Bookvica

[SOVIET WARTIME PROPAGANDA]

Item #2591

Set of five WWII leaflets illustrated with photographs and photomontages:

1) Statt Freiheit und Brot bringt Hitler uns Tod [i.e. Instead of Freedom and Bread, Hitler Brings Us Death]. 26 × 18 cm. 2-3) Illustriertes Blatt [i.e. Illustrated Sheet] No. 5 (68) and No. 6 (69) for 1943. 24 × 19 cm.

4) Wer sich freiwillig gefangengibt, erhält Vergünstigungen [i.e. Those Who Surrender Voluntarily Receive Privileges]. 22,5 × 14 cm;

5) Vergünstigungen für deutsche Offiziere und Soldaten [i.e. Privileges for German Officers and Soldiers upon Voluntary Surrender]. 16 × 11,5 cm. In good condition. Traces of glue on rear side of some leaflets, some small fragments of upper edges of No. 2-3 lost.

The set consists of five Soviet leaflets printed for German prisoners of war.

The first leaflet primarily addressed those soldiers who had left their families behind in Germany. It stated that thousands of soldiers’ obituaries were published in German newspapers every day, horrifying women and children who were already suffering from poor living conditions, bombings, and hunger. The leaflet proposed ending the suffering of their loved ones through cooperation and mutual assistance with the Soviet side. The reverse side of the leaflet contains a pass that could be shown after crossing the frontline and surrendering to Soviet troops. This pass was intended to guarantee the soldier’s life would be spared and that he would be treated well. Two issues of “Illustriertes Blatt” [Illustrated Leaflet] represent the propaganda periodical
which was published for POW after the defeat of the German troops at Stalingrad. The texts sound like messages about the welfare of captured ones and tell about humane treatment of prisoners. The photographs of No. 5 (front side) show how the captured German Generalfeldmarschall Paulus and officers are engaged in creativity, socializing and spending time in the park next to their living building. “Here you may see the generals declared dead by Goebbels’ propaganda. In total, at Stalingrad, 24 generals, 2,500 officers, and 91,000 soldiers fled to the captivity. They are all in excellent health.” – the back side continues. One of the photo captions reads: “Paulus asked a Russian commander to tell him about the architectural features of an ancient Russian monastery”. Photographs of No. 6 were presented as if they had been taken in an exhibition, during a sports game and in a library. The actual living conditions of the POW were harsh.

Leaflet No. 4 resembles a photomontage poster and presents the bonuses promised to German soldiers who would voluntarily surrender: extra rations, accommodation in preferential camps with a favorable climate, free choice of professional occupation, privileges for sending letters home to Germany, as well as fast return to Germany or relocation to another country, according to the soldier’s wishes. The rear side features occupations of two prisoners of war: one is engaged in harvesting at a collective farm, while the second works on a livestock farm. To enhance credibility, their names and military unit numbers are provided. Photomontage leaflet No. 5 shows a red cross, resembling the emblem of the International Red Cross, but with the image of a captured German army doctor working in a Soviet dental clinic and providing care to soldiers. The caption reads: “Gib Dich freiwillig gefangen!” [Surrender voluntarily!]. The other side provides the same bonuses as in No. 4.

In all, prime examples of Soviet sabotage within the German ranks.

Price: $2,500.00