-- -- Brigata Nera -- --

PRE-1933 POSTERS

This poster announces a Nazi meeting in Munich in May 1920. Hitler is to speak on the topic "What do we want?" The text below the title reads: "Citizens! Do not believe that the Germany of misfortune and misery, the nation of corruption and usury, the land of Jewish corruption, can be saved by parties that claim to stand on a foundation of facts. Never!" Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This is a typical early Nazi poster from 1921. The first Nazi posters has bright red backgrounds and a lot of text. This one announces that Hitler will speak, gives the topic, and notes that Jews are prohibited from attending. In Mein Kampf, Hitler wrote:
"We chose red for our posters, since it is vivid and was the color that most aroused our opponents. It forced them to notice and remember us."
This poster seems to be dated 1924, a period during which the Nazi Party was banned after the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch. The caption is: "Germany's Liberation." It likely came from one of the substitute parties Nazis founded to continue the movement while the Nazi Party was illegal. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks
This poster was by "Mj�lnir," Goebbels' artist from Berlin, whose real name was Hans Schweitzer (1901-1980). The caption translates as "Despite the ban, not dead." Its date must be 1928, a period when most party activities in Berlin were banned. This striking poster apparently was not used. The Nazi book I take it from claims that it was previously unpublished.
I think this dates to 1927, when Hitler was prohibited from speaking in most of Germany. The text translates:
"Who is Adolf Hitler? The man from the people, for the people! The German front soldier who risked his life in 48 battles for Germany! What does Adolf Hitler want? Freedom and food for every decent working German! The gallows for profiteers, black marketeers and exploiters, regardless of religious faith or race! Why is Adolf Hitler not allowed to speak? Because he is ruthless in uncovering the rulers of the German economy, the international bank Jews their lackeys, the Democrats, Marxists, Jesuits and Free Masons! Because he wants to free the workers from the domination of race! Working Germans! Demand the lifting of the illegal ban on his speaking!
Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This is a poster for the 1928 Reichstag election. The Dawes Plan was an international agreement dealing with the matter of German reparations payments from World War I. The caption reads: "Break the Dawes Chains." Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
Another 1928 election poster. The caption reads: "Two million dead. Did they die in vain? Never! Front soldiers! Adolf Hitler is showing you the way!" The claim is that Hitler will redeem Germany from the loss of World War I. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
The Nazis viewed this as one of their best posters. It too is by Mj�lnir. The caption translates: "National Socialism: The Organized Will of the Nation." Goebbels claimed that Mj�lnir perfected the art of drawing the Nazi Storm Trooper.
This poster is from the September 1930 Reichstag election, in which the Nazis made their electoral breakthrough. the caption: "The people rise! They vote List 9". Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This is also from the September 1930 Reichstag election. The caption: "Freedom and Bread." Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
I am not sure of the date of this poster, but I'd guess 1930. The text reads:
The Red War. Mother or Comrade? Man or Machine? God or the Devil? Blood or God? Race or Bastard? Popular music or jazz? National Socialism or Bolshevism?
Courtesy of Robert D. Brooks.
I am not sure of the exact date of this poster, which comes from the 1930-1932 period. The caption is: "Death to Lies." A strong Nazi fist grips a snake with "Marxism" and "High Finance" on it. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This is a 1931 poster on a referendum to dissolve the Prussian parliament. The caption reads: "Come out for the Referendum on 9 August." Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
I am not sure of the date of this poster, which was produced for local groups to use in advertising their meetings. The poster reads: "Come to the NSDAP Meeting." There is room to fill in the date, time and speaker. At the bottom, there are the following notes:
Admission Price:
War injured and the unemployed half price
Jews not admitted
Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
I think this Mj�lnir poster is from 1932. The caption: "Enough! Vote Hitler!" Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This Mj�lnir poster comes from the March/April 1932 presidential elections. The text in red at the top translates as:
Grzesinski [the head of the Berlin Police] says: "How shameful is is for the German people that this foreigner Hitler . . . can speak about Germany's future . . . without someone chasing this man away with a dog whip!"
Below the text reads: "Front soldiers. German men and women!! Give the answer! Hitler Reich President!" The point is that, until just before the election in 1932, Hitler was an Austrian citizen. The poster suggests that as a decorated soldier n the German army, the complaint is absurd. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
I think this is also from 1932. It too deals with Hitler's citizenship. The caption: "A front soldier earns his German citizenship. All German front soldiers who, like Adolf Hitler, earned and proved their citizenship through blood and the risk of their lives, read the 'V�lkischer Beobachter,' the newspaper of their comrade Adolf Hitler. Fight for the truth! Death to the lie! Each German man and woman will vote for Adolf Hitler!" Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This poster comes from the 1932 presidential elections, but I am not sure which round. The caption on top, in pseudo-Hebraic lettering, translates as: "We are voting for Hindenburg!" The pictures are of a variety of socialists and communists. The caption beneath: "We are voting for Hitler!" The pictures are of leading Nazis. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
I think this dates to the Spring 1932 presidential elections, but I'm not absolutely sure. The caption: ""Workers of the mind and hand! Vote for the front soldier Adolf Hitler!" Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This too looks to be from the 1932 presidential elections. The caption: "We are for Adolf Hitler!" Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This poster comes from the April 1932 German presidential election, a run-off between Hitler and Hindenburg. The top reads: One man against the party cadavers and special interests!" To the left is a picture of a huge Hitler head towering over the 11 million who voted for him in the first round of the election in March 1932. To the left are the various parties that together made up Hindenburg's supporters. At the bottom the caption reads: "Give your vote to the man of strength � Hitler."
The author of the standard Nazi book on posters did not like this one. He writes:
"Hitler's head looks like a soft-focused picture of an American film actor. This picture destroys the effect. 'A man of strength' must look like the F�hrer in the poster 'We are taking the fate of the nation in our hands.' [See below] ... as our F�hrer really appears. The only explanation for this picture is that it was aimed at women. Women, who make up a major part of the electorate, as is well known, are more influenced by superficialities."
This 1932 poster for the March presidential election gives an entirely different impression of Hitler. Dressed in a suit rather than his party uniform, he is saying: 'We are taking the fate of the nation in our hands!" At the bottom, "Hitler becomes Reich President."
The author of the book cited above thinks this is a good poster, but notes that many women did not like it because:
"They thought Hitler's expression was too contorted and the general layout too communist."
He also notes that Hitler's hand is poorly drawn, and that the poster "promises" success in the election, which aroused false hopes in supporters, hopes dashed when Hitler failed to win.
I think this dates to the Spring 1932 presidential elections, but I'm not absolutely sure. The caption reads: "Germans! Give your answer to the System! Elect Hitler!" "The System" was the pejorative Nazi term for the Weimar Republic. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This is a poster for a 1932 meeting by Julius Streicher, the leading Nazi Jew-baiter. The topic translates as: "The Jews are our Misfortune!"
A poster for the July 1932 Reichstag election. The caption says: "The workers have awakened!" Various other parties are trying to persuade the worker to side with them, without success. The small chap in the center with the red hat represents the Marxists (note the Jew whispering in his ear). His piece of paper says: "Nazi barons! Emergency decrees. Lies and slanders. The big-wigs are living high on the hog, the people are wretched."
During the Weimar Republic, a party's position on the ballot depended on its strength. The higher the position on the list, the better the party had done in previous elections.
From the July 1932 Reichstag election. The text translates as:
"Open the door to freedom! Put a strong man at the helm! Out of the swamp! Forward with the powers of renewal! Vote National Socialist List 2"
From the July 1932 Reichstag election. The poster shows a Nazi pile driver hitting the party's opponents. The gentlemen in black represents the Catholic Center Party, the one to the right the Marxist parties. The poster suggests the two are tied together in an unholy alliance against National Socialism. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
From the July 1932 Reichstag election. The text translates as:"We women vote for List 2: the National Socialists."
From the July 1932 Reichstag election. The text translates as:"Over 300 National Socialists died for you � murdered by Marxist subhumanity!!! For work and food vote Adolf Hitler List 2." The reference is to Nazis killed during the political battles on the streets and in political meetings. The Christian imagery is clear. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This 1932 poster makes the claim: "Only Hitler". I'm not sure which election this one is from.
This interesting poster appeared in 1932. The usual approach with posters is to use color to make them stand out. This one stands out because of Hitler's disembodied face floating on a black background.
This poster was by "Mj�lnir," It is from 1932, probably from the November Reichstag election, but I am not absolutely sure.
I'm not sure of the date of this Mj�lnir poster. The caption: "Germany Awakes!" Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This poster comes from the November 1932 Reichstag election. The text: "Free the soil. Farmers vote for Adolf Hitler List 1." Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks
This poster comes from the November 1932 Reichstag election. The text: "The people vote for List 1: The National Socialists." Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks
"Work and Food," this poster says. It was used for the November 1932 Reichstag election. The Nazis viewed this as one of their most effective posters.
This is another November 1932 poster: "Hitler Builds." Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
The caption of this poster for November 1932 reads: "We are building the new Germany. Think on their sacrifice. Vote National Socialist." The poster emphasizes that many of Hitler's followers were injured or killed in political battles. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
Yet another November 1932 poster. The caption: "Work and food through National Socialism." Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
Another poster on the same theme, this one featuring a Storm Trooper. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.