Mannerheim image in soviet war propaganda on Karelian front

Evolution of the image of Finnish army commander-in-chief Baron Carl Mannerheim is described in the article. Reasons for the active use of the image by the Soviet propagandists during 1941-1942 and subsequent gradual erosion of the image over the 19431944 are clarified. As all images of the enemy leaders it consisted of two main parts. The first one was to inspire hatred in the Red Army soldiers, and the second one - to “lower” its significance in such a way that the soldiers would not lose the will to resist. Both components of the image were built primarily on class principles, which created the foundation for all other features of the image. When the need to oppose ordinary Finns with their government ceased to be valuable, the image of the Finish army commander-in-chief began to lose its sharpness. Negative characteristics originally used to describe only Mannerheim became applicable to the rest of the Finns. As a result, he no longer was identified as a separate person. His image merged with general image of the enemy. Later, as Finland withdrew from the war under the leadership of Mannerheim, his image was largely forgotten by Soviet propagandists and removed from their agenda.