„Charytatywni siewcy ideologii nienawiści i odwetu.” Proces członków organizacji Kirchendienst Ost jako element propagandowej walki PRL z rewizjonizmem zachodnioniemieckim
“Charity sowers of hate and retaliation.” The trial of Kirchendienst Ost members as an element of propaganda struggle in Polish People’s Republic

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents the show trial of two members of German minority – Germans who remained in West Pomerania after 1945 – who collaborated with German Evangelical charity organization, Kirchendienst Ost. These events are present primarily as a perfect media propaganda spectacle, crowning the battle that Polish People’s Republic waged against the so-called West German revisionism. The trial, which took place in Szczecin in 1968, was also a milestone in the history of German minority who remained on theso-called Recovered Territories (Ziemie Odzyskane) and showed in essence the complicated situation of this group. Therefore, the author outlined not only the mechanisms of propaganda aimed against “West German revisionism”, but also the living conditions of Germans who remained in West Pomerania and other former German lands, and were members of “no Polish” Evangelical communities. The changes in the legal situation of this minority over the course of time and impact of these changes on both material living conditions and issues related to following religious observances have been discussed. When describing the show trial, the author focused on the mechanisms of action of propaganda in Polish People’s Republic, and on methods of deliberate, planned control over the mass media and influencing the public opinion in order to trigger desired emotions, convictions and attitudes. In light of this the presented show trial appears as an example of a media show prepared in great detail with the aim to convince the Poles of hostile intentions of West Germany against their country, and thereby support and strengthen the communist power in Poland.

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