Nazi Propaganda
—– Bilderbogen vom Kriege. Neuruppin. Verlag Gustav Kuhn. [1940]

Large folio (30 x 42cm); original pictorial limp board covers in taupe; pp. [28] including final blank; pictorial title in monochrome replicating the cover image and a total of 24 pages of coloured graphic prints, 2 centre pages detached from staples; a wonderful survival and an excellent copy with slight marking to covers, which show little signs of handling; an exceptional copy, internally extremely clean and crisp, and near fine throughout, with just one short gutter tear and another lateral closed scarf tear to a fore-edge (4cm), both expertly repaired and now barely visible; seldom surviving in this condition.

First edition.  This poster book series with graphic prints aimed at the young is a Nazi glorification of war produced as propaganda by the publishing house in Neuruppin in Germany in World War II, between 1940 and 1944.

The scenes depict heroic battles, key campaigns and military branches in a ‘rose-tinted’ positive light to boost morale and enthusiasm for the war effort.  Contributing artists included Herbert Rothgaengel.  This was part of a wider employment of visual media to indoctrinate the young, and the Hitler youth, to regard the conflict in an inspiring way.

Scenes here include: Kapitanleutnant Prien; Uber den Oberrhein; Panzerschlacht; Heldenkampf um Narvik; Der Heldenkampf der Zerstorerflotille Bonte; Kapitanleutnant Prien rettet Flugzeugbefatzung aus Zeenot; Versenkung eines englischen U-Bootes; Fligerangriff auf Pariser Flughafen; Deutschland beherrescht Die See; Kampf um Dunkirchen; 15 Landser gegen 15 Panzer; Versenkung des englischen Flugzeugtragers ‘Glorious’; Die Heldentat des Oberleutnants munter; Deutschland etc.