This collection is from the internet. And was produced in 2005 for an American history class, and though I have not edited it entirely, my input has been to edit out some glaring faults, and added extras in italics. Background: This is a collection of Nazi posters from 1933-45. Many are taken from photographs made by Dr. Robert D. Brooks at the German Federal Archives in Koblenz. A collection of pre-1933 posters is also available. I have gathered the remainder from a wide range of sources.
This poster is from the March 1933 1933 Reichstag election, the last one in which Germans had a choice. The poster shows shows President Hindenburg Hindenburg and Chancellor Hitler. Hitler. The caption: “The Reich will never never be destroyed if you are united and loyal.” loyal.” Courtesy Cour tesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks. Brooks.
Another March 1933 poster. The text: “In the deepest need Hindenburg chose Adolf Adolf Hitler for Reich Chancellor. [You [You too should vote for List] 1.” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
What is great about propaganda, is that it does not impart the values, morales or tactics of the enemy it is attacking... ...but rather imparts the values, morales and tactics of the people who have produced it. Despite claims to the otherwise, the Nazi party was never democratically elected to lead Germany. Germany. In every single democratic election they never won the minimum number to have the declared majority. Finally, to give their Thousand Year Year Reich legitimacy, Hitler Hitler,, using his powers granted by Hindenburg Hindenburg underMarshal Law (and only meant to be effective during Marshal Law - not after, after, which should have returned to democratic elections) suspended elections to replace non-Nazi members of the Reichstag, and instead appointed Nazis only only..
A 1933 poster advertising the lm S.A. Mann Brand.
A 1933 poster announcing an agricultural fair. It’s eight months after Hitler took power, and the Swastika is showing up everywhere. This poster is provided by J. Castillon.
This poster links the German Labor Front (the DAF) to World World War War I. The point is that just as soldiers were comrades regardless of their standing in civil life, so too all German workers were comrades in the DAF, regardless of whether they were white or blue collar. This appeared in 1933..
A 1930’s 1930’s poster announcing the national S.A. competition. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
A 1933 poster announcing Leni Riefenstahl’s lm of the 1933 Nuremberg Rally, Rally, a lm thought for years to have been lost, but copies do in fact exist.
This poster promotes Hitler’s book Mein Kampf, announcing that four million copies have been sold. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks. Incidentally Hitler was a tax cheat, he also unconstitutionally charged the post ofce money for each time they used his likeness (ie for each stamp), but to hide his vast wealth his accounts were in the name of one of his many secretaries sec retaries Martin Borman. After the war his accounts were rolled into one, which became the Bavaria Finance Company Company,, who nanced the lm ‘Das Boot’.
This visual from the mid-1930’s mid-1930’s shows Germany in white, with the 100,000-man army permitted by the t he Treaty of Versailles, Versailles, surrounded by heavily armed neighbors.
The Winter Aid (Winterhilfswerk ) was the Nazi Party charity. Each year there was a drive to solicit donations to help the needy. Contributions were not entirely “voluntary.” The text translates a s: “No one shall go hungry! No one shall be cold!” Photo courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
Joseph Goebels the Reichsminister of Propaganda Propaganda was responsible, responsible, if not for the creation of much of Germany’ss propaganda Germany’ propaganda as show cased here, here, at least cast his eyes over it. Ironically Ironically,, Goebels hated any direct approach approach to propaganda, and argued argued every step of the way with Hitler over the production of the lm “The Eternal Jew” [See the documentary “We “We Have Ways Of Making You You Think”]. Goebels appro approach ach to propaganda propaga nda is summed up by the fact that Walt Walt Disney was to him the ultimate propagandist, propagandist, especially his lm “Snow White”. To To him a good propaganda propaganda lm lm was not one that lead people people to think about political (or social) issues, but was one that made people leave the theatre too busy laughing to think about anything political or social at all, especially when their family were ghting ghting on the front front and food was becoming ever scarce. Goebels had a clubbed clubbed foot, and whilst he struggled to become become one of the rst Nazis to be elected in Berlin, forced himself to walk without a limp. He was sent to Berlin to gain power power to destroy the liberalism they saw there (the Nazis already in power such as Hermman Rauschnung [sp?] were representatives of Bavaria). It was as a result of his powers of persuasion over the Berlin Berlin voters that made Hitler apoint him as the party’s party’s propagandist. When Marlenne Dietrich refused to return to Germany, Goebels turned to a Swede, Sara Leander to take her roles, and during a lunch Goebels asked “Sara, that’s that’s a Jewish name, is it not?” to which she replied “Yes, yes I believe it is, as is Joseph, if I’m not mistaken” which to the dismay of the others present he burst out laughing saying “I like this woman!” *. Oddly, for all the Nazi ideal of the perfect woman, Goebels shunned the attention of blonde women, and only had brunette mistresses. Many people forget forget that London, New York York and Berlin were broadcasting broadcasting television programs programs (though limited in scale) before the war. war. Germany had introduced it for the Berlin hosting of the Olympic Oly mpic Games. Even though Lene Reifenstahl lmed to make make an epic (as it turned out double epic) lm of of the event [see the documentary “Lene Reifenstahl: A Wonderful, Wonderful, Horrible Life”, the cameramen also shot shorts, that were rushed to on-site mobile photographic studios to be beamed out on television. tel evision. Oddly enough, though she was a ardent ardent Nazi supporter, supporter, Lene Reifenstahl kept a piece of lm in her possession showing Hitler having a psychotic episode at the swimming event. [See the documentary by Guido Knopp “Hitler ’s Women Women - Lene Reifenstahl”]. The narrator comments on how all the t he Germans around him continue to enjoy the games as though nothing unusual is happening - an indication this must have been a fairly regular regular event to experience in his presence. Towards the end of the war, war, the news was becoming so grim, Goebels started start ed a new type of news, that did not report on daily events as they happened, but show cased ordinary German citizens having goodclean-wholesome fun. Thus was born “Panorama”, a newsreel that survived well into the 1960’ 1960’ss even in England. Hitler himself had a sense of humour (that despite legend included included sexual innuendoes - as evident in his speech to the Reichstag ...”They [The English] ask ‘When does does he come?’, and I say ‘I’m coming!...I’m coming!”) Spitze, a member of his SS Bodyguard was asked why Hitler had watched Charlie Chaplin’s Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” for a second time after he had already seen it a few days earlier and had banned it, repplied that Hitler found it hilariously funny, especially the scenes between his own character and that of Mussolini - trying to out-do each other, other, particularly the scene s cene with the barber ’s chairs. *
A French poster for the Great Dictator.
This poster encouraged sacricial sacricia l contributions to the Winter Aid. The text translates: “Don’t give. Sacrice.” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
A poster promoting the German railway system. This l ooks to be from the 1930’ 1930’s. s. This poster courtesy of J. Castillon.
This poster dates to the 29 March 1936 referendum. The text reads: “No German must freeze. 11.5 million cubic meters of coal have been provided by the Winter Relief. That is 4 times the volume of the Great Pyramid of Cheops. That is one of the Führer’s accomplishments. Give him your vote!” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This poster is also from the 1936 referendum. The text says that German construction expenditures rose from 10.9 billion Marks in 1932 to 14.5 billion in 1935. “That is what Adolf Hitler has done for German craftsmen. All classes vote on 29 March for freedom, peace and construction.” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This poster probably comes from fr om the mid-1930’s. The The caption: “Hitler is building. Help him. Buy German goods.”
I’d guess this one is from the mid-1930’s. The caption: “Through military will to military strength.”
Under the Treaty of Versailles, Versailles, the Saar was placed under French administration, pending a referendum to be held in 1935. This poster encouraged Germans to be aware of the upcoming referendum. The text translates: “1935 — Saar Referendum! Refere ndum! We We in the Saar are loyal — We stand for honor and the Fatherland. Fatherl and. Are you thinking of us?” Courtesy of Dr Dr.. Robert D. Brooks.
This poster is from the mid-1930’s. The caption: “Germany is free!” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This poster is from the 1930’s, and encourages Germans to buy domestic rather than imported goods. The top translates as “Germans buy German goods.” The bottom text translates: “German Week/German Week/German Goods/German Labor Labor.” .”
The text translates: “All Germany hears the Führer on the People’s Receiver.” The Nazis, eager to encourage radio listenership, developed an inexpensive radio receiver to make it possible for as many as possible to t o hear Nazi propaganda. Courtesy of Dr. Dr. Robert D. Brooks. This particular party subsidised receiver only had a limeted number of present radio frequencies to recieve, all naturally were Nazi controlled stations. All other stations were banned (under the death penalty during the war), war), except for the very few of the inner elite who had a beautiful wooden radio with double door cabenet and a mutiple band hand operated tuner for all the worlds radio bands (with all the major cities listed) .
This poster probably dates to the mid-1930’s. It promotes the Nazi charitable organization (the NSV). The text: “Support the assistance program for mothers and children.”
This poster promoted education. The caption: “Adolf Hitler’s youth attends community schools.” I’m not sure of the date, but probably the mid-1930’s. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
A tourist poster promoting the German highway system. This is from the 1930’s.
This 1936 poster urges people to vote for Hitler by noting what he has done to promote automobile ownership in Germany. The caption: “The Führer promised to motorize Germany Germany.. In 1932, 104,000 motor vehicles were manufactured, 33,000 people were employed, and goods with a total value of 295,000,000 marks were produced. In 1935, 353,000 vehicles were manufactured, Over 100,000 people were employed, and the value of goods produced was 1,150,000,000 marks. The Führer gave 250,000 people’s people’s comrades jobs in the auto industry and its suppliers. German people: people: Thank the Führer on 29 29 March! Give him your vote!” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
The Nazis staged a massive exhibition of “degenerate art” in Munich in 1937. Rather awkwardly, it drew more visitors than the exhibit of approved art. This poster announces the exhibition. A book on the exhibition is Stephanie Barron, “Degenerate Art”: The Fate of the Avant-Garde Avant-Garde in Nazi Germany (Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1991).
This poster urged a “Yes” vote on one of the four referendums Hitler called ca lled during the 1930’s. I believe this is for the April 1938 referendum, but am not entirely sure.
A similar referendum poster. The text: “Führer, we will follow you.” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
Another referendum poster from 1938. The text: “Y “Yes es on 10 April.” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
Another referendum poster from 1938. The text: “Greater Germany: Yes Yes on 10 April.” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
The Reich Colonial League was a Nazi Party afliate propagandizing for the return of Germany’s former African colonies. The caption translates tra nslates as: “The Reich Colonial League Calls Cal ls to You You Too!” Too!” The poster probably dates to the 1930’s. 1930’s. The organisation was rather a union for the so called veterans of the Empire days, and included industrialists, diplomats, soldiers and police ofcers of the colonies. The Southern Cross emblem was to represent one of the African colonies (from where it was visible). It was kept by the police unit when it returned to Germany. Under the Verssai Verssai Treaty of WWI, Germany was to have only a small army, and yet needed not only to stop Moscow f rom gaining control control of German politics, but to protect its own boarders from Poland, Poland, and to stop Moscow from gaining inuence in a number of neighbouring countries (such as Lithuania) Germany set up extra divisions called calle d ‘Freikorps’ who would disarm once peace was restored. Other combat units, intended to remain on hand at all times until they could be returned to the Army proper were were called ‘Police Units’, of which one became know as Regiment Regiment General Göring, which incorporated the African police unit, and so continued to c arry the Southern Cross emblem on their ag, and arm sleeves until the emblem was ceremoniously returned to the Reich Colonial League.
A 1937 poster announcing an agricultural fair in Kiel. This poster was provided by J. Castillon.
This is a poster used to advertise local Nazi meetings with slide shows. The Gaubildstelle was the party ofce that arranged such shows, of which there were many. There is space to ll in the time, location, speaker and topic. I’m not sure of the date on this one, but I’d guess the 1930’s
This is a another poster used to advertise local Nazi meetings. There is space to ll in the time, location, speaker and topic. I’d guess this is from the 1930’s.
This poster promotes the NSKOV NSKOV,, the Nazi organization for veterans. The caption: “Comrades at the front — Comrades for life. Advice Advice and assistance in all areas of need.” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This 1938 poster was issued iss ued shortly after the t he Anschluß with Austria. The caption: “One People, One Reich, One Führer.”
This poster was also al so issued shortly after afte r the Anschluß with Austria. Austria. The caption: “One People, One Reich, One Führer.
I’m not sure of the date on this poster, but it’s probably from the mid to late 1930’ 1930’s. s. It promotes the Nazi labor service [akin [akin to the Australian Work Work For The Dole Dole]. ]. The caption: “W “Wee build body and soul.”
This poster is from the 1930’s, and promotes the Nazi monthly Neues Volk Volk (New People}, the organ of the party’s racial ofce. The The text reads: “This genetically ill person will cost our people’s people’s community 60,000 marks over his lifetime. li fetime. Citizens, that is your money. Read Neues Volk, Volk, the monthly of the racial policy ofce of the NSDAP.” In fact the Baeobachter was the ofcial Nazi paper (ironically the Nazis only ever paid the owner the deposit for the paper, paper, and he was forced forced to take legal action against them in vain. Not Not to take away from the horror of what happened in the Third Reich, but in the 1920’s and 1930’s several North American states led the way in eugenics, and and many more more people were forcibly forcibly sterilised there than had been in Germany before the second sec ond world war. war. The German eugenics ofce was housed in Tiergarten Strasse 4. The over zealousness led to such horrors as a small girl being killed purely because she was deaf. Children that were murdered murdered by Dr. Mengele were injected with a hyperdermic needle with an air bubble trapped inside that would kill by causing an embolism - their attention was drawn away from the needle by an assistant with a red balloon.
The 1939 Nuremberg Rally was to be the “Party Rally of Peace,” but it was canceled when World War War II began.
The text of this 1940 poster reads: “Y “Youth outh Serves the Führer Führer.. All 10-year-olds into the Hitler Youth.” Youth.” Membership in the Hitler Youth Youth had become mandatory in 1936.
This poster was released in summer 1940. German (SS) morale reports found that it was effective. The text translates as: “Smash the Enemies of Greater Germany!” A literal translation would be:” Into Dust with All Enemies of Greater Grea ter Germany.” This is a reference to Heinrich von Kleist’s The Prince of Homburg. In that play, a desperate Brandenburg, progenitor of Prussia, is saved from overwhelming threat from invading Swedes by the virtue of its campaigners, as well as its ruler. The nal line of the play: “Into the dust with all enemies of Brandenburg.” This information was provided by Andreas Andreas Ehlers of Hamburg. The poster is courtesy of Dr Dr.. Robert D. Brooks.
The caption: “The Jew: The inciter of war, the prolonger of war.” This poaster was released in late 1943 or early 1944. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks
This poster dates to early in the war. A farmer smashes the blockade. The Allied blockade of Germany during World World War War I had seriously hurt the war effort. The poster claims that Germany’s food supply is secure in the new war. The text: “Farmer! You You are a soldier in the battle batt le of production.” Courtesy of Dr Dr.. Robert D. Brooks.
This poster advertises a county rally of the Nazi Party from 1941 (a miniature version of the Nuremberg rally). A woman plows the eld while her husband ghts on the front.
This 1940 poster was part of the Nazi energy conservation campaign. The gure in black, the “coal thief,” was the symbol of wasted energy. energy. The text translates: “There he is again! He’s always hungry, hungry, his sack is always empty. Greedily he skulks around the oven, the stove or the dripping faucet. He sneaks around the window, the door or the light switch, stealing what he can. He steals from armaments production, which needs every little bit he steals from city and countryside. Catch him! Read more about it in the newspapers.”
The caption of this 1940 poster translates: “Victory is with our Flags.” 650,000 copies were distributed.
This is another WWII production poster from the winter of 1940-1941.. The text translates as: “Y “You ou are the front!” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This poster is probably from 1941. It’s a rather interesting one. The top translates as “Germany Must Die!” It exploits a 1941 book published in the U.S. by Theodore N. Kaufman titled Germany Must Perish, which advocated, among other things, the sterilization of the entire German population and the dismemberment of Germany as a nation. The map shown in the poster is in fact Kaufman’s proposal to distribute German territory to its neighbors. Although Kaufman was insignicant (he published his book himself), the Nazis presented it as ofcial Allied policy, policy, and claimed Kaufman was an inuential advisor to Roosevelt. Roosevelt.
This poster was issued i ssued around May 1942. The text translates translate s as: “This is how we ght. You, You, too, must work for victory victory.” .”
This poster probably dates to the late war years. The text translates as: “Infantry: The Queen of the Services.”
This poster by Mjölnir uses one of his favorite themes. An S.A. man stands next to a soldier. It looks to be from the war years, but I am not sure of the date. The text: “The guarantee of German military strength!” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
I am not sure of the date of this poster. The caption: “Be true to the Führer.” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
I am not certain of the date of this astonishing poster, although I am quite sure it is after 1936. This poster makes the most direct Christological comparison I’ve seen. Just as a dove descended on Christ when he was baptised by John the Baptist, so what looks looks to be an eagle hovers hovers against the light of heaven over an idealized Hitler. The text: “Long live Germany!.” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
A Mjölnir poster from around May 1942. The caption: “One battl e, one will, one goal: Victory at any cost!” Mjölnir (Hans Schweitzer [1901-1980]) survived the war and had a successful career as a graphic artist after 1945. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This is another common World War War II poster. The caption: “Adolf Hitler is victory!” It was withdrawn from circulation after the defeat at Stalingrad.
A poster to recruit air raid ra id wardens. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks. Like Brooks. Like many organisations organisations in Nazi Germany, Germany, it was not the sole organisation organisation that performed the role, role, it like many others had other organisationss that performed similar organisation si milar duties - this t his itself is the ‘Fuhrprinzip’ the Nazi-German expression of what it saw as the scienctic existance of the Darwinist struggle of life.
This Mjölnir poster appeared in February 1943, just after the defeat at Stalingrad. It was part of a major propaganda campaign with the theme “Victory “Victory or Bolshevist Chaos.” The party’s party’s propagandists were told to make sure the poster was posted by itself rather than next to other posters. The text translates as: “Victory or Bolshevism.” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks
The Germans worked to gather as much old material for the war effort as possible. This poster is for a 1943 clothing drive. The text translates as: “Get rid of old cloth and shoes!
This 1943 poster promotes a paper drive.
This poster is from 1943. It was issued by the Reichsarbeitsgemeinschaft Schadenverhütung, an organization that promoted safety. The caption: “Protect the harvest. It ensures victory!” A careless farmer ignites a re that, without the prompt intervention of a second person, could have led to disaster.
An advertisement for the German National Radio Radio Service which could be tuned in by any European European nation. As such it would broadcast broadcast news in foreign languages. The English news news was broadcast broadcast by William Joyce, Joyce, also known as ‘Lord Haw - Haw’, due to his peculiar drawl. After the war the British government called for tenders for people to hang him. Pierpont Pierpont Morgan Morgan was the son of a hangman, hangman, who as a child developed developed a special knot that would guarantee an instant death to the condemned [a humanitarian motive] - instead of strangulation - which could take a long time - it i t would snap the neck as the condemned’s condemned’s weight fell. A draw back was there existed a technicality that if one survived the noose, one could not be hung for the same offence, but no one ever walked away from Pierpont’s Pierpont’s rope, including the last man condemned in Bri tain, who later was found to be innocent.
This poster was issued during the summer of 1943. The text translates as: “Build Weapons Weapons for the Front.” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This looks to be a late-war recruiting poster [for the SS? SS ?], a time at which the Nazis were recruiting younger and younger soldiers. The caption doesn’t translate directly, but means: “Enlist now!” There is a similar poster for the SS [“Cluck Di!” if I remember remember rightly], but this poster does not visually or verbally relate to the SS, and could mean enlist in any military organisation. The boy is dressed in the Hitler Youth uniform, and in earlier days would have enlisted rst in the R.A.D. before the military.
This poster comes from the t he World World War War II period. The text translates tra nslates as: “Labor Comrade. You You work with us. Keep up your strength!” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
The text reads: “Unshakable, determined to ght, certain of victory!”
This poster dates from 1942-1943. Allied bombing of German cities had increased to the level that children in cities were being sent to the countryside for safety. The German term Kinderlandverschickung translates as “sending children to the countryside.” The poster encourages parents to register their children aged 3-14 for the program, which was not compulsory. compulsory.
This poster is from later in the war when Allied bombers were constantly over Germany. The text translates as: “The enemy sees your light! Black out!” The plane seems to be an attempt to represent a British Bristol Blenhem bomber, bomber, but the glassing actually looks more more like a German Heinkel He 11 111.
I am not certain of the date of this Mjölnir poster, but it looks to be 1943 or 1944. The caption translates as “One Battle, One Will, One Goal: Victory at any Price.” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This Fall1944 poster is by Mjölnir. The The Volksturm Volksturm was the Nazi Naz i attempt to call c all on the last la st reserves. Those too young or too old for regular military service were called into service. The caption translates as “For freedom and life.” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks. Another service open for young and old was the Wereheer (also known as the ‘Werewolves’ ‘Werewolves’ - for more on their ‘Hasenjagd’ “rabbit hunts”see Shifting Memories The Nazi Past in the New Germany by Klaus Klaus Neumann).
Finally, several Nazi posters aimed at foreign audiences. This one recalls the Russian massacre of Polish ofcers in Katyn Forest. I think it is in Slovakian, and translates as: “The forest of the dead at Katyn.” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks. For the Nazi autopsy of this massacre see the book Signal Hitler’s Hitler’s Wartime Magazine. Russia only admitted to the massacre during the Presidency of Borris Yeltsen.
An SS recruiting poster used in Norway. The The translation (provided by Eirik Solberg): “Come with us north” at the top, and “The Norwegian Skihunter [ sic - ‘rife’ ] Batallion” at the bottom. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
An SS recruiting poster used in the Netherlands. Netherla nds. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks. David Knapen provided this translation: “For your honor and conscience! Against Bolshevism. The Waffen-SS Waffen-SS calls you!”
This poster advertises the Nazi charity, the NSV. NSV. The text translates: “Health, child protection, ghting poverty,, aiding travellers, community, poverty community, helping mothers: These are the tasks of the National Socialist People’s Charity. Charity. Become a member!” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
I’d guess this one is from the 1935 Referendum, but I’m not positive. The caption: “Check the war-mongers of the world. Every vote for the Führer!” Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
A tourist poster announcing Germany’s accomplishments. I think this was from the 1937 Paris World World Fair. This poster was provided by J. Castillon. Germany had to rush it’s it’s exhibit for the 1937 fair at the last minute, as they had forgotten all about it. Just as in the poster poster,, the German exhibit had little (but was not totally without) the then modern Art Deco air, air, as it - along with Art Neuveux seemed to t o be decadent, not to mention have a smack of anti-establishment to the Nazis.
30 January 1943 was the 10th anniversary of the Nazi seizure of power. This poster suggests that the 1943 battle against the world is the continuation of the battle that led to Nazi victory in 1933. The caption: “30 January 1933-1943. One Battle! One Victory!” The poster is by “Mjölnir,” Goebbels’ artist from Berlin, whose real name was Hans Schweitzer(1901-1980), Schweitze r(1901-1980), and the theme is a takeoff on one of his pre-1933 posters. This poster was withdawn after Stalingrad.
Before World World War War II began, Germans Ger mans were allowed to listen to foreign radio ra dio broadcasts. This was banned once the war began, and by the end of the war people were executed for listing to enemy radio stations. In this poster, a Marxist looking chap broadcasts from London, Moscow, and other enemy states, while a German listens in the darkness, trying to conceal his crime.
Yet another spy poster from spring 1944: “The enemy is listening!” This one was in color, but the source I found it in was black and white.
Simple and to the point.
This poster from fall 1943 also encourages silence. The caption: “Shame on you, chatterer! The enemy is listening. Silence is your duty.” This was probably in color, but the source I found it in was black and white. A copy can be found in the Time Life series of The Second World World War War,, where I think the text is a pun on the noise ducks make.
I am not sure of the date of this poster, but it looks to be late in the war. The text translates as: “Mothers! Fight for your children!” Note that the mother portrayed has four children, consistent with the Nazi goal of encouraging as many births as possible.
An anti-spy poster from 1943. The barber is saying: “Well, I can tell you that...” The text at the bottom says: “The enemy is listening!” This was part of a major campaign with at least a half-dozen similar posters. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
From1944, the text: “The air terror continues. Mothers, send your children to safety!”
The Following Six Posters Background: I came across this set of six posters produced by the NSDAP Gauleitung Steiermark, part of Austria Austria then incorporated into Hitler’s Reich. The posters went out out with a late 1941 issue of a newsletter for propagandists, giving them detailed guidance on how to prepare for the campaign, which was aimed at complainers and those who failed to realize the greatness of life in Nazi Germany. Each poster would hang for two weeks, so the whole whole campaign ran three months. Newspapers promoted it, and those attending movie theaters saw slides of the posters before the lm began. The three area breweries even produced beer coasters with the caricatures on them. The goal was to make everyone aware of the two unpleasant central gures in the campaign, and encourage them to behave differently: “Wherever such a characer surfaces, the goal is that party members or other citizens present will refer to Herr Semperer or Frau Keppelmeier and bring ridicule down on them.” There was another poster that ran at the very end of the campaign, but I have not found that one. The source: “Herr Semperer und Frau Keppelmeier! Propagandaaktion gegen Gerüchtemacher und Meckerer im Gau Steiermark,” Der Propagandist. Mitteilungen des Gaupropagandaamtes Steiermark, November-December 1941, pp. pp. 6-8.
This poster introduced the two characters: Frau Keppelmeier and Herr Lemperer. The poem runs: Frau Keppelmeier, as one can see, Is deeply troubled as can be. Herr Lemperer, on the other hand, Eagerly hears the rumor she tells.
Herr Lemperer is not eager to donate to the Nazi Party’ Party’ss charity, the Winterhilfswerk, or WHW.: WHW.: Herr Lemperer, it’s very clear, Makes his “sacrice” so dear. “Hey,” he mutters, “I gives ma share!” Two cents is all that he can spare.
Frau Keppelmeier commits the crime (and it was a crime) of listing to British radio: At night Frau Keppelmeier turns her dial, And listens in on London. She sits there listening to lies, Happily being led astray.
Herr Lemperer, meanwhile, has advice for Hitler’s generals: Herr Lemperer is a strategist. The most important thing in any battle Is to make the right attack, he says. Any general could learn from him. One need only listen to him at the pub.
Frau Keppelmeier, meanwhile, is having trouble nding the things she needs: Frau Keppelmeier is most distressed. She can’t get the right perfume these days. And our youth, why they’re so immature, They’ve never heard of perfumed soap!
Herr Lemperer, meanwhile, is off in the countryside looking for black market foodstuffs: Herr Lemperer, meanwhile, complains so loudly. loudly. The trains, you see, are sometimes late. In such hard times, how can he then, Himself punctually ll his sack?
The following are sourced from other web sites, mostly concerned with the selling of Art Deco posters and such, the quality q uality is the best one can get for free. Most of them are not political posters as such, but are mainly advertisements. Some pre date the Third Reich era. er a.
The artist may be Wu Wurbel. rbel.
The artist may be Meyer.
1934
Jupp Wiertz Wiertz artist, 1936. Evident is how the Nazis have by now literally put their own stamp on everything German.
Whilst there are many German posters of this period with a great design, I nd the art of Anton to be the best. Anton (a shortening of his name, signed with a circle above the ‘A’)started poster design before the Nazis came to power, power, and continued to work work even through the war war (he has done some famous SS posters). He continued to make posters after the war. war. He made posters for the German airships, including the Graf Zepplin, which contains no Nazi Nazi markings. He did most of the Hindenburg Hindenburg posters, and his work can also be seen repeated on the brochures brochures and luggage labels of that infamous infamous airship.
