GermanNazi Propaganda Posters n n Posters were an

German/Nazi Propaganda Posters n n Posters were an important propaganda tool. The imagery helped “plant” suggestions in people’s minds. You are about to see EIGHT classic posters from the Nazi era. Work in pairs to see if you can spot the things they are trying to suggest. HINT: Nothing was ever put in the posters by accident. Everything carried a message.

Slide #1 [The Eternal Jew: grand political exhibition at the German Museum in Munich beginning November 8, 1937]

Slide #2 'Your Own Kd. FCar' poster, 1939 ©

Slide #3 “The seed of peace, not dragon's teeth” cartoon of Hitler, from the magazine Kladderadatsch, 22 March 1936 ©

Slide #4 German Students Fight for Hitler and Nation

Slide #5 This poster probably dates to the mid-1930's. The text: "Support the assistance program for mothers and children. "

Slide #6 "[If] You need advice or help, turn to your 'local group. ”

Slide #7 I'm not sure of the date on this poster, but it's probably from the mid to late 1930's. The caption: "We build body and soul. "

Slide #8 The text: "Long live Germany!. " after 1936 (? )

OK – go to work! In groups, try to “find” what messages are being conveyed.

n a s i e Her ple… m a x e

The Crusader w/ cross – based in the belief that Christ would return to earth for a 1000 year period. (the white saint? ) The connection of the Nazi soldier and the Crusader Multi-headed red snakes – stars of David, Protocols of Zion, KDP=Christian Democratic Party, SDP=Social Democratic Party, RF=Republican Front? Nazi propaganda often portrayed WWII as a war for Christianity. Arm around Nazi soldier The Multi-headed dragon is a well-known image from Christianity – St. George and the Dragon (good v. evil/Satanic forces). The white countryside with a cross on its side – Nazism found its roots in the peasantry/agriculture Crusader = St. Michael slaying the 3 -headed dragon (direct/saintly connection to God ? ? ? ) The soldier (uniform - authority, Swastika on belt) “draped” in the robe w/ the Swastika (powerful symbol)

Your turn… Look for all the blatant and subtle messages.

Eternal Jew He is hunched over – suggests Jews are not normal (demonic in appearance – “spawn of the devil; killers of Christ) The hand is begging for money – Jews were accused of greed (money lenders w/ extortionist interest rates) There is a hammer and sickle on a map of the western part of the USSR – suggests a link between Jews and Communism * He is holding a whip. He is a ‘slave-driver’ The print type is somewhat hieroglyphic, occult, and satanic-looking (Hebraic form of German – implying Jewish control of Germany) * There is some debate what is in his hand. . . some have said land, others have said a heart (look at the shape). . . in other words taking the heart out of good loyal Germans. The poster for the 'Eternal Jew' exhibition, 1937 ©

Your Own Car The woman is blond haired and dressed conservatively. This is a typical Nazi view of women (no make up/natural look – white teeth) The VW beetle was designed by Otto Porsche & Hitler The mountains suggest a link between Germans and the rural ideal (also symbolize the pure Nordic roots of Nazism) Nazi policies are associated with wealth and a good lifestyle 'Your Own Kd. F-Car' poster, 1939 © They are obviously happy with this lifestyle

The seed of peace not dragon’s teeth There is an angel. This suggests that German greatness is a positive thing and not a threat Hitler is walking on a map of Europe, eastward The imagery is quite deliberate. It is based on a parable in the Bible in which a man sows seeds. Suggests a link between Hitler and God Hitler = Jesus “The seed of peace, not dragon's teeth” cartoon of Hitler, from the magazine Kladderadatsch, 22 March 1936 © The archangel Gabriel – announcing a new order?

The Nazi flag is prominently displayed. Blonde hair, athletic, fit, strong, good looking This young man is blonde haired and welldressed. This is a typical Nazi view of young men A sense of power is conveyed. The word, “Kampft”struggle or fight. The word “VOLK” (folk) (people) is used. All students were forced to join the Hitler Youth – Boy Scouts declared a Jewish plot. German Students Fight for Hitler and Nation

Nazi party Symbol (NJ = National Socialist Jugend – youth movement) Role of the woman is to be a mother (blonde, strong, bear children) Farming in background – church in background Hitler pointed out that unemployment in 1933 was equivalent to the number of women who came into the workforce since 1914. Average family size was supposed to have 4 children. Peasants were the backbone of society. Sun = halo It promotes the Nazi charitable organization (the NSV). The text: "Support the assistance program for mothers and children. "

The caption loosely translates as, "The National Socialist Party will save the people's community. The people's community will then turn to you and the party. " Posters of this type illustrate the disconnect between the party rhetoric and the reality of party policy. The “strong” eagle (power) – almost a “wing of an angel” (protecting this family) The Aryan Family (white, blonde, blue-eyed, happy) (farm family) The idea of a "Volksgemeinschaft, " a community of the people, had a very powerful, very idealistic appeal, comparable to the idealistic appeal that some communist groups were attempting to make at the same time. The analogy is suggested by the use of the word "Volksgenossen, " literally "comrades, " a term widely used by the Soviet Communist Party at the time. The slogan on the poster reads "[If] You need advice or help, turn to your 'local group. ” In other words, the suggestion is "We are here to help. "

Strong/fit youth (blonde, blue-eyed) – the future of Germany Conveys the message of Germany being united The goal of the Reich Labor Force was to train and teach through regimented exercise, work and sports (train young men for the military). It promotes the Nazi labor service, for which men were expected to volunteer. The caption: "We build body and soul. "

after 1936 This poster makes a direct Christological comparison. Just as a dove descended on Christ when he was baptized by John the Baptist, so what looks to be an eagle hovers against the light of heaven over an idealized Hitler. The text: "Long live Germany!. " A strong, numerous, and united Germany – power granted from God. Oak leaf border = symbol of strength and longevity in Nazi iconography Sun = halo

The End "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it people will eventually come to believe it. " -- Joseph Goebbels Nazi Propaganda Minister

“We have made the Reich by propaganda. ” ~ Joseph Goebbels (1897 -1945) German politician, minister of propaganda, member of Hitler’s cabinet council

Two propaganda versions of Adolf Hitler show the German dictator from opposite viewpoints. A pro-Hitler poster, left, portrays him as a heroic warrior crowned with a halo of light. An anti-Hitler cartoon, right, pictures him as a ridiculous, loudmouthed tyrant. (U. S. Army Center of Military History; National Archives, Collection U. S. Office of War Information)

Propaganda today? Red Meat and Red Faces Newsweek, June 27, 1988 @. 1984 SCOTT. FORESMAN & COMPANY Courtesy Fleming Companies Fleming, which has distributed the posters to IGA, Thriftway, Piggly Wiggly, United Super and hundreds of other supermarkets across the country, says that the striking resemblance is only coincidence. “We’re not trying to send out any subliminal Nazi messages, ” says spokesperson Cheryl Hudak.

Comments/Questions? ? ? Mark L. Lagergren Central High School 531 Morse Street Norwood Young America, MN 55368 mlagergren@central. k 12. mn. us 952. 467. 7100 Thanks everyone – I have enjoyed meeting you and learning w/ you! Stay in touch! M. Lagergren