My WWII Propaganda Poster Collection

[Harry Caul]

Here is one I tracked down a while back -- really interesting as the paper is machine cut diagonally on the top and bottom.  As if it wasn't eye catching enough! 

Krwawe Fale bolszewizmu (Bloody Waves of Bolshevism) 1944

(not my poster by the way, just a random pic from the inter webs)

[erik1925]

That is precisely why I do it....For the love of history and wanting to preserve as many of these as possible.

Since I was young I had always been fascinated by the propaganda poster artworks, although I had not idea
I would one day own an original, let alone the amount I have acquired...

These are such strong and powerful images... pure propaganda at some of their finest.. not only for their image but the message that was being sent to fellow Germans and the young students to show them the "pros" of becoming part of the SS.

The propaganda machine was running full bore back then, that's for sure.

[ChristianM80]

Yes, it was a friend of mine that informed me of the auction that this poster was in in Paris.

I managed to get it for the reserve price, an absolute steal...!!!

It has been backed although it is in rather poor shape with the bad folds as you see
and a few decent size tears that I think happened when the auction house was handling it
and I didn't know about them until I received it....    Hopefully nothing that cannot
be patched up if and when I decide to frame it.

Here is a colour photo of the same poster on a wall in Paris during the war!



I think I have seen that anti-Bolshevik poster before, although
there are so many that it is hard to keep track at times.

I am hoping one day to put together a comprehensive book
on Axis propaganda posters that will include period images
of the same poster if available. It may be an impossible task
although it is a long-term goal.


Thankyou for all the kind comments gents...

I just saw this thread for the first time now... as I was browsing your collection above this is the one that really jumped out at me.  I was pleased to see you call it out below.  It's arresting for sure -- I can only imagine more so in person. 

I have a few WWII propaganda posters, anti-US/capitalism and anti-Bolshevic posters.  I'll see if I can dig some up...

[erik1925]

Christian.. how amazing you found not only a same poster that was up on a wall during the war..but one IN COLOR!

That's incredible!!

And an added perk to your historical record of this poster.

 

[ChristianM80]

Christian.. how amazing you found not only a same poster that was up on a wall during the war..but one IN COLOR!

That's incredible!!

And an added perk to your historical record of this poster.

 

Cheers Jeff,

Yes I have amassed a decent database of period images showing propaganda posters.
Although I am always on the lookout for more, especially ones which depict posters that
I own or that I am after.

Sometimes I luck-out and find a real gem such as this one in colour, which is as you have
said a great historical record to have accompany the real thing. 

[CSM]

What is amazing is that any of this stuff has survived

[marklawd]

Thank you for starting this thread Christian. I've enjoyed seeing your posters from the axis perspective and although I find them unsettling they are fine examples of poster art.

Mark

[jedgerley]

Fantastic collection and eye. Make that book happen when you can. Seeing the posters in period photos is always a pleasing sight to see.  Maybe a teaser booklet released in 2015?!?  Well half-kidding because its so much work.
Looking forward to more.... & 

Jason

[ChristianM80]

Some new additions to the stable...

An early Norwegian poster for the 'Den Norske Legion' prior to
its incorporation into the Waffen SS. The Skijager poster I posted
earlier in this thread is when they were already part of the
Waffen SS.

[ChristianM80]

A nice and seldom encountered Dutch SS poster.

[ChristianM80]

SS recruitment poster.

[ChristianM80]

Poster for the 'Day of the German Police' - Tag Der Deutschen Polizei.

This one was for the 'SS'.

[ChristianM80]

Recruitment poster for the Hermann Goering Division.

[ChristianM80]

And one of my Holy Grail posters.... A super rare poster by well known artist Ottomar Anton.

I had only ever seen a smaller size poster and booklet / brochures prior to making contact
with an old collector who had these gems.

They are both A0 size sheets and in rough shape, although I hope to have the smaller of
the two restored using the larger one as a guide as it has pretty much all of the text intact.

An amazing feeling to find one of your must have's..... 

[monocle]

Fascinating! Nazi memorabilia is awfully tricky though...and I'm not referring to how touchy people might get about it. The main problem it's popularity and therefore the keenness of counterfeiters to feed the market with fakes. It's not an area I've dipped into thus far but a well designed poster is certainly on my tick list.

[erik1925]

And one of my Holy Grail posters.... A super rare poster by well known artist Ottomar Anton.

I had only ever seen a smaller size poster and booklet / brochures prior to making contact
with an old collector who had these gems.

They are both A0 size sheets and in rough shape, although I hope to have the smaller of
the two restored using the larger one as a guide as it has pretty much all of the text intact.

An amazing feeling to find one of your must have's..... 

All great pieces, Christian, and the sheer size on this one takes the cake, that's for sure!   

Congrats on the latest as well as finding one of your holy grails. Nice job!

[ChristianM80]

Fascinating! Nazi memorabilia is awfully tricky though...and I'm not referring to how touchy people might get about it. The main problem it's popularity and therefore the keenness of counterfeiters to feed the market with fakes. It's not an area I've dipped into thus far but a well designed poster is certainly on my tick list.

There are literally hundreds of fakes and fantasy pieces for sale on the market.

 and the fantasy pieces are easy as they
never existing pre-45 and so its a no brainer.

The fakes for the most part look horrible and 99.9% of them are easy to spot as
there is always something that detracts them from the originals i.e. mistakes in
colour, artwork or text. The fantasy pieces are even easier to spot as they are
not a copy of any known pre-1945 original.

I have only seen a handful that were very well done although ultimately they
were still outed as fakes once detailed examination was done.

[ChristianM80]

All great pieces, Christian, and the sheer size on this one takes the cake, that's for sure!   

Congrats on the latest as well as finding one of your holy grails. Nice job!

Thanks Jeff,

These definitely did some damage to the bank balance although I have missed out
on some gems recently due to hesitating and then regretted it, not this time...!!!

[erik1925]

Thanks Jeff,

These definitely did some damage to the bank balance although I have missed out
on some gems recently due to hesitating and then regretted it, not this time...!!!

And that can sting... I can relate to that, for sure! 

[monocle]

The fakes for the most part look horrible and 99.9% of them are easy to spot as
there is always something that detracts them from the originals i.e. mistakes in
colour, artwork or text. The fantasy pieces are even easier to spot as they are
not a copy of any known pre-1945 original.

I have only seen a handful that were very well done although ultimately they
were still outed as fakes once detailed examination was done.

I quite agree Christian, although I was referring to the militaria market as a whole - medals, insignia, posters etc Many might be easy to spot if you are present to examine them closely but the problem is obviously exacerbated by the fact that an increasing numbers of purchases are being made online and at a considerable distance. In that case one simply has to depend upon prior knowledge, the quality of the photographs and the ultimately the reputation and opinion of the auction house/vendor. At that point I prefer to take small risks rather than big ones!

[brude]

I've never been a fan of propaganda posters, but this thread is really remarkable.
You have a fascinating collection, Christian.
 

[Mirosae]

I've never been a fan of propaganda posters, but this thread is really remarkable.
You have a fascinating collection, Christian.
 

+ 1

[CSM]

Any particular reason why the Nazi/SS posters are favourites?

[ChristianM80]

I quite agree Christian, although I was referring to the militaria market as a whole - medals, insignia, posters etc Many might be easy to spot if you are present to examine them closely but the problem is obviously exacerbated by the fact that an increasing numbers of purchases are being made online and at a considerable distance. In that case one simply has to depend upon prior knowledge, the quality of the photographs and the ultimately the reputation and opinion of the auction house/vendor. At that point I prefer to take small risks rather than big ones!

In any collecting field where big money can be made, fakes and fraudsters are sure to follow.

I collect militaria as well as posters and it can be a minefield... Risk minimisation is for sure the
safe way to go, although to win big you sometimes have to take a gamble now and then.

I usually stick to dealing within the collecting community that I know and dealers that I trust and
so far have not had any major issues.......touch wood!

[ChristianM80]

I've never been a fan of propaganda posters, but this thread is really remarkable.
You have a fascinating collection, Christian.
 

Thankyou for your kind words...