The New York Times (NYT) also reports on the events in the GDR. Starting on June 17, the NYT publishes a front-page article about the “anti-government demonstration” or the “anti-communist protests” almost every day. These articles were published alongside reports about the Korean War, the execution of the Rosenbergs as Soviet spies and more geopolitical topics, all of which portray the spread of communism as a serious threat.

On June 19, the NYT publishes a picture of men throwing rocks at a Soviet tank, with the caption “David and Goliath.” With this caption, the NYT refers to the Biblical story of the young, brave shepherd David and his fight against the arrogant giant Goliath. David’s courage is rewarded: armed with only a slingshot, he kills the experienced warrior Goliath. It is this event which decides the war in the Israelites’ favor.

In the struggle between two ideologically opposed systems, the NYT’s message is clear: David’s fight is depicted as a turning point in the war, just as the uprising in the GDR is against the SED dictatorship. In the end, it will not be communism that prevails, but instead the people who free themselves from the yoke of the communist system.