The Jewish Conspiracy Word of the Week Nazi propaganda poster exposing the Jewish conspiracy links to the Allied Nations

Identifier
irn8190
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 1993.35.1 a-b
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • German
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

a: Height: 32.500 inches (82.55 cm) | Width: 26.000 inches (66.04 cm)

b: Height: 32.500 inches (82.55 cm) | Width: 21.500 inches (54.61 cm)

Creator(s)

Archival History

The poster was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1993 by Paul Flacks.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Paula Flacks

Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

Scope and Content

German propaganda poster, now in two pieces, issued during the week of December 10 to December 16, 1941, from the Parole der Woche (Word of the Week) series. The poster contains a diagram that maps out the alleged power structure and key Jewish figures that controlled the Nazi’s enemies. The accompanying text elaborates on the diagram. It gives brief backgrounds of the key figures, and shows their interconnectedness as well as their familial relationships with world leaders. The antisemitic myth that Jews use their power and influence to manipulate and control world governments is one of the most prevalent and long-lasting antisemitic conspiracy theories. Popularized with the widespread publication of the fabricated, antisemitic text, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the canard was a key component in Nazi ideology. Propaganda propagating the hoax was widely distributed throughout German territories. The Nazis used propaganda to buttress public support for the war effort, shape public opinion, and reinforce antisemitic ideas. As part of their propaganda campaign, the Nazis created the Word of the Week Series of posters (also referred to as Wandzeitung, or wall newspapers), which began distribution on March 16, 1936. Each week, new posters were placed in public places and businesses to be viewed by as many people as possible. Posters were the primary medium for the series, but smaller pamphlets were also produced, which could be plastered on the back of correspondences. The posters targeted the Nazis’ early political adversaries, Jews, Communists, and Germany’s enemies during the war. The series was discontinued in 1943.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Offset lithographic poster, now in two pieces (a and b), printed on off-white paper. The majority of a yellow diagram overlaid on a square, black background is in the upper right corner of b. In the center of the diagram is a black-and- white, brutish caricature of a Jewish man’s face with a stereotypically large nose, heavy brows, and thick lips. The face is surrounded by the diagram, which consists of two Stars of David emitting arrows that point to yellow boxes containing Jewish names, and white boxes with the names of the Allied heads of state. Below the diagram are two short columns of black German text, and the right column’s text is in larger, bold typeface. Under the diagram is a small logo consisting of a line of text arranged in a circle around three larger letters. To the left of the diagram, on part a, is a long column of black German text. The poster is now broken into two, uneven parts and is heavily, worn, soiled, and torn throughout. There are many losses to the paper itself, as well as the surface. There is adhesive residue where the paper has been torn away from the backer, as well as segments of pressure-sensitive tape in several places. Both pieces are adhered to a cardboard backing board, the edges stitched with thread, and the surface covered with plastic.

People

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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.