SOLDIERS OF CAUCASIAN ORIGIN IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR: PROPAGANDA MECHANISMS AND IDEOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION

This article examines the positioning of soldiers of Caucasian origin within the context of their military roles and the propaganda strategies employed during the Second World War. The impact of the ideological and strategic conflict between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union on soldiers from the Caucasus is assessed through the propaganda tools and narratives of the time. The study explores how Germany’s promises of "independence" and anti-Soviet rhetoric targeting the peoples of the Caucasus were formulated and how these discourses were reflected in the recruitment processes. Additionally, it investigates the policies and counter-propaganda efforts implemented by the Soviet Union to retain local populations within the ranks of the Red Army. Drawing upon archival documents, propaganda materials, and testimonies, this research reveals how soldiers of Caucasian origin navigated their roles and identities throughout the war. In conclusion, soldiers of Caucasian origin in the Second World War were not merely instruments of war but also both subjects and objects within the ideological struggle between two opposing powers. The ideological confrontation between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union significantly shaped the role of these soldiers in the war. This study analyzes how ethnic and political identities were manipulated and transformed by propaganda during the conflict and how the ideological competition between the two major powers over these ethnic groups determined the outcome. By enhancing our understanding of the effects of propaganda wars on ethnic identities and social belonging, this research aims to provide valuable insights for future studies on war and ideology.