Out with the Jewish Haggling System Antisemitic poster by Mjölnir depicting a German store owner kicking out a Jewish trader
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 24.625 inches (62.548 cm) | Width: 37.375 inches (94.933 cm)
Creator(s)
- Waldheim und Eberle (Publisher)
- Mjölnir (Subject)
- Mjölnir (Artist)
Biographical History
Hans Schweitzer (1901-1980) was born in Berlin, and joined the Nazi party in 1926. As a member of the party, Schweitzer created cartoons, caricatures, and political posters under the penname, Mjölnir. He worked for several Nazi newspapers, including the Völkischer Beobachter (The People’s Observer) and a paper published by early Nazi leaders Gregor and Otto Strasser. With his artistic talents, Schweitzer advanced through the party. He was appointed as an honorary member of the SS and became friends with Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. Later, Schweitzer illustrated several books for Goebbels, including Die Verfluchten Hakenkreuzen, published in 1930. Throughout the 1930s, Schweitzer created images for Nazi antisemitic, political, and election posters. He was also a cartoonist for the paper Der Angriff (The Attack), publish by Goebbels, and illustrated the book, Kampf um Berlin (Fight for Berlin). In 1935, he was appointed as Representative for Artistic Design and worked in conjunction with the Ministry of Propaganda for the creation of exhibitions, erection of monuments, and the development of insignia and national symbols. Later, he worked with a commission to decide how to utilize artwork stolen from Nazi victims. Schweitzer was arrested by American authorities in 1947 and fined 500 deutsche marks for his actions during the Holocaust. In 1955, he had his Nazi record expunged and was able to work as an illustrator and teacher.
Archival History
The poster was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1993 by Alex Kertesz.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of the Alex and Boots Kertesz Family
Scope and Content
German antisemitic propaganda poster encouraging Germans to fight against unfair Jewish business practices, designed by Hans Schweitzer (Mjőlnir). The poster features an image of an Aryan businessman standing in the doorway of a storefront called “German Business” who has just kicked out a Jewish peddler, symbolizing that German businesses will longer deal with Jews. The peddler is dressed all in black with a stereotypical dark and curly beard, payot, and a hooked nose. He is portrayed with yellow skin, a symbol of cowardice, betrayal, and ill health, to emphasize the antisemitic trope of his untrustworthy nature. The Nazis used propaganda to push the narrative that haggling Jewish traders were bad for German business and society. Nazi propaganda won the support of millions of Germans, affirmed Nazi ideas of racial superiority, and created an atmosphere that tolerated violence against Jews. They communicated their propaganda through art, music, film, radio, books, posters, and other published materials. Hans Schweitzer, who used the pen name Mjőlnir, was friends with Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, and created many posters for the Nazi Party. In 1935, he was appointed as Representative for Artistic Design and worked in conjunction with the Ministry of Propaganda for the creation of exhibitions, erection of monuments, and the development of insignia and national symbols. Later he worked with a commission to decide how to utilize artwork stolen from Nazi victims.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Color, offset lithographic poster printed on off-white paper and adhered to a white linen backing. The poster depicts a German businessman kicking a Jewish trader out of his store. The businessman is standing in the doorway of a red and yellow storefront, wearing plaid pants and a brown dress jacket, with his leg raised in a kicking motion. Across the sidewalk, a Jewish man wearing all black clothing flies headfirst through the air. He is depicted with a stereotypical hooked nose, hooded eyes, long beard, and yellow-looking skin. His hat has flown off, revealing his payot and bald head, and he has dropped his box of trinkets which are spilled on the pavement.
People
- Mjölnir, 1901-1980.
Subjects
- Lithography, German--20th century.
- Jewish peddlers-Caricatures and cartoons.
- Germany.
- Nazi Propaganda--Germany.
- Anti-Jewish propaganda--Germany.
- Antisemitism--Economic aspects.
Genre
- Object
- Posters.
- Posters