of Olga Berggolts “This is Radio Leningrad!” the reader is introduced to war-stricken Russia. This is a time of hardship for many as the war goes into the cold winter months. All that can be heard in the nation at this time is the explosions of weapons, for even the nation’s voice is silenced at this time. The radio had already been down for three days in Leningrad when Olga and her counterpart decided the silence could no longer go on. “The Art Director of the Radio Committee Babushkin, Makogonenko, editor of the Literary Department and myself drew up a detailed plan, toiling over it practically all through the night by the light of our only dim electric bulb with a newspaper for a shade.” Olga and Babushkin worked to create their master plan which would be known as Radio Leningrad. Radio Leningrad provided information about the war to the people of Leningrad and surrounding areas. This information was passed along through various forms of broadcasts such as personal narratives, poems, and short stories. One may hear from a soldier or even a common townsman about their experiences at this time of war. Thus the question I would like to propose is: Did Radio Leningrad have a larger meaning to the people of Leningrad than just a means of spreading information? Also, how did these different types of broadcasts have an affect on the information that was given? Was there more meaning to the broadcasts when they was given in the form of a first person perspective rather than a third person report?
Russia, the Soviet Union, and the CIS (HIS240 S20)
Revolution and its evolution!
I think the spreading of information itself has a deeper meaning. Like Lenin suggested in his pamphlet, “What Is To Be Done”, way back in 1902, the primary way to rally the masses and provide morale is through an informative newspaper. Similarly Radio Leningrad was another medium that would serve the same purpose, while being more appropriate for the times.
Had the radio broadcasts been given from a third person perspective, the stories would have seemed further removed from the actual conflict. By using the “I” and the direct perspective of whoever is sharing their story, it makes it personal. Like Sam said, the purpose of the informative newspaper was to boost morale. And the radio would have had this same purpose. When the stories are personal, from a first person perspective, they are more relatable and therefore more empowering.
I think that the radio broadcasts out of Leningrad had a much larger meaning than just another broadcast because it gave a voice to the people on the ground. I think the point of the broadcasts being from a first persons perspective cannot be overlooked. It gives an entirely different feeling hearing information from someone living through the harsh time than say a reporter from Moscow relaying the information.
I also think the calmness of the broadcasts cannot be overlooked. One mini paragraph that stuck out to me was “These broadcasts continued despite bombing raids and shellings. They always began with the same words: “This is Radio Leningrad, the city of Lenin calling the Country!” There is something calming about these words. They are well versed and the symbolism of addressing the country as a whole and tying in Lenin brings in a sense of USSR Nationalism that is important for moral at this point in the war.