National Committee for a Free Europe

The National Committee for a Free Europe, later known as Free Europe Committee, was an anti-communist Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) front organization,[1] founded on June 1, 1949, in New York City, which worked for the spreading of American influence in Europe and to oppose the Soviet one.

History

The committee was founded by Allen Dulles, later to be Director of Central Intelligence, in conjunction with Dewitt Clinton Poole. Early board members included Dwight Eisenhower, Lucius D. Clay, Cecil B. DeMille, and Henry Luce.[2] From 1951 to 1952, Charles Douglas Jackson served as its president. The organization created and oversaw the anti-communist broadcast service Radio Free Europe.[3] CIA subsidies to the Free Europe Committee ended in 1971 which caused restructuring to its operations.[4]

The Free Europe Committee sent leaflets with balloons from West Germany to the Eastern Bloc countries. Each balloon was able to drop 100,000 leaflets. Initially, a small cannon was used to cut cords, but as a result of propaganda claiming them to be lethal, a new type of balloon with a timer and motor-powered razor blades was developed.[5]

See also

References
  1. Prados, John (2006). Safe for Democracy: The Secret Wars of the CIA. Ivan R. Dee. p. 47. ISBN 9781615780112.
  2. Weiner, Tim: "Legacy of Ashes", page 36. Doubleday, 2007.
  3. Mihail Bumbes - Un simbol: Europa Libera -Evenimentul Zilei Nr. 4989, 20 Februarie 2007
  4. A Look Back… The National Committee for Free Europe, 1949
  5. Hearst Magazines (February 1956). Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. p. 151. ISSN 0032-4558.
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