Nazi Propaganda Posters
Choose one of the four posters shown to answer the questions below, unless specifically indicated in
the question.
Poster chosen:
1. What symbols (if any) are used in the poster?
2. If a symbol is used, is it
a. clear (easy to interpret)?
b. memorable?
c. dramatic?
3. Are the messages in the poster primarily visual, verbal, or both? How?
4. Who do you think is the intended audience for the poster?
5. Consider the tabloid by Julius Streicher, "Der Stümer," in which a medieval illustration depicts
ritualistic murder of children, a medieval Anti-Semitic myth. What irony can you identify?
6. What does the Nazi Government hope the audience will do?
7. What Nazi purpose(s) is served by the tabloid?
8. The most effective posters use symbols that are unusual, simple, and direct. Are these
effective posters? Explain.
9. You are to create your own propaganda poster (not a Nazi propaganda poster). You will create
using Photoshop, PowerPoint, or Comic Life. Your goal is to convince others to believe
something or purchase something obscure. The poster should be colourful, and make a point
with very little writing. The phrase is very much “in your face” as you want to catch the reader’s
eye. Please see your rubric as to how you will be marked. You may go with a partner or by
yourself.
Nazi Propaganda Illustrations
Page from Julius Streicher's antisemitic
newspaper, "Der Stürmer," in which an
illustration from a medieval book depicting
ritual murder, a medieval antisemitic myth, is
reproduced. This page was submitted as
evidence at the Nuremberg trials.
Credit line: National Archives, courtesy of
USHMM Photo Archives.
Date: May 1939
Introduced as evidence at the Nuremberg
trials to show how Germany was turned to
Jew hating, this page from Julius Streicher's
newspaper, "Der Stürmer," depicts German
womanhood about to be destroyed by a snake
marked with Jewish stars. Naked women
were much used in Streicher's paper for
stirring up interest in his racist propaganda.
Credit line: National Archives, courtesy of
USHMM Photo Archives.
Date: Jun 1939
An antisemitic photomontage entitled, "The
Scourge of God, Polish Jews," that was used
as a title page for a brochure issued by Der
Stürmer. This image was presented as
evidence at the Nuremberg trials.
Credit line: National Archives, courtesy of
USHMM Photo Archives.
Date: 1939
Antisemitic cartoon by Seppla (Josef Plank)-An octopus with a Star of David over its head
has its tentacles encompassing a globe.
Credit line: Library of Congress, courtesy of
USHMM Photo Archives.
Date: Circa 1938
Propaganda Poster Rubric
Name (s): ______________________________
Points Earned
Colors and Patterns
Exceeds
Expectations
3
Enhance
readability
Layout
Creatively
enhances
information
Graphics/Photos
All graphics are
engaging,
enhance text
Text Size and Color
All text is clear
and readable; a
few changes in
size and color
enhance
understanding
Writing
Well written and
organized, clear,
easy to follow
Quality of Information
Product
description is
clear, complete,
concise
Grammar and Spelling
No grammar or
spelling errors
Meets
Expectations
2
Support
readability
Does Not Meet
Expectations
1 or 0
Detract from
readability
Not balanced,
Balanced,
cluttered,
uncluttered,
insufficient
adequate space
space
Graphics
enhance text
Graphics do not
enhance text
Some text is
Text is clear and
clear and
readable;
readable;
changes in size
frequent
and color
changes in size
enhance
and color do not
understanding
enhance
understanding
Adequately
Poorly written
written and
and organized,
organized, clear,
unclear, hard to
reasonably easy
follow
to follow
Product
Product
description is description is not
mostly clear,
clear,
could be a little incomplete, not
more concise
concise
Many grammar
One grammar or
and spelling
spelling error
errors
Score