Hitler Wanted for Murder pin

Identifier
irn610289
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2015.224.13
Dates
1 Jan 1941 - 31 Dec 1945
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • English
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 1.375 inches (3.493 cm) | Width: 1.250 inches (3.175 cm) | Depth: 0.250 inches (0.635 cm)

Archival History

The pin-back button was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2015 by Michael D. Zentman.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Michael Zentman in memory of his grandparents, Max (Mordechai) and Johanna (Chana) Zentmann

Scope and Content

Anti-Nazi pin-back button distributed in the United States during World War II. The pin falsely claims that Adolf Hitler’s real name is Adolf Schicklgruber (misspelled on the pin as Schickelgruber). An assertion which was originated by Hans Habe, a Viennese Jewish writer. The claim was based on the last name of Hitler’s father, who was born Alois Shicklgruber. Before Hitler was born, Alois changed his name and it became Alois Hitler. The motif of Hitler’s “real” name was likely an attempt to ridicule the leader and belittle him to the public. Buttons of this type came in various sizes, ranging in diameters from under 1 inch to 3.5 inches. The Adolf Schicklgruber motif was also used on other ephemera, such as posters. After the Japanese surprise attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and Germany’s declaration of war four days later, a wave of American patriotism and anti-Axis sentiment swept through the country. Much of this was manifested through pieces of ephemera such as posters, buttons, pins, cards, toys and decals. Often such pieces would depict unflattering or caricatured images ridiculing the Axis leaders, along with a call to action for the public to aid in their defeat. This sentiment continued in America until the end of the war.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Cream colored, metal pin-back button with an image of the head of Adolf Hitler in the center, flanked by two swastikas. Black, English text is printed below the image and along the top edge. The surface is flat with rounded edges. The back is recessed, silver-colored metal that is covered with a thin layer of surface rust. A vertical, thin metal pin with a pointed bottom end is attached just below the top edge. There is a small, red stain on the bottom edge.

People

Subjects

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.