An Examination of Enemy Construction Propaganda in Serbian Society in Milan Nedić’s Reign

Abstract

Axis Powers occupied Kingdom of Yugoslavia on April 18, 1941 and partitioned its territory among themselves. A state called as Government of National Salvation which was led by Germany in Serbia was founded and Serbian General Milan Nedić was appointed as prime minister. After Nedić became prime minister, Allied States and Jews began to be constructed as Serbia's national enemies with propaganda activities. For this purpose, the Grand Anti-Masonic Exhibition was held in Belgrade between 22 October 1941 and 19 January 1942 during the Nedić government and hate speech was developed against both Allied States and Jews through materials in the exhibition. In the study, it was aimed to reveal how Allied States and Jews were constructed as enemies in the eyes of Serbs through materials in the Grand Anti-Masonic Exhibition. For this purpose, visuals determined within the scope of the study were analyzed in terms of semiotics and it was tried to reveal discourses used in enemy construction. As a result of the study, it is asserted that through the exhibition the message was given that the Allied States are under the control of the Jews and working for the Zionism. The study, in this context, claims that the perception of Jews are the enemies of the Serbs was tried to be constructed in the society.

Keywords

• propaganda
• semiotics
• serbia
• antisemitism
• hate speech

Milan Nedić İktidarında Sırp Toplumunda Düşman İnşası Propagandasına Yönelik Bir İnceleme

Abstract

Mihver Devletleri, 18 Nisan 1941 tarihinde Yugoslavya Krallığı'nı işgal ederek topraklarını kendi aralarında paylaşmıştır. Sırbistan'da ise Ulusal Kurtuluş Hükümeti adında Almanya'nın güdümünde bir devlet kurulmuş, Başbakanlığına da Sırp General Milan Nedić getirilmiştir. Nedić'in Başbakanlığa getirilmesinden sonra yapılan propaganda faaliyetleri ile Müttefik Devletleri ve Yahudiler, Sırbistan'ın ulusal düşmanları olarak inşa edilmeye başlanmıştır. Bu amaçla Nedić hükümeti döneminde Belgrad'ta 22 Ekim 1941-19 Ocak 1942 tarihleri arasında Büyük Masonluk Karşıtı Sergi (BMKS) düzenlenmiş ve bu sergide yer alan materyaller üzerinden hem Müttefik Devletlerine hem de Yahudilere yönelik nefret söylemine yönelinmiştir. Çalışmada Büyük Masonluk Karşıtı Sergi'de yer alan materyaller üzerinden Müttefik Devletleri'nin ve Yahudilerin ne şekilde Sırplar nezdinde düşman olarak inşa edildiğinin ortaya konulması amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla çalışma kapsamında belirlenen görseller, göstergebilimsel açıdan analiz edilerek, düşman inşasında kullanılan söylemlerin ortaya konulmasına çalışılmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda, BMKS yoluyla Müttefik Devletlerin Yahudilerin denetimi altında olduğu ve Siyonizm adına hareket ettiği mesajının verildiği öne sürülmekte ve bu şekilde Yahudilerin Sırpların düşmanı olduğu algısının yerleştirilmesine çalışıldığı iddiasında bulunulmaktadır.

Keywords

• propaganda
• göstergebilim
• sırbistan
• antisemitizm
• nefret söylemi

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