The Reichstag in Flames! Large text only campaign poster justifying the expansion of Hitler’s powers as Chancellor after the Reichstag fire
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 48.000 inches (121.92 cm) | Width: 33.500 inches (85.09 cm)
Creator(s)
- Franz Lück (Publisher)
- Hans Weidemann (Distributor)
Biographical History
Hans Weidemann was born in Essen, Germany on May 22, 1904. He studied at the Art Academy in Düsseldorf and was a trained painter by profession. He joined the Nazi Party in 1927 and was given party number 97,362. In 1933, Weidemann was appointed as a speaker in the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda and while there he became a close associate of Joseph Goebbels. On May 25, 1933 Weidemann traveled to the United States to attend the Chicago World’s Fair as a representative of Germany. He was the first member of the Nazi government to enter the U.S. In June 1935, Weidemann was appointed director of Newsreels to influence the public and spread propaganda. He also directed the propaganda film Festliches Nürnberg which chronicled the Nazi Party rallies in Nuremberg in 1936 and 1937. In April 1938, Weidemann joined the Schutzstaffel (SS) number 293,074. After the war he went into hiding and later through the denazification process and worked as a painter. Hans Weidemann, aged 71 died in November 1975.
Archival History
The poster was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2004.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, The Abraham and Ruth Goldfarb Family Acquisition Fund
Funding Note: The acquisition of this collection was made possible by The Abraham and Ruth Goldfarb Family Acquisition Fund.
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
Nazi propaganda broadside issued for the March 5, 1933, Reichstag election in Germany. After Hitler was appointed Chancellor on January 30, 1933, he called for a new election. On February 27, six days before the election, the Reichstag, the German Parliament, was set on fire. The Nazis blamed the Communists for the fire and the regime was given the authority to jail political opponents without charges and to suspend civil liberties, which included banning newspapers and meetings of opponents or any groups. In this first election under Nazi Party rule, the Nazis received the largest vote percentage, 44%, but still not a majority. On March 23, Hitler was able to have the Reichstag pass the Enabling Act, which gave him dictatorial powers.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Large, text only, white paper broadside with German text in bold, Fraktur typeface printed in black ink. The title is at the top in large font. The center section has 6 lines of text flanked on the left by a vertical, black rectangle with lines of text above and below. The lower section has Hitler in large font with a large swastika on the left and a large numerical 1 on the right. The typeface varies in size with a few lines and phrases underlined for emphasis. Publication information is near the lower left edge. The poster is creased and discolored with age.
Subjects
- Political campaigns--Germany--History--20th century.
- Germany. Reichstag--Elections, 1933.
- Nazi propaganda--Germany.
- Propaganda, German--History--20th century.
- Reichstagsgebäude (Berlin, Germany)--Fire, 1933.
- Elections--Germany--History--20th century.
Genre
- Posters
- Object