SS Propaganda

Third Reich propaganda posters were some of the most visually appealing to come out during the period. I'm not sure if all the different posters produced by the Third Reich have ever been cataloged, but it must be an enormous number. Trying to catalog the posters produced just for the Waffen-SS might be a near impossible task. Mostly they were printed on very thin paper and made to be used for a few weeks, then torn down or pasted over with the next new batch. Many poster designs might no longer exist due to their fragile construction.

A very large number of posters were also produced to attract foreign recruits to the Waffen-SS. Many unique posters designed specifically for these countries, and quite a number of German posters were adapted for this purpose as well, usually by localising the language.

Quite often poster designs were made into postcards, recruiting booklets and other printed items.

While I have tended to focus on Ottomar Anton, I have to give credit to some of the other well known Third Reich artists who did propaganda for the Waffen-SS. These are the most notable I am aware of - if you can suggest some otthers I would be happy to add them to the list. All of their Waffen-SS posters are very rare and are hardly ever seen on the market:

Gino Boccasile - a gifted artist from Italy, who was an Untersturmfuhrer in the Waffen-SS. He was imprisoned for a short period after the war, but still went on to have a successful career as a graphic artist. He died in 1952.

See Gino Boccasile's posters here:

http://www.galleria.thule-italia.com/

Hans Schweitzer - a German artist who signed his posters and other artwork with the name "Mjölnir" which is the name of Thor's Hammer. He was a favorite artist of Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. He was another artist who went on to success, after the war, in graphic arts.

Harald Damsleth - he did a number of outstanding posters for Waffen-SS recruiting in Norway. He was imprisoned for several years after being tried for treason at the end of the war, but he too had a successful graphics art career. He died in 1971.

Check out his posters at these websites:

http://www.frontkjemper.com/index_files/art.htm

http://www.galleria.thule-italia.com/

 

Professor Ottomar Anton (1895-1976)
One of the most prolific Waffen-SS poster designers during the Third Reich was Ottomar Anton (1895-1976).

Before the war he designed literally hundreds of travel posters for the large German cruise ship companies "Hamburg-Amerika" Line (HAPAG) the "Deutsche Afrika" Line, and some for the British "Cunard" and "White Star" Lines as well. Many were a "dreamy" type of design, done in the Art Deco style, with a scene depicting the country or area advertised with the cruise ship majestically sailing in the distance (see the samples below). He also did some posters for a few beer and cigarette companies.

Besides his Waffen-SS posters he is probably best known for his two spectacular Zeppelin posters - one on the Hindenburg and one on the Graf Zeppelin. These are highly prized by both aviation and travel collectors and regularly sell at high prices. He also did a couple of posters for sailing events for the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, which are quite rare, and some political posters such as the "Das Buch" poster pictured below.

A number of web sources state him as being Hermann Goering's favorite artist. As there is very little information on Anton I cannot confirm this. If anyone has any further information please feel free to contact me.

One thing for collectors to note is Anton's signature. It appears on every single poster he ever did. On his earlier work it was O Anton with the word Hamburg underneath. At some point he dropped the Hamburg and it was just O Anton.

After the war he did poster work for various companies including the "4711 Cologne" company and the Adler typewriter company and taught as a Professor at the Bremen School of Art. He was a master of the "Art Deco" style and designed some of the most eye catching posters of the period. Many Waffen-SS posters were done in a patriotic style with Waffen-SS men, or potential recruits, gazing off into the distance. Politics aside, Anton was truly a master of his trade.

He is buried at the Ohlsdorf garden cemetery in Hamburg. This cemetery appears to be mostly for the citizens of some accomplishment (polticians, movie and theater stars, doctors, professors etc). I have provided a link below to the page where Anton is listed, which shows the location of his burial plot.

Ohlsdorf Cemetery Listing For Ottomar Anton

Here are a few original samples of Anton's other work:

1. A HAPAG travel poster for cruises to Helgoland - a small island off the coast of Germany, with an unusual warm climate. It's still a popular tourist destination. The island was heavily bombed during the war and the two cruise ships depicted on the poster were both sunk at some point during the war. The majority of the Hamburg-Amerika Line's ships were sunk in the war but the fleet has since been rebuilt and is now merged with the Lloyds shipping company as "HAPAG-Lloyds"one of the world's largest shipping companies. However, I don't believe they do many pleasure cruises, as it's mostly a freight company these days.

2. A HAPAG 1930 travel poster advertising a cruise to the islands in the Atlantic (in French). This poster has the word Hamburg below Anton's signature. This actually is an updated version of an earlier poster which was done in less of an Art Deco style. Anton added a few elements (such as the basket of oranges) changed the ship to be at anchor (it was moving in the earlier version) and smoothed out the graphics to make it a much nicer image (my collection)

3. Another HAPAG travel poster from 1934 advertising cruises in the Mediterranean Sea. Looks like a very Moroccan scene. (my collection)

4. Anton's famous Zeppelin poster, featuring the Hindenburg. I believe this is the only Zeppelin poster produced that shows a Swastika on the tail fin. In a lot of period photos you can see the dual swastikas on the tail of the Zeppelins but I guess they figured on advertising material for other countries it was too political. All the other Zeppelin posters show either the German Tri Color or nothing at all on the tail fins.

5. One of two known posters Anton did for the sailing competition of the 1936 Olympic Games. This poster was originally done for the Yatch Club in Kiel and was simply changed for the Olympics with different text and the Olympic Rings added. Photo courtesy of the "Stadtmuseum - Warleberger Hof" in Kiel, Germany.

6. A powerful and striking1938 political poster advertising Mein Kampf (without mentioning the title). Translates roughly to: "The Book. The power source of the Nation." The printer has used a type of gold metallic ink to print the background which is quite unusual. I cannot recall a metallic type of ink used on any other Third Reich poster. (my collection)

7. A post war 1950's poster for the 4711 Cologne company.

8. A 1930's poster for "Kyriazi" brand cigarettes. This is quite an unusal size at 176cm long by 83cm wide and I believe quite a rare poster as well.

9. Probably the most desirable of all the Waffen-SS posters and certainly the most widely copied of all SS posters. The German magazine "Stern" used this poster on its August 2006 cover, which is a testament to it's iconic association with the Waffen-SS. Few originals of this poster survive today. (my collection)

10. The cover of German magazine "Stern" for August 2006 showing Anton's poster.

................. -..-..........-- ...-........... .................-----.......... ----..........- ................ ................. .................

All the posters below are from my own collection.

Click the photos below to view the close-ups.

  

 

Waffen-SS

Probably the most desirable of all the Waffen-SS posters and certainly the most widely copied of all SS posters. According to certain sources, Anton used Knights Cross holder Klemens Behler as his model for this poster. Behler was still a recruit at that time this poster was created in 1941. He went on to win his Knights cross in 1945 while serving in the Artillery Regiment of the 23. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier Division " Nederland ". Klemens Behler survived the war and went on to serve in the Bundeswehr - he died in 1998.

The German magazine "Stern" used this poster on its August 2006 cover, which is a testament to it's iconic association with the Waffen-SS. Few originals of this poster survive today.

This one in my collection would be the largest size that was printed.

Waffen-SS Hitlerjugend Recruiting Poster

"Even You"

 

 

Another very rare recruiting poster designed by Ottomar Anton.

This poster was to attract members of the Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend) to the Waffen-SS, especially the 12. SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend". The caption reads "Even You".

This poster and the one immediately below would be roughly circa 1943. This image has also been used on postcards.

Originals of this poster are extremely rare and are highly sought after by collectors.

 

Waffen-SS Hitlerjugend Recruiting Poster

"Also You"

 

 

One more very rare recruiting poster designed by Anton.

This was also to attract members of the Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend) to the Waffen-SS, especially the 12 SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend". The caption reads "Also You" with the recruiting office address below.

I have seen this poster image also used on postcards and a couple of recruiting booklets.

Quite a rare poster.

Waffen-SS Russian Helpers Recruiting Poster

"Think about your future!

Become a helper of the SS"

 

 

 

Another SS recruiting poster designed by Anton. This poster was to attract Russian helpers to the Waffen-SS. The young Russian recruit depicted shows the armband and insignia designating him as an SS Helper.

Originals of this poster also exist with German text and a Hitlerjugend member pictured as the helper. According to Angolia's "Insignia of the SS" there were at least eight countries that had SS helpers. These armbands are shown on page 471, one for each of the following countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Galacia, Ukraine, Ruthenia, Volga and Crimean Tartars

Thanks to Paul (bnz.42 on the WAF) for the Russian translation

Leibstandarte SS "Adolf Hitler" Postcard

"Also You for the

Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"

 

 

 

Many Third Reich posters were also used on postcards, leaflets, recruiting booklets etc and Anton's designs were no exception.

This design was used to attract recruits to the 1. SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte "Adolf Hitler", It has at least three different versions; one in French and another with more general text for a Waffen-SS recruiting version also in German.

I tried for a long time to obtain the poster version of this, but so far have only been able to obtain the postcard.

 

Belgian Waffen-SS Recruiting Poster

"Replacement Command of the Waffen-SS"

 

 

 

 

A recruiting poster designed by T. Bertau in 1944. Featuring a red dragon representing the communists (and the Jews) being slain by SS Runes and a German soldier throwing a stick grenade to finish it off. One of the most dramatic posters from the war I have seen.

This is an extremely rare Waffen-SS poster.

The only other copy I know that exists, is in the "Musee royal de l'Armee et d'Histoire militaire" in Belgium (The Museum of the Army and Military History).

At least one other version of this poster exists with a different recruiting office address.

 

Day of the German SS Police

1941

 

A postcard for the German SS Police dated 1941. Showing an SD man in black Allgemeine SS uniform, it is quite a powerful image.

 

 
ss-storm-poster

"Storm SS"

Dutch Newspaper

 

 

 

 

An unusual but very creative caricature poster for the Dutch SS newspaper "Storm SS".

The caricature shows the SS newspaper flying through the window from a storm outside, and Churchill hugging Stalin in terror. American President Franklin D Roosevelt is grimacing in the picture on the wall.

The headline on the newspaper reads "Soviet - Church Union". The small clawed animal (a penguin?) on the floor with the white cross appears to represent the Church and I assume the bloody axe means they were about to chop it up; and the newspaper is exposing their actions.

Storm SS was about a 4 page newspaper - hence the 11 cent price. The artist on this is Powells.

Waffen-SS Wallonie Poster

"Come With Us"

One of a number of posters designed to attract recruits to Leon Degrelle's SS Sturmbrigade "Wallonie".

The Walloons were transferred from the Wehrmacht to the control of the Waffen SS in June 1943, becoming the 5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Wallonien. After performing well in combat against the Soviets, the Wallonien Sturmbrigade was upgraded to become the 28.SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division Wallonien in October 1944. Despite this upgrade in status, the actual strength of the Wallonien remained that of a reinforced Brigade, around 8,000 men.

At the end of the war the Walloons surrendered to the British, but Leon Degrelle managed to escape by plane and crash landed on a beach in Spain, where he was given sanctuary by Franco.

Dutch Waffen-SS Poster

"The Voice of the SS"

A striking poster advertising the SS radio broadcast every Sunday in Occupied Holland. An Art Deco type poster combined with a photograph which is not often seen.

One of the few SS posters that has not been reproduced (yet)

Dutch Waffen-SS Poster

"All Will Come Right"

This Dutch Waffen-SS recruiting poster features Paul Krüger, the Boer President of Transvaal in South Africa during the Boer War.

The saying "all will come right" was a popular Boer/Dutch saying.
Waffen-SS Poster

A generic recruiting poster for the Waffen-SS. The red space at the base was apparently for individual SS offices to stamp or print their addresses.

The artist is H'o'ch

A batch of these was found a number of years ago and a fake version has now been produced with a recruitment office in France printed in the blank space at the bottom
Reich Sports Promotion Week

This is not an SS poster but I thought I would include it here as the SS was very big on sports and the fitness and athletic ability of its troops.

A nice poster with the classic Art Deco lines and smooth airbrushing. Quite a rare poster from 1935.

 

Waffen-SS Books
               
NEW - Waffen-SS Recruiting Book
 
 


           
                   
Waffen-SS Song Book
 
 

 

 

      
       

This is a nice example of a song book or" Liederbuch", issued to the Waffen-SS. It has the divisional stamp of the 4. SS Polizei Division (the replacement Battalion) on the inside of the front cover. It also has an inscription written by the Dutch SS soldier it was issued to; which translates roughly as:

"In memory of 31/03/1943 my departure to the Waffen-SS"

Signed Jan and dated again 31-03-43

 

These books are pocket sized but have a large number of songs covering many different types of occaisions from festive, to patriotic and marching songs. Each section is nicely illustrated and it is interesting to see a drawing of the SS Honor Ring here.