Crusade Report 1951
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Description:
he "Crusade for Freedom" was sponsored by the "National Committee for a Free Europe, Inc"., an organization which operated Radio Free Europe as an independent counterpart of the government operated Voice of America. The Campaign was launched by General Eisenhower on Labor Day, 1950, with General Lucius D. Clay, former military governor of Germany, as its national chairman. The purpose of the Campaign was to offer all Americans an opportunity to play a personal part in a demonstration of the "free world's determination to resist Communist aggression."Activities sponsored by the Campaign include a drive to secure signatures on a Freedom Scroll, which was enshrined in the Crusade's Freedom Bell in Berlin; fund raising for Radio Free Europe; and "Winds of Freedom," an operation which launched thousands of balloons carrying millions of leaflets into Czechoslovakia and Poland.However, the "Crusade for Freedom" was later publicly discovered to be conduit for the Central Intelligence Agency to both secure & launder money for their radio networks, as well as provide a positive spin and its activities in eastern Europe. Although the Crusade for Freedom never raised enough money to actually fund Radio Free Europe (it could only finance a third of its budget), its advertising slogans such as "Help Truth Fight Communism," along with parades, public forums, and other events, served to mobilize support for America's cold war policies.At some point during the group's time, the organization produced, as an award of sorts, small sections of barded wire, encased in lucite, from 'The Iron Curtain' to present to donors and others associated with their activities. This is one of those lucite displays. It reads: " This authentic barded wire from The Iron Curtain is awarded in recognition of distinguished service to Crusade For Freedom". Contact footage@avgeeks.com if you wish to license this film for stock footage.
Complete Record: he "Crusade for Freedom" was sponsored by the "National Committee for a Free Europe, Inc"., an organization which operated Radio Free Europe as an independent counterpart of the government operated Voice of America. The Campaign was launched by General Eisenhower on Labor Day, 1950, with General Lucius D. Clay, former military governor of Germany, as its national chairman. The purpose of the Campaign was to offer all Americans an opportunity to play a personal part in a demonstration of the "free world's determination to resist Communist aggression."Activities sponsored by the Campaign include a drive to secure signatures on a Freedom Scroll, which was enshrined in the Crusade's Freedom Bell in Berlin; fund raising for Radio Free Europe; and "Winds of Freedom," an operation which launched thousands of balloons carrying millions of leaflets into Czechoslovakia and Poland.However, the "Crusade for Freedom" was later publicly discovered to be conduit for the Central Intelligence Agency to both secure & launder money for their radio networks, as well as provide a positive spin and its activities in eastern Europe. Although the Crusade for Freedom never raised enough money to actually fund Radio Free Europe (it could only finance a third of its budget), its advertising slogans such as "Help Truth Fight Communism," along with parades, public forums, and other events, served to mobilize support for America's cold war policies.At some point during the group's time, the organization produced, as an award of sorts, small sections of barded wire, encased in lucite, from 'The Iron Curtain' to present to donors and others associated with their activities. This is one of those lucite displays. It reads: " This authentic barded wire from The Iron Curtain is awarded in recognition of distinguished service to Crusade For Freedom". Contact footage@avgeeks.com if you wish to license this film for stock footage.
Transcription
[Music] almost within the shadow of London's Big Ben late last summer British Mastercraft when we're putting the finishing touches on a new bell destined to become one of the famous bells of History the world Freedom Bell just as another famous symbol of Freedom our own Liberty Bell had done before it this great Bell headed across the ocean on a mission unprecedented in history The Crusade for freedom from its start the Crusade was blessed by the labor of free men unstintingly given for to cast the freedom Bell according to schedule Britain's foundrymen had voluntarily worked up to 90 hours a [Music] week in September the Bell arrived in New York to open the Crusade to demonstrate to all the world America's True aims of freedom and friendship for All Peoples as the freedom Bell toured the nation to be greeted Everywhere by Americans who wanted to do something for Freedom a 100,000 volunteers recruited signatures for the freedom scroll it reads I believe in the sacredness and dignity of the individual I believe that all men derive the right to Freedom equally from God I pledge to resist aggression and tyranny wherever they appear on Earth the Cross Country tour ended in San Francisco and the bell was returned to New York bound from behind the Iron Curtain 16 million Americans had signed the freedom scroll to lift the Iron Curtain everywhere their signatures together with the Bell itself were to go to a permanent Freedom Shrine in Berlin appropriately the Bell AR in Germany aboard the general blatchford which had carried nearly 14 ,000 displaced persons to freedom and attack in Western Berlin great crowds turned out to see it raised to the Tower of the West Berlin City [Music] Hall at last the freedom Bill whose inscription reads that this world under God shall have a new birth of Freedom reached its permanent sight on the fifth birthday of the United Nations 400,000 berliners 100,000 of them from the Russian sector jammed into the City Hall Plaza to hear General Lucius d clay leader of the famous Berlin Air now chairman of the Crusade for Freedom dedicate the world Freedom Bell it is in a spirit of deep reverence that we dedicate the world Freedom Bell today we dedicate it to the Eternal honor of all those who have given their lives in the cause of Freedom may it voice lift the hearts of Freedom loving people everywhere now as it sends forth its message of freedom and Faith let all of us wherever we may be rededicate ourselves and join together in silent prayer that this world under God shall be [Music] free [Music] 6 months later in Munich The Crusade struck another dramatic blow for Freedom opening a new radio free Europe broadcasting station the studios and transmitter had been built in just 6 months a prodigious undertaking accomplished by free German labor In The Same Spirit as the British foundrymen had cast The Bell other free Germans proudly guard the studios [Music] the dedication ceremonies which took place on April 30th featured a r fest the traditional German celebration of the completion of the brick work highlight of the red Fest attended by all who have worked on the building is a humorous toast delivered by the chief Carpenter suitably dressed for the [Music] occasion on behalf of the radio free Europe organization president CD Jackson congratulates the workers and thanks them for each man who labored on these Studios did so under communist threats of death to himself and his family next day May 1st a holiday the Communists like to call their own the news station is dedicated in a Munich Hotel Irving Brown AF ofl European representative proclaims the Free Labor world look forward to a 1 of May when we will all be celebrating together both in East and in West a world holiday of Freedom long live this future day of Freedom everywhere in the world Mr Brown is followed by Mr Jackson Mr Clooney Dr Schuster members of RF and ladies and gentlemen the road of History has many many Milestones but only a few of them emerge as decisive in the history of mankind and I think that today is such a milestone so in the name of the National Committee for a free Europe in the name of the Crusade for freedom in the name of Radio free Europe and in the name of all of those who have put their hands and their heads and their hearts into this superb instrument of freedom I hereby dedicate this station to the victory of humanity over inhumanity as this new Radio free Europe station financed by 16 million Americans contributions to last year's Crusade for freedom is dedicated 15 M away at Holz Kiren its transmitter prepares to go on the air it's closely guarded against communist Sabotage by special West German police this 135,000 watt transmitter three times more powerful than any radio station in the United States is being the Czechoslovakia it broadcasts on a medium Wave band so checks can hear it on any ordinary radio over it for 11 and 1/2 hours each day Radio free Europe answers red lies with the truth and undermines the tyrannical Communist Regime its broadcasters are Czech and Slovak Patriots speaking to their captive countrymen but this is only the beginning General clay now asks all Americans to take part in a second great Crusade for freedom to provide funds for two more powerful stations like this one now last year's Crusade reaches its climax as the power is turned on for the first program to [Music] czechoslovak The Voice of Freedom is on the air as Radio free Europe begins telling the truth to Czech of Slovakia The Crusade for Freedom strikes a powerful new blow for Liberty behind the iron couldn't
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