The article analyzes the state of Russian citizens, caught by the World War
in Germany and Austria-Hungary in August 1914. It studies a controversial attitude of the
authorities and local citizens to Russians and the main reasons that changed their position
by the early September, 1914. A significant role of the plot about the «ordeals» of Russian
citizens in the Central Powers in creating the image of the enemy in press and public
opinion of Russia during the First World War has been proved.
Keywords
Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary, World War I, Russian tourists, the image of the enemy.