To the issue of some technical means of propaganda during the First World War [К вопросу о некоторых технических средствах пропаганды в годы Первой мировой войны]

The article discusses the technical means of propaganda during the First World War. The attention is paid to the French, German, British and American experience in delivering propaganda literature to the enemy's territory. There was used as sources the specialized literature on the history of military propaganda during the First World War. In methodological terms, the principles of objectivity and consistency were applied: the first allowed us to impartially consider the sources on the research topic, the second made it possible to analyze the technical means of delivering propaganda literature from different countries participating in the conflict. Summing up, the authors come to the conclusion that during the First World War, the propagandists of the opposing sides relied on the fact that the leaflets caused minimal rejection from the enemy. To this end, the propagandists refused to deliver leaflets using artillery ammunition (since artillery shelling had a negative psychological effect on the enemy) and after several alternative attempts (scattering leaflets with a tailwind from an observation tethered balloon, as well as a kite), they opted for a specially designed unmanned balloon, the range of which could reach 200 kilometers deep into enemy territory with a tailwind. Such a range of action was quite sufficient for psychological impact not only on the fortified areas of the front line, but also the concentration camps and the population located in the rear. © 2021 International Network Center for Fundamental and Applied Research. All rights reserved.