Word of the Week German Word of the Week propaganda poster supporting the Nazi-organized Berlin Summer Olympics

German propaganda poster issued from July 30 to August 5, 1936, from the Parole der Woche (Word of the Week) series, promoting the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin. Germany was chosen to host the 1936 Olympics in 1931, two years before Adolf Hitler came to power. Nazi authorities used the games to promote an image of a new, strong, and united Germany to foreign spectators and journalists while masking the regime’s targeting of Jews and Roma (Gypsies), as well as Germany’s growing militarism. Germany fielded the largest team, with 348 athletes, and won the most medals. The games were used to promote the myth of “Aryan” racial superiority and physical prowess, and draw a link to symbolize that "Aryan" culture was the rightful heir of classical antiquity. As part of their propaganda campaign, the Nazis used an installment of their Word of the Week Series of posters (also referred to as Wandzeitung, or wall newspapers), to promote the games. The Word of the Week was used to buttress public support for the war effort, shape public opinion, and reinforce antisemitic ideas. The posters were strategically placed in public places and businesses such as: market squares, metro stations, bus stops, payroll offices, hospital waiting rooms, factory cafeterias, schools, hotels, restaurants, post offices, train stations, and street kiosks so that they would be viewed by as many people as possible. Posters were the primary medium for the series, but smaller pamphlets were also produced. The posters used colorful, often derogatory caricatures, and photorealistic images with vibrant language. The series was discontinued in 1943.