Just dropping the swastika is not proof yet! Prove yourself on June 30th Postwar campaign poster encouraging Germans to vote on June 30, 1946
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 21.250 inches (53.975 cm) | Width: 15.625 inches (39.688 cm)
pictorial area: Height: 20.125 inches (51.118 cm) | Width: 14.375 inches (36.513 cm)
Creator(s)
- Barlog (Artist)
Archival History
The poster was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1990.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection
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
Poster encouraging Germans to vote on June 30, designed by Barlog in 1946. The vote on June 30 is likely referring to the Bavarian state election in June 1946, to choose members of the Bavarian Constituent Assembly. After the German surrender on May 8, 1945, Germany was divided into zones of occupation by the Allies. The American-occupied zone encompassed the southeastern part of Germany, including Bavaria. The American goals during the occupation included denazification and the reintroduction of democratic values into German society. Denazification was a postwar Allied initiative to cleanse Germany of all traces of Nazi ideology, institutions, and laws. They also sought to remove Nazi party members from office or positions of responsibility in an effort to wipe out the Nazi party and its influence. In the American zone, anyone who had been an active Nazi, and individuals who held key positions in the regime were fired. In the summer if 1945, German political parties were reformed, and the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (Social Democratic Party, SPD) and the Kommunistiche Partei Deutschlands (German Communist Party, KPD), left-leaning parties that existed during the Weimar Republic reemerged. They were joined by the new Christlich-Demokratische Union (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) a more moderate party. These three parties became the largest in Germany. The Bavarian Constituent Assembly election on June 30, 1946, was the first free election held in Bavaria since 1932. Although denazification was labeled as a success, by the 1950s, many former Nazis were able to return to their roles in industries and government in both East and West Germany.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Black-and-white poster printed on tan-colored paper and adhered to a white, linen backing. In the center is an image of the left half of a suit-style jacket. The left side of the jacket is curved, and the lapel has a single notch with a small white circle beneath it. A line of black, German text in a cursive font is overlaid diagonally across the jacket. Below are three lines of horizontal text. The top line is in the same cursive style font, the middle is in small print, and the bottom is large and bold. The artist signature and date are in the bottom right corner in slightly faded, black ink. There are small discolored areas throughout.
Subjects
- Communism--Germany (East)--History.
- Posters--Germany (East)
- Germany (Territory under Allied occupation, 1945-1955 : U.S. Zone)
- Occupations--Germany (East)
Genre
- Posters
- Object
- Political posters.