Since the establishment of communist power in the countries of the Soviet bloc, the newly‑founded institutions of censorship were aimed at creating or training the “new man” and developing self‑censorship among artists. Their aims were also to consolidate and then to maintain communist power. The censors had to approve all artistic or scientific publications, radio or television broadcasts, theater and film scenarios as well as exhibitions, they could supervise even the work from ministries, including decisions on the state secrets. Knowledge of the operating mechanism of communist censorship contributes to the profound understanding of social and cultural life from that period.