Radio Free Europe and Christmas in the Cold War Years ©

 

1951 RFE Card

Christmas played a role in both Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia broadcasts and in the Crusade for Freedom campaigns in the 1950s. 

 

Some states began their 1952 fund-raising campaigns in November and ended later than normal, due to conflicts with already planned fund-raising events. Pennsylvania, for example, with a fund-raising goal of $150,000, maintained the Crusade for Freedom through Christmas. One local newspaper article began with:

This Christmas will be just another Thursday to the children behind the Iron Curtain. There will be no Santa Claus, no toys, no days of joy and veneration. The children of Poland, Czechoslovakia and other Iron Curtain countries will spend the usual regimented day, listen to the same steady stream of Communist propaganda.

The most creative activity in the state was in Pittsburgh. On December 3, 1952, the Pittsburgh Press newspaper carried a small article and photograph with the caption: “Pittsburgh ‘Red Invader’ Surrenders—‘Russian Soldier’ Stephen Radkoff, really a Pittsburgh actor, remains grim to the end as he surrenders to Freedom Girl Miyal Harvey and Howard G. Burr, center, chairman of Western Pennsylvania Crusade for Freedom.”

The article described how local Crusade chairman Burr had arranged for Stephen Radkoff to walk around the streets of Pittsburgh in a Russian soldier’s uniform on December 2, 1952, hoping to get some sort of reaction from passersby. But, the newspaper reported that the “Red Invader” had gathered little attention from the citizens of Pittsburgh.

Chairman Burr also arranged for a “take-over” of a Pittsburgh television station WDTV at 11 P.M. by three men pretending to be “Red Agents.” The men were dressed as soldiers and seized the newscaster Dave Murray and for a few minutes, they turned the television station into a “Communist propaganda outlet" when the officer sat down before the camera and said, "Citizens! Comrades! You are about the hear the truth." After a few minutes, Murray returned to the studio and told the television audience, "The interruption was merely a dramatic demonstration of that has gone on in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Burma, China and many other countries in the world ... For the past three years they have had the chance to hear Truth. It comes to them from the Crusade for Freedom." 

Burr told the newspaper, “These were stunts, but we think that they are necessary to bring home to all of us just what is going on behind the Iron Curtain ... Our two radio stations need money to maintain. Really, not much money for all the good they do. 

Chairman Burr was also seen in a local newspaper photograph with Santa Claus and three young girls, two of whom (Claire Bletcher and Andrea McLaughlin) were holding a Crusade for Freedom poster. The caption read, "A Christmas Message of Hope." The text read, in part, "Santa's telling them Christmas is no time for happiness for children in the Iron Curtain Countries -- the greatest gift they can receive is a message of hope for the future, which the Crusade for Freedom, through Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, is trying to give them."

The article "Russian Kids Wont't Have a Santa Claus" added, "An equally important part of the campaign is educational -- letting everyone know what the Crusade is doing and how they can help." Burr also was quoted in the article as saying,

Christmas isn’t a happy day behind the Iron Curtain, but neither is any other day. We have to let those people, who are on our side in this struggle, know that we here in the United States have not forgotten them. Everyone must know what the Crusade is doing, and join in its work, either though contributions or by signing Freedom-Grams—the messages of hope which the Crusade transmits behind the Iron Curtain.

Below is a selected summary of other programs and events.

1952

On December 19, 1952, in cooperation with the Crusade for Freedom and Radio Free Europe, ABC’s nation-wide radio network broadcast the program "Caroling Through the Iron Curtain.“

1954

In December 1954, the Free Europe Press launched this Christmas card to Hungary, with this message:

Men bowed under sorrow and humiliation, men oppressed and persecuted draw from this light the patience and strength to await the day that will bring them peace, truth and freedom

1955

In 1955, the Free Europe Press sent at least two Christmas cards over the Iron Curtain via the balloon / leaflet program: one to Czechoslovakia and one to Hungary (possibly the same as the one in 1954).  It is possible that another one was sent to Poland. The Christmas card to Czechoslovakia was from a painting by the Dutch artist Rogier van der Weydon; Three kings altar, middle panel, Adoration of the Magi. The text on the reverse of the card read the same as the 1954 Christmas card to Hungary, with perhaps an additional sentence:

Men bowed under sorrow and humiliation, men oppressed and persecuted draw from this light the patience and strength to await the day that will bring them peace, truth and freedom. On the threshold of the New Year, we bow before God and renew within ourselves love for our neighbour.

It would appear that the Free Europe Press used the same message in the 1954 and 1955 cards launched by balloon--that would make some sense as the message was, in fact, the same to all three countries, to which balloons were sent.

In 1955, RFE broadcast an Advent service of the Czech Moravian Brethren Church that included songs from the choir and congregation under the direction of Rev. Frank D. Svoboda, pastor of the church in Taylor, Texas.

Also in 1955, RFE broadcast the Christmas message to Eastern Europe of President Eisenhower, who said, “The American people recognize the trials under which you are suffering; join you in your concern for the restoration of individual liberty; and share with you your faith that right in the end will prevail to bring you once again among the free nations of the world.”  Eisenhower’s message was heavily criticized by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, who called it, “Crude Interference.”

1956

Twelve Hungarian refuges living in the USA recorded 30 and 60 second messages at RFE’s New York office for broadcast to Hungary. Some of the messages were in code: “This is from Black Bear to the Red Forest.” If the message was heard, word was sent back with, “We heard the melody on the piano.”

1958

Newspapers around the United States in December 1958 carried a photograph of 7-year-old Irena Dubicka of Brooklyn, New York, behind a Radio Free Europe microphone recording a “greeting to the children of Poland on behalf of youngsters in America” that would be broadcast by RFE on Christmas Eve as part a special holiday program. 

Additional programs to Poland included a broadcast by the Polish Boy Scouts in New York and a Polish Choir in London. RFE broadcast folklore, carols, and interviews with Christmas shoppers in London and New Work—“A potent reminder of the good things to buy in the capitalist countries.”

Listeners in Hungary heard folk songs, a children’s play from the Hungarian High School in Munich, and a special Christmas play performed by Hungarian émigré actors in New York.

Bulgarian émigrés in New York recorded old folklore and Christmas songs that were broadcast to Bulgaria. RFE also broadcast a special Christmas program entitled “Greetings to Jammers.”

President Eisenhower’s annual Christmas message was broadcast over Radio Free Europe and the Voice of America to the countries behind the Iron Curtain and was not jammed.

1960

President-elect John F. Kennedy sent Christmas wishes to Eastern Europe via RFE in December 1960.

In 1962, for Christmas, RFE broadcast

·    Pope John XXIII’s Christmas mass and message.

·    A new play by children of Hungarian refugees in Germany to let Hungarians know that their language is not lost to new generations now living outside the country.

·    A Romanian jazz band that had escaped through East Berlin in September.

·   Special programs to Greek Catholics in Czechoslovakia and to orthodox members in Romania and Bulgaria.  

1966  

The official Christmas song for RFE was Kate Smith's "Christmas Eve in My Home Town." The song also was played over American Forces Radio Network for the military stationed outside the United States, the Voice of America, and domestic college and commercial radio stations.

 

 

 

1981

In 1981, after martial law was declared in Poland and communications to the West were cut off, RFE broadcast Christmas messages to friends and families over RFE’s “Telephone Bridge to Poland” from Poles living in Germany, Austria, Britain, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. There were two daily 45-minute programs with 120 to 145 telephone messages per program.

Activities of the Ukrainian Underground (Resistance), 1944 - 1950 ©

The following selected CIA chronology is taken from an undated, declassified, internal document (presumably 1951):

The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (Ukrainian: Українська повстанська армія, UPA) was created in 1942-1943 for the purpose of fighting the Nazis and for the protection of the Ukrainian population. It is the military force of the underground government of the Ukrainian Supreme Council of Liberation (UHVR). The UPA represents the only important resistance group operating in the Ukrainian SSR.

The activities of the Ukrainian underground were and are conducted in practically all phases of life. Because of the topography and character of the western areas of Ukraine, these activities were and are more intense and systematic in Western Ukraine (the Mountains, VOLHYN - in general, west of the DNIEPER River) than in other areas. In the beginning, these activities were conducted by all possible means and methods, from armed frontal attacks by the UPA, to disruptive penetration and infiltration of the Communist Party and the Red Army.

Among the victims of the URA ambushes are some outstanding Soviet leaders:

1944 - the UPA ambushed and mortally wounded Soviet Marshall VATUTIN.

March 1947 - UPA. men attacked and killed Lt. General Karol SWIERCZEWSKI, Vice Minister of Defense of Poland (the "General. Walter" of the Spanish Civil War)

1948 - The UPA killed Lt. General MOSKOLENKO, a high-ranking MVD officer. The representatives of the UHVR claim that 35,000 officers and non-commissioned officers of the MVD and MGB have fallen at the hands of the UPA during the period 1945 to January 1951.

1945, 46, 47, 48 - In the STANISLAV Oblast, partisan groups existed in large numbers. (Airing 1945, 46, 47, and 48, many Ukrainians were arrested by the MVD. A state farm in STANISLAV region was attacked by a number of partisan troops in the Summer of 1947. All the buildings were burned, as well as all supplies that could not be carried away. Other attacks are mentioned in the report.

1945 -47 - Partisan activity in the CARPATHIAN region. Source mentions attacks on Soviet Communist Party officials at State Farms in the STRYJ area and the CZERNOWITZ oblast, and states that the movement was strongest in areas of LVOV, STANISLAV, DROHOBYCH, PRZEMYSL, and TERNOPOL.

1946-47 - frequent attacks by partisans upon State property were carried out in STANISLAV Oblast, Western Ukraine

1947-48 - an UPA unit composed of three companies battles with Soviet forces for control of LEMKIVTSI area. Also UPA. skirmishes with Soviet forces in various localities in the Western oblasts.

1948 November - an MVD dragnet in NIKOLAYEV (4658N-3200E); uncovered a partisan headquarters. With the exception of a few anti-Soviet leaflets and a printing press, the entire headquarters was evacuated in time. 

1948- small but numerous anti-Communist partisan bands have been operating along the Polish-USSR border, approximately 30 miles west of LVOV. These bands actively engaged in armed encounters with Soviet Security Forces. 

1949 - on 30 December 1949, the MOB Minister of State Security of the Ukrainian SSR, It. Gen. M. KOVALCHUK issued a proclamation to all resistance members to return peacefully to their normal occupation under the promise of a general amnesty.:

ORDER OF THE MINISTER OF STATE SECURITY OF THE UKRAINIAN SSE

Regarding the Release from Criminal Responsibility of all Members of the Remnants of the Defeated Ukrainian Nationalist Bands in the Western Oblasts of the Ukraine SSR who voluntarily appear before the Organs of the Soviet Government for the Purpose of Unconditional Surrender. No. 312,  30 December 1949, City of Kiev

In the Spring of 1950, when it was seen that this appeal had failed to make any impression, strong large-scale repressive measures were undertaken throughout Ukraine. In some areas, detachments of 1,000 to 5,000 MGB troops were used in individual operations to clean up the district. In one district, this sweep lasted about ten days. In others, they were repeated several times within a period of weeks.

Excerpts from a declassified April 1953 CIA Internal Report entitled “Ukrainian Resistance”

 

The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) was created in 1942-1943 for the purpose of fighting the Nazis and for the protection of the Ukrainian population. It is the military force of the underground government of the Ukrainian Supreme Council of Liberation (UHVR). The UPA represents the only important resistance group operating at present in the Ukrainian SSR. 

 

The numerical strength of the Ukrainian Underground Resistance Movement today is considerably reduced from what it was at the close of World War II, when it numbered in the tens of thousands and even, according to some figures, 100,000 active armed members.

A fair estimate of the number of illegal-living armed partisans within the Western Oblasts of Ukraine is 1,000 men, and it is certain that many more live legally and maintain some sort of contact with the illegal-living underground units. 

 

It is anticipated that by Fall of 1953, the CIA will have been able to establish the basis of its future relationship with the Ukrainian underground. 

 

Ukrainian Resistance Forces Killed in Action:

 

“The following is a compilation of known insurgents killed in Ukraine between 1944 and 1950. These figures are not complete, but will give some indication of the amount of underground activity which took place during this period:

 

Area                                        1944    1945    1946    1947    1948    1949    1950

 

Kozlovski Raion                       26         7          3         13         4                  

Mikulinetski                             28       34          8         11          8                  

Veliko-Borkovski Raion           22       37         21        8           8                  

Veliko-Glubochetsk Raion       43       40         37        14        16                  

Zalozhtsevski Raion                 40       72         34        9          23

Zborovski Raion                       34       105       13        7           5              

Bukachevski Raion                                                                                5         3

Burshtyanksi Rion                                                                                 2         1                               

Peremyshlyani Raion                                                                             8         2

Bogatinski Raion                                                                                  10        6

Vilaivski Raion                                                                                       8        1

 

“Armed clashes with Soviet Security Forces took place in the following areas. In each case an average of five UPA partisans were involved: Drohobych Raion, Pidbuzh Raion, Samborski Raion, Turka Raion, Strilkiv Raion, Rozhnitiv Raion, Wygoda Raion.”

Code Name Jackal: Action Plan Against Noel Bernard and Radio Free Europe ©

 

Wrath of the Chief Architect: Ceausescu‘s War against RFE and Romanian Émigrés

IICCR International Conference

"Ways to Consider Communism"

Bucharest, Romania

15 November 2007

(Excerpt)

Code Name Jackal: Action Plan Against Noel Bernard 

 

For 16 years, Noel Bernard was one of the most respected Directors of RFE/RL’s Romanian Broadcast Service. He died of cancer on 13 December 1981, and his death was considered suspicious. In the summer of 2007, the Romanian External Intelligence Service (SIE) released a copy of a ten-page report that gave prima facie evidence that Romanian agents murdered Noel Bernard. Below are summary highlights and analysis from an 18 August 1980 Securitate Action plan against Noel Bernard (Code Name Jackal) and Radio Free Europe (RFE) that were included in the released report: 

 

Ministry of Internal Affairs Strictly Secret Department of State Security, (DSS) Copy Nr. 1 U.M. 0544,
Nr. 225/f.9/0025323, dated 18.08.1980

Approved Measure Plan in the case of Noel Bernard, Codename Jackal

Bearing in mind the dangerousness of the activity carried on by the “Jackal” against our country, it becomes imperative and urgent to take more qualified and energetic security measures to 

 

·      Applying special measures to paralyze the activity of the RFE objective and neutralize some employees by damaging and destroying buildings and facilities of the radio, homes, and personal means of transportation, as well as by producing physical harm to the most active employees and contributors of RFE.

·      In addition to the present plan, we'll take steps to prepare radical measures against the Jackal. By March 30, 1981, we'll table the radical measures we will implement in the case of the Jackal.

·      Identifying and studying the location of the homes of some employees and the possibilities to penetrate them in order to place their containers and parcels with explosives.

·      Identifying the places where RFE employees park their cars or have them fixed in order to place explosives or to operate technical changes on their cars able to cause serious accidents.

·      To recruit Marcu, a friend and physician of the Jackal's family, so as to obtain compromising data on the Jackal and his wife, and to prepare for applying radical measures against the Jackal.

 

The document mentions the informer Kraus, a journalist and friend of the Jackal,. according to the document, 

 

·      Kraus (identified as Ivan Denes) will suggest to the Jackal that the anonymous letters against him have been typed on the typewriter of Pfeiller Adelheid, the mistress of Emil Georgescu.

·      An employee of the radio, named Vlaicu in the document, known as an enemy of the Jackal, should be recruited and used to compromise the Jackal and foment the animosity between Romanians and Jews within the Romanian BD.

 

A former informer named Manole, employed by RFE as a technician, was planned to be reactivated and used for "special measures". Also mentioned are Filip and Florica, a couple from Germany with "direct links" to the American management of RFE. These informers should be reactivated and used to discredit the Jackal and his wife as having ties to both the Soviet intelligence service and the Romanian Securitate. 

 

Also, two agents from West Germany codenamed 'Helmut' and 'Martin' were summoned to Bucharest for a special training session, attended by the leadership of CIE (according to the file). 'Helmut' was the most active agent in Emil Georgescu’s case. He even arranged the beating of Georgescu for DM 10,000. His report about that incident is included in the file.'

 

Martin' was, however, more important because he had a prominent position in the leadership of the Saxon community in West Germany, with access to the German government officials. He was instructed to spread the rumor about the Bernards' alleged affiliation with Russian and Romanian secret services. In a "Staged Report" the officers boasted about Martin’s supposed successes:

 

·      Prepare collaborator Danciu, an electronic engineer from within the country, in order to send him permanently outside and infiltrate him at RFE with the mission of causing damage to and destruction of RFE’s installations and buildings;

·      Reactivation of informant Barta Geza of West Germany, auto mechanic, who is being used by some RFE employees to repair their cars, to cause damage to their cars.?

·      Through sources Riva, Protopopescu, Kraus, Barta Geza , and others, we shall study the buildings and installations of the Free Europe radio station, the guard and security system, vulnerable points, etc., to find ways and concrete solutions for the use of adequate means with a view to damaging and destroying the buildings and installations of the Free Europe radio station, by planting explosives, causing fires etc

·      In order to give credibility to our version, we will train Ilie Ciurescu to get in touch with the Jackol‘s wife in a foreign country. (Ciurescu was a popular TV announcer, Ioana’s former colleague and friend, and a known Securitate agent.

 

According to the file, the purpose was to accredit the idea that he is supposedly the liaison between her and the Romanian security organs. The officers preferred the meeting between the two be held in a hotel in order to make it possible for those interested to verify afterward that the encounter had indeed taken place.

 

Even more incriminating documents are telegrams from Germany to Bucharest regarding Noel Bernard. For example, on 22 October 1980,:

Concerning the compromising and liquidation of N. Bernard we are attaching:

Hans Bergel, known to the studio, is interested in learning details about the way N. Bernard intends to obtain German citizenship for Aurora Magura, his mother-in-law since she is Romanian and has nothing in common with German origin. We are in possession of a photocopy of the decision by the Bavarian Authorities rejecting A. Magura's appeal. Through the means available to us, steps have been taken in order to perform the action documented by the Chief Architect. The file follows.

 

Another one is a telegram dated 1 March 1981, after Noel Bernard’s cancer became public knowledge: 

 

Noel Bernard convalescent (attached is the article translated from German). Comrade Colonel Bogdan,

The data published by B.I.R.E. confirms that the measures we took started to show effects. We should intensify measures to compromise Emil Georgescu and Ioana Magura, intimidate them, and remove them from the radio.

 

In the summer of 1992, my office arranged for a check of the Romanian Service Director’s inner and outer offices at RFE/R, plus Noel Bernard's apartment and automobile. No traces of radiation were found.

In Memory of Early Cold War Resistance Fighters in Bulgaria: The Goryani ©

Stoyanov-Tarpana

In September 1944, the Soviet Red Army invaded Bulgaria, and a reign of terror began under the Sovietization of the country. Thousands of Bulgarians who took up armed resistance to Communism were known as the Goryani (Горяни), or “Man of the Forests” or “Ones of the Forest.” At one point, the number of armed Goryani was estimated at 2000 in 28 Bands (Chetas), with another 8000 illicit helpers supplying them with food, shelter, arms, and intelligence. The Bulgarian authorities effectively eliminated the Goryani movement by the mid-1950s.

The CIA created a clandestine radio station operating in Greece called Radio Goryanin (Радио Горянин): “The Voice of Bulgarian Resistance” that began broadcasting in 1951. 

In 1951, CIA began infiltrating agents in Bulgaria: six teams of 17 men between 16 and 28 May 1951. This number included 15 agents trained in Germany during March and April, plus two others recruited in Greece for specific one-shot missions. Contacting Goryani was one objective of the infiltrations. One such team established contact with a large Goryani group in the mountains near the city of Sliven. This team made plans to fulfill their objectives of contacting resistance elements in the Teteven area through the Sliven Goryani. One agent was killed in a clash with Bulgarian troops.

The largest resistance group, the Second Sliven Band, was led by Georgi Stoyanov-Tarpana, also known as Georgi Benkovski, after a 19th-century Bulgarian popular hero. 6000 Bulgarian troops encircled the band. A battle was fought on 1 and 2 June 1951. Some 40 Goryani were killed, but the band commander fled along with his men, including the wounded. The Bulgarian secret police later captured Stoyanov. He was later tried, found guilty, and executed by firing squad on 12 December 1951, in Stara Zagora, along with ten others.

Here is the memorial to the Goryani of Silven, including Stoyanov-Tarpan.

 

The inscription on the left reads:

"In Memory of the Goryani from Sliven who died 1950-51

For them, life was a fight under the flag of freedom. Death—a worthy victory.“

 

After the collapse of Communism in Bulgaria in 1989, other memorials were created for the Goryani martyrs in the towns and villages of 

 

• Manolsko Konare, 
• Zlatosel, 
• Parvenets, 
• Trilistnik, 
• Belozem,
• Shishmantsi 

Memorials for the Goryani are marked with a four-leaf clover and chaff of wheat (emblem of the Bulgarian Agrarian Party BZNS “Nikola Petkov“), which is used to suggest that those who died were part of an idea that is shared by contemporary members of agrarian political parties as well. Nikola Petkov was executed in 1947.

 

Six CIA infiltration agents were captured and tried in Sofia in September 1951. Three were sentenced to death, and three to long-term imprisonment. The last known infiltation/exfiltation took place in October 1952. There are no monuments or memorials for the CIA agents dispatched into Bulgaria.

For more information on the Bulgarian memorials, see Valentin Voskresenski, “Monumental Memorialization of Political Violence in Bulgaria (1944 – 1989): beyond Traumatization, Contestation and Dangerization of Memory.”

For more information on Radio Goryanin, see