Key Points for Propaganda[1]

(November 4, 1943)

1. The statement in Stalin’s May Day order and the Central Committee’s July 7 declaration that Hitler will be defeated this year should be explained as follows. Defeating Hitler requires not only the efforts of the Soviet Union but also the efforts of Britain and the United States. However, in the past period, because only the Soviet Union alone resisted Hitler and his European partners, and Britain and the United States did not fulfill their promise made in 1942 to open a second front, Hitler was still able to continue his offensives and has not yet been defeated. Now Hitler’s second summer offensive against the Soviet Union has collapsed, which is the result of the Soviet Union fighting alone. Henceforth, the task of the world anti-fascist front is to launch an offensive against the fascist front and finally defeat fascism. This year’s October Revolution Day marks the turning point of the entire anti-fascist front from defense to offense and is especially worthy of celebration. 2. In order to sabotage our autumn harvest, the Japanese aggressors are carrying out a large-scale autumn “mopping-up” campaign throughout northern China. Our Eighth Route Army and the people of northern China are waging heroic anti-“mopping-up” battles and will certainly smash the Japanese aggressors’ plans. Propaganda in all base areas during the current period should focus on encouraging the people to coordinate with the army in smashing the enemy’s offensives, defending the autumn harvest, striking against the enemy and puppet forces’ “nibbling” policy, and expanding our base areas.

[1] This is the main content of the “Key Points for Propaganda” drafted by Mao Zedong for the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee.