German propaganda leaflet for Soviets 628 RA/1.43

German propaganda leaflet for Soviet troops. 628 RA/1.43

To Party Members, Komsomol Members, and All Fighters of the Blocking Detachments!

To everyone who believed in the righteousness of their cause but was deceived by Stalin and his henchmen!

You were assigned to blocking detachments and told that you must eliminate cowards and enemies of Soviet power, meaning shooting your fellow Red Army soldiers.

Have you ever wondered why there are no blocking detachments in the German army or why they did not exist in the old Russian imperial army? Why is it that among Russian people, known throughout history for their bravery and heroism, there are suddenly so many cowards that such units are needed?

And why does Soviet power have so many enemies? For 25 years, the Soviet government has been eliminating "enemies of the people," executing and destroying tens of millions of "traitors," yet it still cannot kill them all.

Does this not mean that the entire people are enemies of the Bolsheviks, that no one wants to fight for their oppressors and tyrants?

Does this not mean that the Russian people want the downfall of the hated Soviet regime and are waiting for the Germans as their liberators?

What role do you play?

You are being turned into executioners! You are disgracing not only yourselves but also your families, your people, and the title of a Red Army soldier.

An army is not a secret police force or the NKVD! A soldier is not a prisoner or a criminal!

You may say: "We were ordered to!" But remember, you swore loyalty to your people above all!

You joined the army to be soldiers, defenders of the people, but now you have been made into its executioners. You have become what criminals call "enforcers"—but while they hunt thieves and criminals, you are being turned against your own people, against the soldiers of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Army.

What will you gain from this disgraceful task? The hatred of your own people and a noose around your neck!

The iron German army is bringing freedom to the Russian people and death to their oppressors and executioners. The Russian people are rising to fight for liberation. Many Russian volunteer units are already fighting alongside the Germans.

A million-strong Russian Volunteer Liberation Army is being formed—we will meet soon!

Together with the Russian people, we will strike a fatal blow to Bolshevism and tear Stalin’s noose from Russia’s neck!

Do you not see that the time of reckoning is near? That Stalin is dragging you to his grave? The people will remember, they will not forgive, and there will be no escape for you. You will die a disgraceful death as traitors to your own people, as executioners and murderers of its sons!

Think again!

You still have a chance to step away from this path. Do not shoot at Red Army soldiers! Fight against those who drive you to kill your own people!

Join us!

Enlist in the Russian Liberation Army, fighting to free the Russian people from Bolshevism!

Volunteers of the Russian Liberation Army.