Voice of America Broadcasts to the Soviet Union – February 17, 1947

On February 17, 1947, Voice of America (VOA), the official external broadcasting institution of the United States government, began its first transmissions to the Soviet Union. This marked a significant escalation in the emerging Cold War’s information front, with VOA aiming to reach behind the Iron Curtain and provide an alternative perspective to Soviet-controlled media.

Background

VOA’s establishment in 1942 was initially part of the United States’ efforts during World War II to provide propaganda and support the Allied war efforts by delivering news and information globally. With the war’s end and the onset of the Cold War, VOA’s role evolved to counter the Soviet Union’s global influence and provide audiences in communist countries with news that emphasized American democratic values and freedom of information.

The Initiation of Broadcasts

Starting this day, VOA’s broadcasts targeted Soviet listeners, offering them content in Russian. The programming included news, educational programs, cultural segments, and discussions about American society and its political system. The aim was not only to inform but also to subtly promote American ideological positions and counteract Soviet propaganda.

Significance and Impact

The launch of VOA’s broadcasts to the Soviet Union symbolized an essential component of the United States’ strategy during the Cold War. It underlined the importance of soft power and psychological operations in the geopolitical strife between the two superpowers. The broadcasts sought to undermine Soviet claims by presenting an unvarnished picture of life in the United States and its allies, while stressing themes of personal freedom and human rights.

VOA’s broadcasts were met with various degrees of jamming and censorship by Soviet authorities, who viewed them as a threat to their control over information. Despite these efforts, VOA persisted in its mission and expanded its languages and broadcast range over the following decades.

Legacy

The effort to broadcast to the Soviet Union exemplified the broader Cold War strategy of using media as a battlefield for hearts and minds, illustrating how significant ideological differences were in shaping international policies during this period. VOA’s role in broadcasting to the Soviet Union is part of its enduring legacy as a tool for American public diplomacy, continuing to provide news to regions where free press is threatened or restricted.