03-11-2012, 09:09 PM
I have seen similar Cold War versions of this type of book - Russian-English port of call phrases. These questions were designed to illicit information that might be useful to the KGB officer on board. They start with the usual greetings and progress to questions about the other persons family, and then "where do you work" and eventually questions about what contacts they might have that could be of use. In fact, I regret not really looking to see who published it because I expect it was one of the KGB's pocket newspapers or publishing companies.
Regardless, the book you have is clearly designed for vanguard troops of the Red Army or NKVD troops embedded in regular army regiments. It is hardly a "get to know your German neighbors" sort of book. The indirect purpose is rather more obvious than I would have expected. Then again, Hitler and Stalin were never friends (despite early propaganda) and the one wanted to overrun the other from the start. Look at all the photos of the two together and the very obvious body language of hatred toward each other.
Phillip
Regardless, the book you have is clearly designed for vanguard troops of the Red Army or NKVD troops embedded in regular army regiments. It is hardly a "get to know your German neighbors" sort of book. The indirect purpose is rather more obvious than I would have expected. Then again, Hitler and Stalin were never friends (despite early propaganda) and the one wanted to overrun the other from the start. Look at all the photos of the two together and the very obvious body language of hatred toward each other.
Phillip
Phillip
