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The Archive of Admonishment: The Hans-Jürgen Hässler Collection

Document

The Archive of Admonishment: The Hans-Jürgen Hässler Collection was amassed and organized by the German archaeologist Dr. Hans-Jürgen Hässler (1939-2011), in hopes of forming the basis of a prospective German national Holocaust museum, an initiative Dr. Hässler announced in 1992. In 1998, Dr. Hässler founded the “Foundation German Holocaust Museum'' to garner support and funding for his envisioned museum construction, with the intent of combating the rise of neo-Nazism and all forms of right-wing extremism, xenophobia, and antisemitism in the newly united Germany. The materials collected by Dr. Hässler span the period immediately prior to, during, and after the Third Reich, and were purchased by Dr. Hässler at flea markets and from private collectors predominantly in and around Hannover, Germany. The contents, including tens of thousands of documents, publications, photographs, and objects, illustrate the nature and appeal of Nazi ideology, daily life during the Third Reich, participation in persecution and genocide across wartime Europe, as well as examples of resistance. It demonstrates the actions and motivations of people in their everyday lives (mostly German, but to a lesser extent, other Europeans) and the treatment of Jews and other Nazi victims. The Personal Papers series includes correspondence, photographs, and personal documents related to individuals and families living in Germany before, during, and after the rise and fall of the Third Reich. Postwar materials relate to life after the war, denazification, and the rebuilding of Germany The Anonymous subseries consists mostly of photographs and photo albums depicting unidentified individuals. The Miscellanea subseries contains personal documents in which the names of people are known but due to the small amount of material, otherwise do not have any other context. The Domestic Life and Culture series contains materials that reflect and provide a context for daily life during the Third Reich. There are official documents from various Nazi government offices such as the Reichsnaehrstand, Reichkulturkammer, and the Hitler Youth. Much of the topics are examples of how the Nazis used and influenced all aspects of culture. Propaganda in various forms is visible throughout. This series is arranged in 27 subseries. The Agriculture subseries includes brochures, flyers, advertisements, and official documents of the Reichsnährstand during the Nazi period and afterwards. The Air Raid Defense subseries includes brochures, flyers, advertisements, documents related to the air defense, and cards of bombing raid victims. Art, Literature, Music, and Theatre include documents related to the arts during the Nazi period. They include Reichskulturkammer documents, flyers, programs, brochures, advertisements, postcards, and publications. These two subseries Hitler Youth and Bund Deutscher Mädel include correspondence, reports, competition documents, songs, IDs, publications, certificates, and photographs of official Hitler Youth members and events. The Business subseries includes advertisements, correspondence, bills, and documents related to various companies. The Finance subseries includes banking documents, bills, personal documents, and correspondence. The Labor subseries includes certificates, correspondence, contracts, identification, labor books, and documents related to various industries. The Charity subseries includes documents related to donations, postwar assistance, Winterhilfswerke documents, and badges and Red Cross documents. The Family and Children subseries include documents related to young children and families during the Nazi period and afterwards. They include ancestry tables, certificates, models, pamphlets, cards, publications, and photographs. The Deutsche Arbeitsfront subseries includes official documents, certificates, forms, memberships, travel documents, and photographs. The Health subseries includes bills, forms, advertisements, and informational flyers related to health topics. The Home Economics subseries includes advertisements, bills, receipts, stamps, ration cards, recipes, and publications. The Police subseries includes court decisions, legal documents, permits, reports, and photographs. The Religion subseries includes programs, brochures, correspondence, criminal cases against pastors, and postcards. Most of the documents are related to Protestant and Catholic churches but there are some documents related to the Reichskirche and the German Faith Movement. The School series is related to elementary, high school, and university during the Nazi period. It includes correspondence, curriculum, charts, reports, scrapbooks, and pamphlets. The Sport series is related to sports and the Olympics. There are DLGR (Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft) materials, envelopes, postcards, awards, and certificates. The Travel subseries includes tourism and travel related brochures, maps, and photographs. The Military series contains documents and photographs related mostly to the Wehrmacht with some materials related to the Luftwaffe and the Kriegsmarine. There is a scrapbook related to the Kriegsmarine. The Luftwaffe subseries contains unit records, photo albums, and other photographs. The Wehrmacht subseries includes personal papers and diaries of soldiers, prisoners of war, medal certificates, unit reports, correspondence, clippings, photo albums, and other photographs. The Paramilitary series contains documents related to the Reichsarbeitsdienst, Reichsluftshutz, SA, and SS groups of the Nazi Party. Within the Reichsarbeitsdienst subseries there are personal papers (IDs and labor books), photo albums, and lesson plans. The SA subseries includes personal papers such as ids, announcements, correspondence, and photographs. The SS subseries includes personal papers, official documents, correspondence, photographs, and copies of SS related publications. The NSDAP Ideology series includes documents, posters, letters, maps, postcards, stickers, and publications related to the Nazi Party and Nazi propaganda. There is a subseries containing images and documents related to Adolf Hitler and his office. The Nazi Papers subseries contains portraits and papers related to other Nazi leaders and party events. The Propaganda subseries includes stickers, leaflets, articles, music, and pictures. There is a subseries related to the Nazi views on race. The Resistance series contains publications, pamphlets, and postcards related to Communists and other groups that opposed the Nazi regime. There are some personal papers related to individuals. There is also a subseries with material produced by the allies and dropped on Nazi Germany. The Persecution series contains letters, articles, photographs and publications related to persecution of Jews, forced laborers, Roma, and other people persecuted by the Nazis. Some of the material is prior to the Nazis’ rise to power. The Concentration Camps and Ghettos subseries includes letters and documents related to concentration camps and ghettos. The Subseries Jews contains pre-war materials, antisemitic documents, personal papers, correspondence, police registration forms, and photographs. The Forced Labor subseries contains articles, registrations, identification documents, and photographs. The Victims subseries includes miscellaneous photographs of forced laborers, Jews, Roma, Poles, and prisoners of war. The Former Nazis and neo-Nazis series contains records of HIAG, a group of SS veterans which includes correspondence, newsletters, and applications. There are documents and newsletters from neo-Nazi student organizations. The remainder of the series are materials sent to Dr. Hässler and include miscellaneous neo-Nazi documents, articles, and other propaganda.

Fencing tournament plaque

Object

Sports award plaque for first place in a fencing tournament held on July 15, 1938. The award features a metal NSRL/DRL [National Socialist League of the Reich for Physical Education / German League of the Reich for Physical Exercise] eagle. The DRL was established July 27, 1934 as the official sports governing body of Nazi Germany. Hitler had the name changed to Nationalsozialistischer Reichsbund für Leibesübungen (NSRL) on December 21, 1938 and the organization officially was placed under the Nazi Party in an effort to control all aspects of Germany economic, social, and cultural life. Starting in April 1933, Jews or individuals with Jewish parents and Roma (Gypsies) were prohibited from German sports facilities and associations as part of an "Aryans only" policy.

Certificate for a handball district championship

Object

Certificate for the 1936/37 handball district championship in Gau VIII Lower Saxony. The National Socialist League of the Reich for Physical Education (NSRL) was established July 27, 1934 and was originally named the German League of the Reich for Physical Exercise (DRL). NSRL/DRL was the official sports governing body of Nazi Germany and individual sports associations were dissolved in order to make one unified organizations for Germans to support. Hitler had the name changed from DRL to NSRL on December 21, 1938 and the organization officially was placed under the Nazi Party in an effort to control all aspects of Germany economic, social, and cultural life. In April 1933, Jews or individuals with Jewish parents and Roma (Gypsies) were prohibited from German sports facilities and associations as part of an "Aryans only" policy.

Certificate of honor from the Lower Rhine Industry and Chamber of Commerce

Object

Certificate of honor to Franz Schmidt for 25 years of service, received in 1935 from the Lower Rhine Industry and Chamber of Commerce Duisburg-Wesel. Schmidt worked for a German mining company, Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-AG (GBAG). GBAG used forced labor like so many other large German companies during World War II, which was supplied by the Gelsenberg Camp, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp. The certificate was published by J.A. Steinkamp, a publisher in Duisburg. Based on the signature, the artist of the print could be German artist Josef Pieper (1907-1977).

Portrait of a soldier memorializing his military career and death

Object

Portrait of a soldier memorializing his military career and 1941 death. The soldier is unnamed, but he served in the German military from the ages of 19 to 23 and died August 25, 1941, which means he was born 1917/1918. From the inscription, he most likely was involved with the Invasion of Poland in 1939 and Operation Barbarossa (invasion of the Soviet Union) in 1941. The Invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany marked the beginning of World War II. The loss for Germany during Operation Barbarossa was the first step towards the eventual collapse of the Nazi Party and their hopes of German expansion. The frame is possibly original to the portrait.

Der Deutsche Automobil-Club [German Automobile Club] car plaque

Object

DDAC enamelled car plate. The General German Automobile Club was renamed the German Automobile Club [Der Deutsche Automobil-Club or DDAC] on September 28, 1933. Like so many other organizations in Germany after Adolf Hitler rose to power, the German Automobile Club was restructured in an effort to control all aspects of German economic, social, and cultural life under the Nazi Party. The DDAC provided roadside assistance to members and was closely affiliated with the National Socialist Motor Corps or NSKK [Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps], a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party.

Plaque for a German military swimming festival

Object

German soldier swimming festival plaque held in Den Helder 1940. Den Helder is a naval station in the Netherlands that was under German occupation during World War II, starting in May 1940.

German military issued eyeglasses, metal case, and prescription

Object

Eyeglasses, metal case, and prescription for Heinz Kadziora, received in 1938. The Wehrmacht [Nazi German military] issued corrective lenses to any soldiers who required them. Heinz Kadziora was a flieger [lowest rank in the Luftwaffe] with the Fliegerersatz-Abteilung 37 unit at Uetersen. The eyeglasses are constructed in the Windsor style with circular eyerims and a thin metal frame. The prescription form includes handwritten information in ink and graphite including the individual's name, rank, unit, and date issued.

German military issued eyeglasses, metal case, and prescription

Object

Eyeglasses, metal case, and prescription for Wilhelm Behrends, received in 1937. The Wehrmacht [Nazi German military] issued corrective lenses to any soldiers who required them. Behrends was enlisted in the German army as a Schütze [infantry private] in the Gebirgsjäger [mountain infantry]. The eyeglasses are constructed in the Windsor style with circular eyerims and a thin metal frame. The prescription form includes handwritten information in ink including the individual's name, rank, unit, and date issued.

Nameplate for Dr. Ernst Jacobsohn

Object

Nameplate for Dr. med. Ernst Jacobsohn. Jacobsohn was a practicing medical doctor in Germany in the 1930s. After Adolf Hitler and the Nazis took power in 1933, Jewish physicians increasingly lost their ability to practice medicine. The Jewish doctors who did not emigrate after all Jewish licenses ultimately were revoked in 1938, continued to care for Jewish patients. They could no longer be called "Arzt" [doctor] and were degraded to the term "Behandler" [provider]. Starting in September 1938, all Jews were forced to adopt a second first name of Sara or Israel for women and men.

Adolf Hitler bas-relief commemorative plaque

Object

Officially sanctioned plaque of Adolf Hitler. The plaque was commissioned and sold by Adolf Trumpf of Hannover, Germany, during the era of the Third Reich, 1933-1945. It was an officially recognized NSDAP non-portable, special achievement award and may have been presented to middle ranking political and state officials.

Wreath and ribbon bow for a gymnastics festival

Object

Winner's wreath with attached ribbon bow for a gymnastics festival in 1936. The German League of the Reich for Physical Exercise [Deutscher Reichsbund für Leibesübungen or DRL] was established July 27, 1934 as the official sports governing body of Nazi Germany. This meant that any other sports associations were dissolved in order to make one unified organization for Germans to support. In April 1933, Jews or individuals with Jewish parents and Roma (Gypsies) were prohibited from German sports facilities and associations as part of an "Aryans only" policy. The DRL was responsible for planning sporting events such as the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin, while also producing and disseminating Nazi propaganda. This wreath features the DRL emblem of an eagle with a swastika on its chest and was awarded to the winner of an event in a gymnastics festival held in Hamelin. The Olympics emblem was included as this festival was held the same year as the Berlin Olympics.

Wreath and ribbon bow for a gymnastics festival

Object

Winner's wreath with attached ribbon bow for a gymnastics festival in 1937. The German League of the Reich for Physical Exercise [Deutscher Reichsbund für Leibesübungen or DRL] was established July 27, 1934 as the official sports governing body of Nazi Germany. This meant that any other sports associations were dissolved in order to make one unified organizations for Germans to support. The DRL was responsible for planning sporting events such as the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin, while also producing and disseminating Nazi propaganda. In April 1933, Jews or individuals with Jewish parents and Roma (Gypsies) were prohibited from German sports facilities and associations as part of an "Aryans only" policy. This wreath features the DRL emblem of an eagle with a swastika on its chest and was awarded to the winner of an event in a gymnastics festival held in Hamelin.

Wreath and ribbon bow for a regional festival

Object

Winner's wreath with attached ribbon bow for a regional sports festival in 1937. The German League of the Reich for Physical Exercise [Deutscher Reichsbund für Leibesübungen or DRL] was established July 27, 1934 as the official sports governing body of Nazi Germany. This meant that any other sports associations were dissolved in order to make one unified organizations for Germans to support. The DRL was responsible for planning sporting events such as the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin, while also producing and disseminating Nazi propaganda. Hitler had the name changed to the Nationalsozialistischer Reichsbund für Leibesübungen or NSRL [National Socialist League of the Reich for Physical Education] on December 21, 1938 and the organization officially was placed under the Nazi Party in an effort to control all aspects of Germany economic, social, and cultural life.In April 1933, Jews or individuals with Jewish parents and Roma (Gypsies) were prohibited from German sports facilities and associations as part of an "Aryans only" policy. This wreath features the DRL emblem of an eagle with a swastika on its chest and was awarded to the winner of an event in a sports festival held in Bad Pyrmont.

German M43 field cap

Object

Dark blue, M43 style, wool field cap. Although ski caps predate World War II, the M43 field cap variation became synonymous with the Wehrmacht and Schutzstaffel (SS). Based on the colors and material, this cap was possibly worn by a member of the Feuerschutzpolizei [Fire Protection Police], a fire police unit in Nazi Germany and a branch of the Ordnungspolizei, the organization that oversaw all Nazi Germany's law enforcement and emergency response groups. The maker's information on the interior indicates that this cap was manufactured by master furrier, Erich Reckewerth, who owned a shop in Seelze, Germany.

Deutscher Reichsbund für Leibesübungen [German Imperial Commission for Physical Exercise] sports badge

Object

DRL Sport Badge. DRL [Deutscher Reichsbund für Leibesübungen / German Imperial Commission for Physical Exercise] replaced the DRA [Deutscher Reichs-Ausschuss / German National Committee for Physical Training) in 1934. The swastika was added in 1937. The bronze grade was awarded to men and women, ages 18 to 32, who passed 5 parts of National Fitness Tests within 12 months. Germany's selection as the host country for the 1936 Olympics generated widespread interest in physical fitness and led to the institution of a national sports badge. Soon after Adolf Hitler took power in 1933, the Nazis increasingly excluded Jews from German sport and recreational facilities. Hitler had the name changed to Nationalsozialistischer Reichsbund für Leibesübungen (NSRL) [National Socialist League of the Reich for Physical Education] on December 21, 1938 and the organization officially was placed under the Nazi Party in an effort to control all aspects of Germany economic, social, and cultural life.

Glass ashtray for the 1936 Olympics

Object

Glass ashtray for the 1936 Olympics. Nazi Germany used the 1936 Olympic Games for propaganda purposes. The Nazis promoted an image of a new, strong, and united Germany while hiding the regime's targeting of Jews and other minorities, in addition to Germany's growing militarism. "Non-Aryan" Jews and Roma (Gypsies) were excluded from representing Germany except for Helene Mayer who won silver in individual fencing. The ashtray design includes the Olympic bell, which was built for a new bell tower adjacent to the newly constructed stadium. This ashtray would have been sold as a souvenir to celebrate and promote the games.

Box of burn bandages

Object

Box of burn bandages manufactured in 1939 by Max Kermes, in Hainichen.

1938 bronze 2 Reichsmark

Object

1938 bronze 2 Reichsmark (ℛ︁ℳ︁). The Reichsmark was the currency of Germany from 1924 through the end of World War II. Starting in 1935, the national emblem consisting of a Reichsadler and the Nazi swastika was added. 1 Reichsmark was equal to 100 Reichspfennig (ℛ︁₰). During World War II, bronze and aluminium-bronze coins were replaced by zinc and aluminium. The 2 ℛ︁₰ was discontinued because it was too easily mistaken for the 5 ℛ︁₰ when struck in the same metal. The letter "G" on the back refers to the state mint of Karlsruhe, Germany.

Mother and child pin 1934

Object

German Mother's Day pin used as part of a fundraising drive in 1934. The National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt or NSV] was a social welfare organization during the Third Reich. It officially became part of the Nazi Party in 1933 and oversaw groups such as the Mother and Child [Mutter und Kind or MuK] organization founded in 1934. The role of the MuK was to care for German mothers and their children. The organization encouraged women to have as many children as possible to increase the "Aryan" population to ensure Nazi Germany maintained control in future generations. This pin would have been gifted in exchange for a donation to the NSV during a street collection. It originally would have had text along the bottom edge that read: "Für Mutter u. Kind 1934".

Nazi Party parliamentary election pin 1933

Object

Nazi Party parliamentary elections 1933 pin. The parliamentary elections were held on November 12, 1933 after the Nazi party seized power and banned all opposition parties in July 1933. Only the Nazi Party or party supporters were listed on the ballot and many voters felt intimidated into voting yes. Official results showed 92 percent of voters approved of the ballot with a 96 percent turnout. This campaign pin would have been worn leading up to the election to show support for the Nazi Party and to advertise the election. This style of mass-produced, die stamped pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Hitler Youth pin

Object

Hitler Youth copper-colored pin possibly commemorating a 1938 event. The Hitler Youth [Hitlerjugend or HJ] was a Nazi organization leading up to and during World War II. The HJ consisted of a boys' branch and a girls' branch with the latter named the League of German Girls [Bund Deutscher Mädel or BDM]. The Hitler Youth movement grew to dominate the lives of Germany's youth in order to more easily indoctrinate them in Nazi ideology through mandated membership, Nazi organized meetings, rallies, and training academies.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] Adolf Hitler glass donation badge

Object

Glass pendant with a portrait of Adolf Hitler distributed in 1940. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Reich Mothers' Service stickpin

Object

Reichsmütterdienst (Reich Mothers' Service) stickpin. The Nazi regime relied on two women’s organizations, the Deutsches Frauenwerk (DFW) and the National Socialist Women’s League (Nationalsozialistische Frauenschaft or NSF). The Reich Mothers’ Service [Reichsmütterdienst or RMD] of the DFW was jointly supported by both organizations. The purpose of these organizations was to encourage German women to have more children and prepare them for their role as housewives and mothers as dictated by Nazi ideology. Men and women both had roles in the Nazi regime and women’s role was to birth as many “racially pure” children as possible to grow the German military and to help populate conquered territory. The Reich Mothers' Service held charity drives alongside groups such as the Winter Relief of the German People [Winterhilfswerk or WHW]. This stickpin would have been gifted to the donor.

National festival ribbon pin

Object

National Festival 1936 ribbon held in Düsseldorf. In order for the Nazi regime to establish political legitimacy and create what they envisioned as a unified German culture [Volksgemeinschaft], they held a series of national festivals to maximize the number of people exposed to Nazi propaganda. These festivals were designed as monumental events that could also be scaled down for smaller community festivals. The goal was for this reimagined festival industry to increase support for the Nazi state by providing the German people with a break from the political, social, and economic upheaval they were experiencing.

Berlin International Film Congress pin 1935

Object

Berlin International Film Congress 1935 pin. Berlin hosted the International Film Chamber [Internationale Filmkammer or IFK] in 1935. It was a joint campaign by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy backed by the Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda (RMVP). Several European countries were represented at the event with the goal of developing a European film industry that could rival Hollywood. Nazi Germany sought to create a distinctly 'European' industry with culture and nationalism at its core as opposed to the materialistic American industry. This pin was distributed to commemorate the multi-day event.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] donation pin for the National Socialist War Victim's Care

Object

NSKOV donation pin distributed in 1942. The National Socialist War Victim's Care (Nationalsozialistische Kriegsopferversorgung or NSKOV) was a social welfare organization for seriously wounded veterans as well as frontline fighters of World War I. The NSKOV was established in 1934 and was affiliated with the Nazi Party until the end of World War II. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes.

Garrison Day stickpin

Object

Garrison Day 1936 stickpin mounted on a red paper flower. The front of the stickpin features the facade of Karlsruhe Palace in Germany. This pin would have commemorated the multi-day event celebrating the German garrison stationed in the city.

Kriegsmarine themed quartets card game

Object

Kriegsmarine themed quartets card game. Quartets is similar to the American game of "Go Fish", although the number of cards varies from the traditional 52 card deck. In the 1930s and 1940s the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology any way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism.The introduction card of this game states that three Wehrmacht quartets were created (Heer, Luftwaffe, and Kriegsmarine), and could be combined to play a larger game.

Dice game with box, directions, and game pieces

Object

Würfeln und Raten "Kunterbunt" dice game with box, directions, and game pieces. It was common for items such as games to be purchased and mailed to active German military during World War II. Games were packaged in small, flat boxes suitable for shipping and could be mailed through the military mail system. This game set would have been favorable for its small traveling size and ability to play multiple games. The blank "Feldpost" label on the base of the box indicates this game set may have never been mailed.

Nazi Party parliamentary election pin 1933

Object

Nazi Party 1933 parliamentary election pin. The parliamentary elections were held on November 12 1933 after the Nazi party seized power and banned all opposition parties in July 1933. Only the Nazi Party or party supporters were listed on the ballot and many voters felt intimidated into voting yes. Official results showed 92 percent of voters approved of the ballot with a 96 percent turnout. This campaign pin would have been worn leading up to the election to show support for the Nazi Party and to advertise the election.

Board game with game board and box

Object

Soldaten-Spiel [soldier game] board game with game board and box. German military themed board game with game board and box. Starting in the 1920s, the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology in every way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism. This game would have originally included six wooden game pieces, dice, and directions.

Cardboard toy soldier

Object

Cardboard soldier on wood block marked "Franz Gördel Wesermünde-G.". Starting in the 1920s, the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology in every way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism.

Cardboard toy soldier

Object

Cardboard soldier on wood block marked "Franz Gördel Wesermünde-G.". Starting in the 1920s, the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology in every way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism.

Cardboard toy soldier

Object

Cardboard soldier on wood block marked "Franz Gördel Wesermünde-G.". Starting in the 1920s, the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology in every way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism.

Cardboard toy soldier

Object

Cardboard soldier on wood block marked "Franz Gördel Wesermünde-G.". Starting in the 1920s, the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology in every way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism.

Cardboard toy soldier

Object

Cardboard soldier on wood block marked "Franz Gördel Wesermünde-G.". Starting in the 1920s, the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology in every way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism.

Cardboard toy soldier

Object

Cardboard soldier on wood block marked "Franz Gördel Wesermünde-G.". Starting in the 1920s, the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology in every way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism.

Cardboard toy soldier

Object

Cardboard soldier on wood block marked "Franz Gördel Wesermünde-G.". Starting in the 1920s, the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology in every way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism.

Cardboard toy soldier

Object

Cardboard soldier on wood block marked "Franz Gördel Wesermünde-G.". Starting in the 1920s, the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology in every way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism.

Daily calendar for 1941

Object

Small 1941 daily, tear away style calendar. When Joseph Goebbels became the Nazi Minister for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda in 1933, he sought to regulate all facets of German culture. As such, influential figures in history, politics, art, music, etc. that aligned with Nazi ideology were promoted, including those that fit their definition of Germanic Herrenvolk [master race]. More importantly, Nazi declared enemies of the Nazi Party such as Jews, Romani, and communists. This calendar is an example of how Nazi propaganda infiltrated even the most mundane, everyday items in an attempt to fully indoctrinate Germans. The back of each sheet includes a quote or proverb by notable Germans that would have been approved by the Nazi regime, including quotes directly from Adolf Hitler's speeches and Mein Kampf.

German Red Cross pin

Object

German Red Cross donation pin distributed in 1936. The Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) [German Red Cross] provides healthcare services and emergency medical aid. The organization predates the Third Reich, but In December 1937, the DRK became a unit of the Nazi Party, and it became a Social Work Organization within the Ministry of the Interior in 1938. It had no relationship with the International Red Cross during this time. It was an active aid organization, helping German soldiers in the field and operating recovery hospitals. The DRK was disbanded after the war in 1945 pursuant to denazification decrees. The DRK held charity drives to fund their efforts and would gift pins like these to donors.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] dragonfly donation badge

Object

WHW dragonfly glass pendant with attached string, distributed in 1940. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Nazi Party pin for the parliamentary election 1936

Object

Nazi Party pin for the parliamentary election in Germany on March 29, 1936. The Nazi Party was the only party on the ballot. This was the first German election held after the Nuremberg Laws were enacted in 1935, stripping citizenship from Jews and other ethnic minorities, which included the right to vote. The pin features the slogan "Freedom and bread," which the Nazi Party used during its rise to power. The slogan was part of a larger propaganda campaign to gain favor with the German population following several devastating economic events, all under the guise of a political party seeking totalitarian rule and racial purity.

Nazi Party pin for the parliamentary election 1936

Object

Nazi Party pin for the parliamentary election in Germany on March 29, 1936. The Nazi Party was the only party on the ballot. This was the first German election held after the Nuremberg Laws were enacted in 1935, stripping citizenship from Jews and other ethnic minorities, which included the right to vote. The pin features the slogan "Freedom and bread," which the Nazi Party used during its rise to power. The slogan was part of a larger propaganda campaign to gain favor with the German population following several devastating economic events, all under the guise of a political party seeking totalitarian rule and racial purity.

Nazi Party pin for the parliamentary election 1936

Object

Nazi Party pin for the parliamentary election in Germany on March 29, 1936. The Nazi Party was the only party on the ballot. This was the first German election held after the Nuremberg Laws were enacted in 1935, stripping citizenship from Jews and other ethnic minorities, which included the right to vote. The pin features the slogan "Freedom and bread," which the Nazi Party used during its rise to power. The slogan was part of a larger propaganda campaign to gain favor with the German population following several devastating economic events, all under the guise of a political party seeking totalitarian rule and racial purity.

Nazi Party pin for the parliamentary election 1936

Object

Nazi Party pin for the parliamentary election in Germany on March 29, 1936. The Nazi Party was the only party on the ballot. This was the first German election held after the Nuremberg Laws were enacted in 1935, stripping citizenship from Jews and other ethnic minorities, which included the right to vote. The pin features the slogan "Freedom and bread," which the Nazi Party used during its rise to power. The slogan was part of a larger propaganda campaign to gain favor with the German population following several devastating economic events, all under the guise of a political party seeking totalitarian rule and racial purity.

Nazi Party pin for the parliamentary election 1936

Object

Nazi Party pin for the parliamentary election in Germany on March 29, 1936. The Nazi Party was the only party on the ballot. This was the first German election held after the Nuremberg Laws were enacted in 1935, stripping citizenship from Jews and other ethnic minorities, which included the right to vote. The pin features the slogan "Freedom and bread," which the Nazi Party used during its rise to power. The slogan was part of a larger propaganda campaign to gain favor with the German population following several devastating economic events, all under the guise of a political party seeking totalitarian rule and racial purity.

Nazi Party pin for the parliamentary election 1936

Object

Nazi Party pin for the parliamentary election in Germany on March 29, 1936. The Nazi Party was the only party on the ballot. This was the first German election held after the Nuremberg Laws were enacted in 1935, stripping citizenship from Jews and other ethnic minorities, which included the right to vote. The pin features the slogan "Freedom and bread," which the Nazi Party used during its rise to power. The slogan was part of a larger propaganda campaign to gain favor with the German population following several devastating economic events, all under the guise of a political party seeking totalitarian rule and racial purity.

Adolf Hitler pin

Object

Adolf Hitler pin. The slogan Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer [One People, One Country, One Leader] was one of the central slogans used by Hitler and the Nazi Party. Nazi propaganda portrayed their leader (Fuhrer) as the living embodiment of the German nation and people. This slogan reinforced the cult of Hitler and the sense of destiny that the Party claimed made him the savior of Germany and father of the German people. This pin may have been connected to the annexation of Austria in 1938 (Anschluss), Nazi Germany's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. This style of mass-produced, die stamped pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Adolf Hitler pin

Object

Adolf Hitler pin. The slogan Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer [One People, One Country, One Leader] was one of the central slogans used by Hitler and the Nazi Party. Nazi propaganda portrayed their leader (Fuhrer) as the living embodiment of the German nation and people. This slogan reinforced the cult of Hitler and the sense of destiny that the Party claimed made him the savior of Germany and father of the German people. This pin may have been connected to the annexation of Austria in 1938 (Anschluss), Nazi Germany's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. This style of mass-produced, die stamped pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Children to the countryside pin

Object

Kinder aufs Land (relocation of children to the countryside) charity drive pin 1934. The National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt or NSV] was a social welfare organization during the Third Reich. It officially became part of the Nazi Party in 1933 and oversaw groups such as the Mother and Child [Mutter und Kind or MuK] organization founded in 1934. The role of the MuK was to care for what the Nazis considered as "Aryan" mothers and their children. One program the MuK administered was the restructuring of the Kinderlandverschickung (KLV) or Verschickung der Kinder auf das Land [relocation of children to the countryside]. The KLV was a program that organized recreational, rural trips for city children. To fund their initiatives, the MuK ran charity drives where this type of pin was gifted to donors. This style of mass-produced, die stamped pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Children to the countryside pin

Object

Kinder aufs Land (relocation of children to the countryside) charity drive pin 1934. The National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt or NSV] was a social welfare organization during the Third Reich. It officially became part of the Nazi Party in 1933 and oversaw groups such as the Mother and Child [Mutter und Kind or MuK] organization founded in 1934. The role of the MuK was to care for what the Nazis considered as "Aryan" mothers and their children. One program the MuK administered was the restructuring of the Kinderlandverschickung (KLV) or Verschickung der Kinder auf das Land [relocation of children to the countryside]. The KLV was a program that organized recreational, rural trips for city children. To fund their initiatives, the MuK ran charity drives where this type of pin was gifted to donors. This style of mass-produced, die stamped pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Children to the countryside pin

Object

Kinder aufs Land (relocation of children to the countryside) charity drive pin 1934. The National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt or NSV] was a social welfare organization during the Third Reich. It officially became part of the Nazi Party in 1933 and oversaw groups such as the Mother and Child [Mutter und Kind or MuK] organization founded in 1934. The role of the MuK was to care for what the Nazis considered as "Aryan" mothers and their children. One program the MuK administered was the restructuring of the Kinderlandverschickung (KLV) or Verschickung der Kinder auf das Land [relocation of children to the countryside]. The KLV was a program that organized recreational, rural trips for city children. To fund their initiatives, the MuK ran charity drives where this type of pin was gifted to donors. This style of mass-produced, die stamped pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Nazi Party pin for Mother's Day 1935

Object

Nazi Party pin for Mother's Day 1935. It was issued by the NS-Frauenschaft (NSF), the National Socialist Women's League, the women's auxiliary of the Nazi Party. Although Mother's Day already existed, the Nazi regime co-opted the holiday for their own propagandistic purposes. In 1933, Muttertag was declared an official German holiday to further Adolf Hitler's plan to create the ideal "Aryan" community (Volksgemeinschaft). Women were told it was their duty to have as many "racially pure" children as possible and to focus on their roles as wives and mothers. in 1934, the NSF created the Reichsmütterdienst [National Mother's Services] , which provided women with training courses on health, household, and education issues. The NSF had one street collection drive for the Reichsmütterdiesnt in May 1935 where this pin would have gifted to donors.

Nazi Party pin for Mother's Day 1935

Object

Nazi Party pin for Mother's Day 1935. It was issued by the NS-Frauenschaft (NSF), the National Socialist Women's League, the women's auxiliary of the Nazi Party. Although Mother's Day already existed, the Nazi regime co-opted the holiday for their own propagandistic purposes. In 1933, Muttertag was declared an official German holiday to further Adolf Hitler's plan to create the ideal "Aryan" community (Volksgemeinschaft). Women were told it was their duty to have as many "racially pure" children as possible and to focus on their roles as wives and mothers. in 1934, the NSF created the Reichsmütterdienst [National Mother's Services] , which provided women with training courses on health, household, and education issues. The NSF had one street collection drive for the Reichsmütterdiesnt in May 1935 where this pin would have gifted to donors.

Deutsches Jugenherbergswerk [German Youth Hostel] rune donation badge

Object

WHW red Kampf rune glass pendant distributed in 1940 for the Deutsches Jugenherbergswerk [German Youth Hostel]. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Deutsches Jugenherbergswerk [German Youth Hostel] rune donation badge

Object

WHW black Sig rune glass pendant distributed in 1940 for the Deutsches Jugenherbergswerk [German Youth Hostel]. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Deutsches Jugenherbergswerk [German Youth Hostel] rune donation badge

Object

WHW yellow Erntesegen rune glass pendant distributed in 1940 for the Deutsches Jugenherbergswerk [German Youth Hostel]. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Deutsches Jugenherbergswerk [German Youth Hostel] rune donation badge

Object

WHW red Leben rune glass pendant distributed in 1940 for the Deutsches Jugenherbergswerk [German Youth Hostel]. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Deutsches Jugenherbergswerk [German Youth Hostel] rune donation badge

Object

WHW red Leben rune glass pendant distributed in 1940 for the Deutsches Jugenherbergswerk [German Youth Hostel]. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Deutsches Jugenherbergswerk [German Youth Hostel] rune donation badge

Object

WHW green Blut-Boden or Odal rune glass pendant distributed in 1940 for the Deutsches Jugenherbergswerk [German Youth Hostel]. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Deutsches Jugenherbergswerk [German Youth Hostel] rune donation badge

Object

WHW green Blut-Boden or Odal rune glass pendant distributed in 1940 for the Deutsches Jugenherbergswerk [German Youth Hostel]. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland [National Association for Germans Abroad] pin

Object

Winterhilfswerk des Deutschen Volkes [Winter Relief for the German People] donation pin distributed around 1933-1934 for the VDA. The Verein für Deutsche Kulturbeziehungen im Ausland [Association for German cultural relations abroad or VDA], was one iteration of a German cultural organization originally created in 1880. The name was changed to Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland [National Association for Germans Abroad] in 1933 with the rise of the Nazi Party. During World War II, its operations included using Germans living abroad for international espionage and preserving what they considered traditional German culture. Prior to and during World War II, the VDA distributed donation badges, postcards and other items to raise funds for its charity work. This was done alongside similar charity drives such as the WHW and the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK/German Red Cross). This style of mass-produced, die stamped pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland [National Association for Germans Abroad] pin

Object

VDA pin with the Eger coat of arms. The Verein für Deutsche Kulturbeziehungen im Ausland [Association for German cultural relations abroad or VDA], was one iteration of a German cultural organization originally created in 1880. The name was changed to Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland [National Association for Germans Abroad] in 1933 with the rise of the Nazi Party. During World War II, its operations included using Germans living abroad for international espionage and preserving what they considered traditional German culture. Prior to and during World War II, the VDA distributed donation badges, postcards and other items to raise funds for its charity work. This was done alongside similar charity drives such as the Winterhilfswerk (WHW) and the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK/German Red Cross). The series for this pin featured coats of arms for cities outside Germany, but with a significant German population. This style of mass-produced, die stamped pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland [National Association for Germans Abroad] pin

Object

VDA donation pin with a blue cornflower, distributed around 1933-1934. The Verein für Deutsche Kulturbeziehungen im Ausland [Association for German cultural relations abroad or VDA], was one iteration of a German cultural organization originally created in 1880. The name was changed to Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland [National Association for Germans Abroad] in 1933 with the rise of the Nazi Party. During World War II, its operations included using Germans living abroad for international espionage and preserving what they considered traditional German culture. Prior to and during World War II, the VDA distributed donation badges, postcards and other items to raise funds for its charity work. This was done alongside similar charity drives such as the Winterhilfswerk (WHW) and the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK/German Red Cross). This style of mass-produced, die stamped pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] fight against hunger and cold donation pin

Object

Fight against hunger and cold [Wir Kampften Gegen Hunger und Kälte] donation pin distributed in 1934. This pin was created by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt], the social welfare organization during the Nazi regime. It shared many similarities to the welfare organization of the previous Weimar Republic, but the slogan was deliberately changed from “Wir helfen uns!" to “Kampf gegen Hunger und Kälte”. Using the term"kampf" [struggle] served to create a collective feeling of a German people under seige. Members of the Hitler Youth and other organizations would collect money and the donors would receive small souvenir gratitude gifts such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] Struwwelpeter character pin

Object

WHW Struwwelpeter (Moor) ceramic pin distributed in 1942. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] Struwwelpeter character pin

Object

WHW Struwwelpeter (Kaspar) ceramic pin distributed in 1942. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] Struwwelpeter character pin

Object

WHW Struwwelpeter (Wilhelm) ceramic pin distributed in 1942. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] farmer figure pin

Object

WHW ceramic donation pin distributed in 1939 as part of the German occupations series (farmer sowing seed). The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] Gaus traditional dress figure pin

Object

WHW ceramic German traditional dress pin distributed in 1937. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] Gaus traditional dress figure pin

Object

WHW ceramic German traditional dress pin distributed in 1937. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Schöneberg-Friedenhauer music week pin

Object

Schöneberg-Friedenauer music week pin from 1934. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party sought to control all aspects of German culture through Gleichschaltung [Nazification]. Dictating what music could be played - by whom and through what mediums, allowed the Nazi regime to control what constituted German music while promoting Aryan ideologies. Hitler was influenced by the music culture of ancient Greece and believed composers should create music pleasing to all Germans and it was the responsibility of the state to make it accessible. In turn, Jewish or other composers and musicians determined to be "degenerate" and "anti-German" were forbidden from playing in public and their music could not be performed. This pin commemorates a music festival that would have been organized by the Reich Chamber of Culture [Reichskulturkammer]. The pin features the image of a lyre, a string instrument synonymous with ancient Greece.

Schöneberg-Friedenhauer music week pin

Object

Schöneberg-Friedenauer music week pin from 1934. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party sought to control all aspects of German culture through Gleichschaltung [Nazification]. Dictating what music could be played - by whom and through what mediums, allowed the Nazi regime to control what constituted German music while promoting Aryan ideologies. Hitler was influenced by the music culture of ancient Greece and believed composers should create music pleasing to all Germans and it was the responsibility of the state to make it accessible. In turn, Jewish or other composers and musicians determined to be "degenerate" and "anti-German" were forbidden from playing in public and their music could not be performed. This pin commemorates a music festival that would have been organized by the Reich Chamber of Culture [Reichskulturkammer]. The pin features the image of a lyre, a string instrument synonymous with ancient Greece.

Nazi Party pin for the Nuremberg rally 1939

Object

Nazi Party Rally [Reichsparteitag] 1939 badge celebrating motherhood and fertility. The Nazi Party held large, annual rallies at the party grounds in Nuremberg from 1933-1938. These elaborate events were the perfect vehicle to spread Nazi party propaganda and to showcase the power of National Socialism to the world. Hitler often introduced new initiatives at these events including the Nuremberg Laws in 1935, which stripped citizen rights from Jews and other minorities the Nazis considered separate from the supposedly superior “Aryan” race. The theme of 1939 was to be Reichsparteitag des Friedens [Rally for Peace] However, it had to be canceled because of war preparations. The rallies were usually staged around the first week of September, and on September 1, 1939, Germany launched its invasion of Poland.

Nazi Party pin for the Nuremberg rally 1939

Object

Nazi Party Rally [Reichsparteitag] 1939 badge celebrating motherhood and fertility. The Nazi Party held large, annual rallies at the party grounds in Nuremberg from 1933-1938. These elaborate events were the perfect vehicle to spread Nazi party propaganda and to showcase the power of National Socialism to the world. Hitler often introduced new initiatives at these events including the Nuremberg Laws in 1935, which stripped citizen rights from Jews and other minorities the Nazis considered separate from the supposedly superior “Aryan” race. The theme of 1939 was to be Reichsparteitag des Friedens [Rally for Peace] However, it had to be canceled because of war preparations. The rallies were usually staged around the first week of September, and on September 1, 1939, Germany launched its invasion of Poland.

Nazi Party pin for Labor Day 1934

Object

Nazi Party Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit) 1934 pin. Labor Day (also known as May Day) takes place on May 1 to celebrate laborers and the working classes. In April 1933, after the Nazi party took control of the German government, May 1 was appropriated as the “Day of National Work,” with all celebrations organized by the government. On May 2, the Nazi party banned all independent trade-unions, bringing them under state control of the German Labor Front. This style of mass-produced, die stamped pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Nazi Party pin for Labor Day 1934

Object

Nazi Party Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit) 1934 pin. Labor Day (also known as May Day) takes place on May 1 to celebrate laborers and the working classes. In April 1933, after the Nazi party took control of the German government, May 1 was appropriated as the “Day of National Work,” with all celebrations organized by the government. On May 2, the Nazi party banned all independent trade-unions, bringing them under state control of the German Labor Front. This style of mass-produced, die stamped pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Nazi Party pin for Labor Day 1934

Object

Nazi Party Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit) 1934 pin. Labor Day (also known as May Day) takes place on May 1 to celebrate laborers and the working classes. In April 1933, after the Nazi party took control of the German government, May 1 was appropriated as the “Day of National Work,” with all celebrations organized by the government. On May 2, the Nazi party banned all independent trade-unions, bringing them under state control of the German Labor Front. This style of mass-produced, die stamped pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Nazi Party pin for Labor Day 1935

Object

Nazi Party Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit) 1935 pin. Labor Day (also known as May Day) takes place on May 1 to celebrate laborers and the working classes. In April 1933, after the Nazi party took control of the German government, May 1 was appropriated as the “Day of National Work,” with all celebrations organized by the government. On May 2, the Nazi party banned all independent trade-unions, bringing them under state control of the German Labor Front. This style of mass-produced, die-struck metal pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Nazi Party pin for Labor Day 1936

Object

Nazi Party Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit) 1936 pin. Labor Day (also known as May Day) takes place on May 1 to celebrate laborers and the working classes. In April 1933, after the Nazi party took control of the German government, May 1 was appropriated as the “Day of National Work,” with all celebrations organized by the government. On May 2, the Nazi party banned all independent trade-unions, bringing them under state control of the German Labor Front. This style of mass-produced, die-struck metal pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Nazi Party pin for Labor Day 1936

Object

Nazi Party Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit) 1936 pin. Labor Day (also known as May Day) takes place on May 1 to celebrate laborers and the working classes. In April 1933, after the Nazi party took control of the German government, May 1 was appropriated as the “Day of National Work,” with all celebrations organized by the government. On May 2, the Nazi party banned all independent trade-unions, bringing them under state control of the German Labor Front. This style of mass-produced, die-struck metal pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Nazi Party pin for Labor Day 1937

Object

Nazi Party Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit) 1937 pin. Labor Day (also known as May Day) takes place on May 1 to celebrate laborers and the working classes. In April 1933, after the Nazi party took control of the German government, May 1 was appropriated as the “Day of National Work,” with all celebrations organized by the government. On May 2, the Nazi party banned all independent trade-unions, bringing them under state control of the German Labor Front. This style of mass-produced, die stamped pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Nazi Party pin for Labor Day 1938

Object

Nazi Party Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit) 1938 pin. Labor Day (also known as May Day) takes place on May 1 to celebrate laborers and the working classes. In April 1933, after the Nazi party took control of the German government, May 1 was appropriated as the “Day of National Work,” with all celebrations organized by the government. On May 2, the Nazi party banned all independent trade-unions, bringing them under state control of the German Labor Front. This style of mass-produced, die stamped pin is often referred to colloquially as a tinnie.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] traffic sign pin

Object

WHW motor vehicle ban traffic sign pin. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] traffic sign pin

Object

WHW no entry traffic sign pin. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] German Army flag pin

Object

WHW Jäger (German Army light infantry) flag donation pin distributed in 1940. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] German military flag pin

Object

WHW German Artillerie swallowtail flag pin distributed in 1940. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] ancient swastika design pin

Object

WHW ancient swastika design pin distributed in 1941. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] ancient Greek swastika design pin

Object

WHW ancient swastika design pin distributed in 1941. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] ancient Greek swastika design pin

Object

WHW ancient swastika design pin distributed in 1941. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] ancient Trojan swastika design pin

Object

WHW ancient swastika design pin distributed in 1941. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] ancient swastika design pin

Object

WHW ancient swastika design pin distributed in 1941. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] ancient swastika design pin

Object

WHW ancient swastika design pin distributed in 1941. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Sturmabteilung (SA) Reserve II membership pin

Object

SA Reserve II membership pin. The Sturmabteilung or SA [storm troopers] were the original paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party. The SA was created after Adolf Hitler became the leader of the Nazi Party in 1921 and its main purpose was to act as security during party events. In 1933, all existing militaristic organizations came under the SA. Members ages 36 to 45 were called SA-Reserve I and members over 45 were part of SA-Reserve II. Although the SA remained an organization until the end of the war, it was ultimately replaced by the Schutzstaffel (SS).

Schlesien battleship crest

Object

SMS [Seiner Majestät Schiff or His Majesty's Ship] Schlesien crest purchased in 1938. The SMS Schlesien was originally built for the German Imperial Navy between 1904 and 1906 and is named after the German province of Silesia. During World War II, it was mostly used as a training vessel, although it was also used briefly in the Invasion of Poland in 1939 to attack Polish artillery positions around Hel and Jastarnia. This painted, wooden plaque was most likely purchased as a souvenir.

Schlesien battleship crest

Object

SMS [Seiner Majestät Schiff or His Majesty's Ship] Schlesien crest purchased in 1939. The SMS Schlesien was originally built for the German Imperial Navy between 1904 and 1906 and is named after the German province of Silesia. During World War II, it was mostly used as a training vessel, although it was also used briefly in the Invasion of Poland in 1939 to attack Polish artillery positions around Hel and Jastarnia. This painted, wooden plaque was most likely purchased as a souvenir.

Sailing award plaque from the Mürwik Naval School

Object

1st place sailing plaque awarded to F.z.S. or Fähnrich zur See (NCO Kriegsmarine rank) Martin Stephan from the Mürwik Naval School in 1939. Mürwik is the main training establishment for all German Navy officers. This establishment would have been where every Kriegsmarine [Nazi Germany navy] officers trained during the Nazi regime. The plaque is made of stamped metal with a bronze finish. Similar plaques were awarded for competitions in other branches of the Wehrmacht [Nazi Germany armed forces].

Decorative shield with 7 Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] pins

Object

Decorative shield with 7 WHW pins from 1941-1942. The Winter Relief Agency of the German People (Winterhilfswerk Des Deutschen Volkes or WHW) was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. The owner of this object would have collected these pins and display board through donations to the WHW in order to showcase their support and generosity.

Das Schwarze Korps tobacco tin

Object

Das Schwarze Korps was the official newspaper of the Schutzstaffel or SS [protection squadron] founded in 1935. The newspaper was created to legitimize the Nazi regime and disseminate Nazi ideology. It was also used to condemn enemies of the Third Reich including Jews, the Catholic Church, and Communists. This tobacco tin was manufactured by a Dresden based tobacco factory. It features the Schwarze name and an image of an SS member wearing an early style stiff kepi [Schaftmütze], a cap with a flat, circular top and flat visor.

Nazi Party desk decoration

Object

Metal Nazi Party desk decoration. The design features a Parteiadler, the emblem of the Nazi Party with the eagle's head facing to the right. The Parteiadler was based on the Reichsadler, an eagle facing left, which was Germany's national emblem during the Third Reich. This ornament is possibly constructed of cast iron and originally would have had a collapsible metal stand attached to the back hinge.

Schutzstaffel (SS) presentation plate for Julfest 1943

Object

Allach porcelain presentation plate for Julfest 1943. After the Nazi Party took power in 1933, the Christmas celebration was renamed "Julfest" in a largely unsuccessful attempt to remove all Christian aspects from the holiday as they did not align with Nazi ideology. The design features a crocus flowers surrounded by snow as this type of flower blooms early or late in the year. This presentation plate [Julteller] would have been approved by Oswald Pohl, head of SS [Schutzstaffel] Economics office under Heinrich Himmler. Based on the markings on the back, this plate was produced by Allach porcelain, which was run by the SS from 1936 to 1945 and used forced labor from the Dachau concentration camp. The company served to manufacture decorative arts for the Nazi regime.

Commemorative metal Schutzstaffel (SS) tray

Object

Commemorative metal Schutzstaffel tray. From the inscription, the tray most likely commemorates an event that took place in Bad Lauterberg on August 26, 1932. The Schutzstaffel was formed in 1925 as a security detail for Adolf Hitler and became a large paramilitary organization by 1933. Effects stemming from the Great Depression caused political unrest and thus, a struggle for power. In July 1932, the Nazi Party became the largest political party in the Reichstag with 230 representatives, but failed to gain a majority prior to Hitler coming into power in 1933.

Chess set with box, game board, and game pieces

Object

Cardboard checkers / chess set with box, game board, and game pieces. It was common for items such as games to be purchased and mailed to active German military during World War II. Games were packaged in small, flat boxes suitable for shipping and could be mailed through the military mail system. This game set would have been favorable for its small traveling size and ability to play multiple games. The blank "Feldpost" label on the base of the box indicates this game set may have never been mailed.

Hitler Youth medic pouch

Object

Black leather Hitler Youth medic pouch. The Hitler Youth [Hitlerjugend or HJ] was a Nazi organization leading up to and during World War II. The HJ consisted of a boys' branch and a girls' branch with the latter named the League of German Girls [Bund Deutscher Mädel or BDM]. The Hitler Youth movement grew to dominate the lives of Germany's youth in order to more easily indoctrinate them in Nazi ideology through mandated membership, Nazi organized meetings, rallies, and training academies. The HJ became a paramilitary group that the Nazi regime used as a recruitment pool for the Wehrmacht. As such, members received specialized training in everything from weapons to transport to first aid. This pouch would have held medical supplies for use in treated wounded soldiers in the field, and would have been worn on the individual's belt for easy access.

Relief portrait of Adolf Hitler

Object

Cast iron wall plaque featuring a bas-relief portrait of Adolf Hitler, possibly produced to commemorate Hitler's 50th birthday on April 20, 1939. His birthday was celebrated as a national holiday throughout Nazi Germany and the lavish celebration served the dual purpose of showcasing Nazi Germany's military capabilities. On the verso are two stamps including the 1933-1935 Prussian coat of arms and the Royal Cast Iron Foundry [Königliches Hüttenamt Gleiwitz].

Relief portrait of Adolf Hitler

Object

Metal relief plaque featuring a portrait of Adolf Hitler. It was most likely a private purchase piece that would have been readily available during the Third Reich. They may have been given as gifts of appreciation and were meant to be framed. The plaque is made from a thin sheet of tin with a silver finish.

Sudetenland medal, ribbon, Prague Castle bar, and box

Object

Medal awarded for participation in the October 1, 1938, annexation of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia by Germany. The image represents the Sudetenland being freed from its shackles by Nazi Germany. The Sudetenland was a region of Czechoslovakia on the border with Germany in which the majority of the population were ethnic Germans. In 1938, Hitler threatened to go to war unless the territory was ceded to Germany. At a conference in Munich on September 29-30, attended by Great Britain, France, Italy, and Germany, but not the democratic government of Czechoslovakia, the borders of Czechoslovakia were revised and the region was annexed to Germany in return for a pledge of peace from Hitler. For those who had participated in both the annexation of the Sudetenland and the occupation of Bohemia and Moravia on 15 March 1939, a bronze Castle Bar was approved on May 1, 1939. This bar features the Prague Castle on the obverse with two triangular prongs on the back, to attach to the ribbon of the Sudetenland medal. The bar and medal are die-struck with a bronze finish.

Das Schwarze Korps tobacco tin

Object

Das Schwarze Korps tobacco tin produced during the Third Reich. Das Schwarzes Korps was the official newspaper of the Schutzstaffel or SS [protection squadron] founded in 1935. The newspaper was created to legitimize the Nazi regime and disseminate Nazi ideology. It was also used to condemn enemies of the Third Reich including Jews, the Catholic Church, and Communists. This tobacco tin was manufactured by a Dresden based tobacco factory. It features the Schwarze name and an image of an SS member wearing an early style stiff kepi [Schaftmütze], a cap with a flat, circular top and flat visor.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] Hitler Youth athlete figurine

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] Hitler Youth track athlete figurine used as part of a fundraising drive during the Third Reich. Under the Nazi regime, the WHW became the state charitable organization and smaller groups were subsumed into the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt or NSV] in 1936. These smaller organizations usually supported a specific cause or agenda including Hilter Youth activities for which members would have participated in street collections. The main role of the WHW and NSV were to raise funds through donation drives in exchange for small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. This figurine was released as part of a series of Hitler Youth athletic badges and features the Hitler Youth emblem.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] police figurine

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] plastic German police figurine used as part of a fundraising drive in 1940. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. This figurine features a policeman wearing a service uniform.

German Mother's Day pin

Object

German Mother's Day pin used as part of a fundraising drive in 1934. The National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt or NSV] was a social welfare organization during the Third Reich. It officially became part of the Nazi Party in 1933 and oversaw groups such as the Mother and Child [Mutter und Kind or MuK] organization founded in 1934. The role of the MuK was to care for German mothers and their children. The organization encouraged women to have as many children as possible to increase the "Aryan" population to ensure Nazi Germany maintained control in future generations. This pin would have been gifted in exchange for a donation to the NSV during a street collection. It originally would have had text along the bottom edge that read: "Für Mutter u. Kind 1934".

Pin for the 1936 Berlin Olympics

Object

Commemorative 1936 Berlin Olympics pin. Nazi Germany used the 1936 Olympic Games for propaganda purposes with the games signaling Germany's return to the world stage after its isolation in the aftermath of defeat in World War I. The Nazis promoted an image of a new, strong, and united Germany while masking the regime’s targeting of Jews and Roma (Gypsies) as well as Germany’s growing militarism.

Hitler Youth knife badge issued by the Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk (German Youth Hostel)

Object

German Youth Hostel Association [Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk or DJH] plastic knife pendant used as part of a fundraising drive was founded in 1941. The DJH was founded in 1919 to create a network of affordable and safe accommodations for travelling school and youth groups in Germany. The DJH came under the Hitler Youth in 1933. The Nazi regime saw the DJH as another avenue for indoctrinating German youth to the Nazi agenda of creating a united German people. To fund its efforts, which included building additional hostels, the DJH organized charity collection drives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes.

French candy box

Object

French candy box produced during the Third Reich that may have originally contained candy such as chocolate cigarettes and a collector's card. The image on the front appears to feature Hitler as a skeleton with the translated inscription: "The dead man on the run". The text on the back refers to collecting 32 "Coucou" cards and mailing them in for a prize to Nieppe. A red stamp on the back appears to reference the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH), which was active from November 9, 1933 through the end of World War II. The LSSAH participated in the invasion of France in 1940.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] embroidered soldier pin

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] embroidered soldier pin with "1510" at the base, and used as part of a fundraising drive in 1938. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] embroidered soldier pin

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] embroidered soldier pin in a plastic frame with "1870", and used as part of a fundraising drive 1937 to 1938. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] donation badge depicting Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] glass pendant depicting Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher glass used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. This pendant was released as part of a famous Germans series which included Adolf Hitler's portrait.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] donation badge depicting Ludwig van Beethoven

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] glass pendant depicting Ludwig van Beethoven used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. This pendant was released as part of a famous Germans series which included Adolf Hitler's portrait.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] donation badge depicting Johann Sebastian Bach

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] glass pendant depicting Johann Sebastian Bach used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. This pendant was released as part of a famous Germans series which included Adolf Hitler's portrait.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] donation badge depicting Helmuth von Moltke

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] glass pendant depicting Helmuth von Moltke used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. This pendant was released as part of a famous Germans series which included Adolf Hitler's portrait.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] donation badge depicting Franz von Lenbach

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] glass pendant depicting Franz von Lenbach used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. This pendant was released as part of a famous Germans series which included Adolf Hitler's portrait.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] donation badge depicting Adolf von Menzel

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] glass pendant depicting Adolf von Menzel used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. This pendant was released as part of a famous Germans series which included Adolf Hitler's portrait.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] donation badge depicting Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] glass pendant depicting Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. This pendant was released as part of a famous Germans series which included Adolf Hitler's portrait.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] donation badge depicting Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] glass pendant depicting Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. This pendant was released as part of a famous Germans series which included Adolf Hitler's portrait.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] donation badge depicting Heinrich der Löwe [Henry the Lion]

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] glass pendant depicting Heinrich der Löwe [Henry the Lion or Henry III] used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. This pendant was released as part of a famous Germans series which included Adolf Hitler's portrait.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] donation badge depicting Heinrich der Löwe [Henry the Lion]

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] glass pendant depicting Heinrich der Löwe [Henry the Lion or Henry III] used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. This pendant was released as part of a famous Germans series which included Adolf Hitler's portrait.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] donation badge depicting Franz Schubert

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] glass pendant depicting Franz Schubert used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. This pendant was released as part of a famous Germans series which included Adolf Hitler's portrait.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] donation badge depicting Franz Schubert

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] glass pendant depicting Franz Schubert used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. This pendant was released as part of a famous Germans series which included Adolf Hitler's portrait.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] donation badge depicting Franz Schubert

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] glass pendant depicting Franz Schubert used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people. This pendant was released as part of a famous Germans series which included Adolf Hitler's portrait.

Embroidered flower patch

Object

Embroidered silk flower patch that may have been included in cigarette packs or cigar boxes similar to cigarette trading cards meant to be collected. The patch was possibly produced in Dresden for Yramos cigarette factory, created and co-owned by Julius Lewin until 1938. Due to the boycott of Jewish-owned businesses after the Nazis came into power, and finally a Gestapo raid in 1937, Julius and his son Hermann were forced to sell the company. The Nazi regime also launched a large non-smoking campaign based on public health concerns. The campaign heavily targeted Jews as responsible for introducing tobacco and its harmful effects to Germany.

Embroidered flower patch

Object

Embroidered silk flower patch that may have been included in cigarette packs or cigar boxes similar to cigarette trading cards meant to be collected. The patch was possibly produced in Dresden for Yramos cigarette factory, created and co-owned by Julius Lewin until 1938. Due to the boycott of Jewish-owned businesses after the Nazis came into power, and finally a Gestapo raid in 1937, Julius and his son Hermann were forced to sell the company. The Nazi regime also launched a large non-smoking campaign based on public health concerns. The campaign heavily targeted Jews as responsible for introducing tobacco and its harmful effects to Germany.

Embroidered flower patch

Object

Embroidered silk flower patch that may have been included in cigarette packs or cigar boxes similar to cigarette trading cards meant to be collected. The patch was possibly produced in Dresden for Yramos cigarette factory, created and co-owned by Julius Lewin until 1938. Due to the boycott of Jewish-owned businesses after the Nazis came into power, and finally a Gestapo raid in 1937, Julius and his son Hermann were forced to sell the company. The Nazi regime also launched a large non-smoking campaign based on public health concerns. The campaign heavily targeted Jews as responsible for introducing tobacco and its harmful effects to Germany.

Embroidered flower patch

Object

Embroidered silk flower patch that may have been included in cigarette packs or cigar boxes similar to cigarette trading cards meant to be collected. The patch was possibly produced in Dresden for Yramos cigarette factory, created and co-owned by Julius Lewin until 1938. Due to the boycott of Jewish-owned businesses after the Nazis came into power, and finally a Gestapo raid in 1937, Julius and his son Hermann were forced to sell the company. The Nazi regime also launched a large non-smoking campaign based on public health concerns. The campaign heavily targeted Jews as responsible for introducing tobacco and its harmful effects to Germany.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] historic German axe pin

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] pin from the historic German axes series, and used as part of a fundraising drive in 1940. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] historic German shield pin

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] pin from the historic Germanic shields series (Thüringisch), and used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] historic German shield pin

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] pin from the historic Germanic shields series (Urgermanisch), and used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Winterhilfswerk [Winter Relief Agency] historic German shield pin

Object

Winter relief organization [Winterhilfswerk or WHW] pin from the historic Germanic shields series (Urgermanisch), and used as part of a fundraising drive in 1941. The WHW was an annual fundraising drive established in Germany by the National Socialist People's Welfare [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt] in 1933. The funds supported citizens during the Great Depression and other NSV initiatives. Donors were given small souvenir gratitude gifts, such as lapel pins, pendants, and badges on a wide variety of themes. In addition to fundraising, the organization was used by the Nazi regime to promote Volksgemeinschaft, a sense of community among the German people.

Bowl

Object

Floral bowl with markings for the Beauty of Labor and Rosenthal porcelain, produced during the Third Reich. Beauty of Labor was a propaganda organization under the German Labor Front [Deutsche Arbeitsfront or DAF], the national labor organization of the Nazi Party. The goal was to encourage productivity through workplace improvements while creating a sense of community and garnering support for the Nazi Party. Philipp Rosenthal founded the Rosenthal porcelain company in Bavaria, but similar to many other Jewish-owned businesses during the Third Reich, Philipp was ousted from the company in 1934. He passed away in 1937, but not before securing his board position for his step-children. However, the Jewish company was forced to close in 1941, allowing the Nazis to step in and continue using the Rosenthal brand name. The company continued producing porcelain during World War II under the DAF. Philipp's son, Philip, returned from exile after the war and joined Rosenthal AG in 1950.

Nazi flag

Object

Small Nazi flag used to show support for the National Socialist political party [Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP]. The design of a red flag with white central disk and black swastika was introduced by Hitler in the 1920s as the flag of the NSDAP. After the Nazis came into power in 1933, two legal national flags were established: the black, white, and red Imperial flag and the Nazi Party flag. By September 1935, the Nazi party flag was the sole national flag of Germany. This flag was used in various iterations, from the massive banners hung at Party Day rallies to small pennants. They were used by the German military, businesses, and individuals.

Hitler Youth armband

Object

Hitler Youth [Hitlerjugend or HJ] member armband, which was a Nazi youth organization leading up to and during World War II. The HJ consisted of a boys' branch and a girls' branch with the latter named the League of German Girls [Bund Deutscher Mädel or BDM]. The Hitler Youth movement grew to dominate the lives of Germany's youth in order to more easily indoctrinate them into Nazi ideology through mandated membership, Nazi organized meetings, rallies, and training academies. Members were required to wear military-style uniforms including armbands such as this one. Uniforms would have been in keeping with the "soldierly" character of the Nazi Party, and conform to certain standards of behavior.

Gas cape pouch

Object

German military issued gas cape pouch produced during World War II. A gas cape protected the wearer against the effects of a chemical gas attack and was made of impregnated fabric or thin rubber designed to be thrown over the soldier for protection. The cape is carried in a pouch either made of rubber or cloth such as this one. The pouch has two loops at the backside to attach to a shoulder strap designed to be worn on the chest, although many soldiers strapped the pouch to the gas mask canister.

German military bread bag

Object

German military bread bag M31 issued in the 1930's and 1940's. Bread Bags were general purpose packs issued to all German soldiers during World War II and were used to carry rations and personal belongings. The bag was traditionally worn on the soldier's belt at the right hip, but could also be worn as a shoulder bag with a strap.

German military ration sack

Object

German Army ration burlap sack used during World War II. These burlap, single compartment bags would have been used to store or transport things like grain in large quantities.

German military ration sack

Object

German Army ration burlap sack used during World War II. These burlap, single compartment bags would have been used to store or transport things like grain in large quantities. The handwritten inscription could indicate that this sack was reused for other purposes.

Shoulder board (set of 2)

Object

Shoulder board (set of 2). These shoulder boards belonged to Heinz Anders, a field-grade officer in the German Wehrmacht [armed forces] during the Third Reich.

East Prussian Flotilla plaque

Object

East Prussian Flotilla plaque acquired by Rudolph Stephan in 1937 while serving on the German minesweeper M146 in the Baltic Sea.

Shoulder board (set of 2)

Object

Shoulder board (set of 2). These shoulder boards would have been worn by a company-grade officer in the German Wehrmacht [armed forces] during the Third Reich.

Sailor's Kriegsmarine cap ribbon

Object

Kriegsmarine [German navy] cap tally or ribbon used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from a torpedo boat half-flotilla

Object

2nd Torpedo Boat Half-Flotilla cap tally or ribbon used in the 1930's by the Kriegsmarine [German navy]. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the Schlesien battleship

Object

Cap tally or ribbon for the German ship, the SMS Schlesien [Seiner Majestät Schiff or His Majesty's Ship], and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the Leopard torpedo boat

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for the German torpedo boat, the Leopard, and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the Karl Galster destroyer ship

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for the German destroyer, Karl Galster, and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the Albert Leo Schlageter training ship

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for the German training ship, the Albert Leo Schlageter, and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from a minesweeper flotilla

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for the 1st Minesweeper Flotilla of the Kriegsmarine [German navy], and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the Kriegsmarine Baltic Sea training division

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for the German Ship's Administration Department of the Baltic Sea, and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the Albert Leo Schlageter sailing ship

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for the German training ship, the Albert Leo Schlageter, and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the Schlesien battleship

Object

Cap tally or ribbon for the German ship, the SMS Schlesien [Seiner Majestät Schiff or His Majesty's Ship], and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the Zähringen battleship

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for the German SMS Zähringen [Seiner Majestät Schiff or His Majesty's Ship], and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the German Torpedo and Intelligence School

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for the German Torpedo and Intelligence School, and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the German Naval Intelligence School

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for the German Naval Intelligence School, and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the Rugard steam ship

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for the German S.S. (Seedampfschiff) Rugard [sea steamer Rugard], and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the Kriegsmarine Baltic Sea training division

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for a Kriegsmarine [German navy] training facility, and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the Kriegsmarine Baltic Sea training division

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for a Kriegsmarine [German navy] training facility, and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the Kriegsmarine non-commissioned officer training division

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for the Kriegsmarine [German navy] Naval NCO training division, and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the Mürwik Naval School

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for the German Mürwik Naval School, and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from the Wilhelm Heidkamp destroyer

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for the German destroyer, Wilhelm Heidkamp, and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

Sailor's cap ribbon from a Kriegsmarine torpedo school flotilla

Object

Black cap tally or ribbon for the German Torpedo School Flotilla, and used in the 1930's. A tally is a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap usually depicted with the name of a ship or other organization. The Kriegsmarine cap tally was introduced in November 1938 as war became imminent and restrictions were placed on the wearing of named cap tallies until they were prohibited entirely in November 1939. A common design is a black tally with gold or yellow text. In the Kriegsmarine, a sailor's cap was associated with the blue service uniform and worn by cadets, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates.

German naval jack flag

Object

German Imperial Reich naval jack flag [Reichskriegsflagge] from 1933 to 1935. It was also used for ceremonial purposes until 1945. This specific type of flag is referred to as a jack, which would have flown on a ship. It features an emblem with an eagle above the letter "M", signifying that it was issued by the German Reichsmarine [Reich's Navy].

Kriegsmarine towel

Object

Kriegsmarine [German navy] towel issued during World War II. This towel would have been issued to all enlisted sailors by the German Navy of Nazi Germany.

Bowl

Object

Square ceramic bowl produced in 1942 for the Kriegsmarine [German navy]. The Royal Porcelain Factory in Berlin [Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur or KPM] was founded in 1763 and produced much of the mess hall dinnerware for the Wehrmacht. This bowl features marks for both KPM and the Kriegsmarine indicating that it was manufactured for the navy of Nazi Germany.

Bowl with markings for the Beauty of Labor and Koenigszelt porcelain

Object

Ceramic bowl with markings for the Beauty of Labor and Koenigszelt porcelain, produced during the Third Reich. Beauty of Labor was a propaganda organization under the German Labor Front [Deutsche Arbeitsfront or DAF], the national labor organization of the Nazi Party. The goal was to encourage productivity through workplace improvements while creating a sense of community and garnering support for the Nazi Party. Koenigszelt was founded in 1860 as Porzellanfabrik Silber & Comp in the city of Königszelt. The bowl features the Koenigszelt maker's mark used from 1930 to 1945.

Mug

Object

Ceramic mug with markings for Hutschenreuther porcelain and the Reich Labor Service [Reichsarbeitsdienst or RAD], produced in 1938. Lorenz Hutschenreuther founded the porcelain factory in Selb in 1857. The RAD was a labor organization established by the NSDAP (Nazi Party) in 1935. RAD service was compulsory for all citizens of Germany, age 19-25, for a minimum of 6 months working on a farm or doing some other type of hard labor. The RAD served to militarize and indoctrinate the general public into the Nazi ideology, instilling the ideal of sacrifice and service for the glory of the Third Reich. This mug features the Hutschenreuther mark used from 1925 to 1939.

Mug produced by Thun porcelain featuring the Beauty of Labor stamp

Object

Ceramic mug produced by Thun porcelain during the Third Reich, and featuring the Beauty of Labor stamp. Beauty of Labor was a propaganda organization under the German Labor Front [Deutsche Arbeitsfront or DAF], the national labor organization of the Nazi Party. The goal was to encourage productivity through workplace improvements while creating a sense of community and garnering support for the Nazi Party.

Wall hanging depicting antiquities of the Rhine and Danube area

Object

Classroom wall hanging depicting archaeological finds such as weapons and jewelry, and produced during the Third Reich. The Nazi Party encouraged archaeologists to find evidence that supported the regime's claims of Germans descended from an ancient, advanced Aryan race. The Nazis used this pseudoarchaeology in their propaganda campaigns in order to generate nationalistic pride while also defending their decisions to invade other regions. Education reform in the Third Reich served to indoctrinate students with the National Socialist worldview, and depictions of pseudoarchaeology effectively contrasted the glorified Nordic race with the "inferior" Jews and other stigmatized peoples. Posters like this one, showing the prehistory of Germany, were designed to hang in classrooms and were distributed to schools throughout Germany with approval from the Nazi Party.

Wall hanging depicting the late Stone Age

Object

Classroom wall hanging depicting the late Stone Age, and produced during the Third Reich. The Nazi Party encouraged archaeologists to find evidence that supported the regime's claims of Germans descended from an ancient, advanced Aryan race. The Nazis used this pseudoarchaeology in their propaganda campaigns in order to generate nationalistic pride while also defending their decisions to invade other regions. Education reform in the Third Reich served to indoctrinate students with the National Socialist worldview, and depictions of pseudoarchaeology effectively contrasted the glorified Nordic race with the "inferior" Jews and other stigmatized peoples. Posters like this one, showing the prehistory of Germany, were designed to hang in classrooms and were distributed to schools throughout Germany with approval from the Nazi Party. This image would have also reinforced Nazi views of men as warriors, hunters, and creators, and women as procreators of future mothers or warriors.

Wall hanging depicting a man and woman of the Bronze Age

Object

Classroom wall hanging depicting a man and woman of the Bronze Age, produced during the Third Reich. The Nazi Party encouraged archaeologists to find evidence that supported the regime's claims of Germans descended from an ancient, advanced Aryan race. The Nazis used this pseudoarchaeology in their propaganda campaigns in order to generate nationalistic pride while also defending their decisions to invade other regions. Education reform in the Third Reich served to indoctrinate students with the National Socialist worldview, and depictions of pseudoarchaeology effectively contrasted the glorified Nordic race with the "inferior" Jews and other stigmatized peoples. Posters like this one, showing the prehistory of Germany, were designed to hang in classrooms and were distributed to schools throughout Germany with approval from the Nazi Party. This image would have also reinforced Nazi views of men as warriors, hunters, and creators, and women as procreators of future mothers or warriors.

Wall hanging depicting clothing from the Bronze Age

Object

Classroom wall hanging depicting clothing from the Bronze Age, produced in 1936. The Nazi Party encouraged archaeologists to find evidence that supported the regime's claims of Germans descended from an ancient, advanced Aryan race. The Nazis used this pseudoarchaeology in their propaganda campaigns in order to generate nationalistic pride while also defending their decisions to invade other regions. Education reform in the Third Reich served to indoctrinate students with the National Socialist worldview, and depictions of pseudoarchaeology effectively contrasted the glorified Nordic race with the "inferior" Jews and other stigmatized peoples. Posters like this one, showing the prehistory of Germany, were designed to hang in classrooms and were distributed to schools throughout Germany with approval from the Nazi Party. This image would have also reinforced Nazi views of men as warriors, hunters, and creators, and women as procreators of future mothers or warriors.

Wall hanging depicting a settlement from the early Stone Age

Object

Classroom wall hanging depicting a settlement from the early Stone Age, and produced in the 1930's. The Nazi Party encouraged archaeologists to find evidence that supported the regime's claims of Germans descended from an ancient, advanced Aryan race. The Nazis used this pseudoarchaeology in their propaganda campaigns in order to generate nationalistic pride while also defending their decisions to invade other regions. Education reform in the Third Reich served to indoctrinate students with the National Socialist worldview, and depictions of pseudoarchaeology effectively contrasted the glorified Nordic race with the "inferior" Jews and other stigmatized peoples. Posters like this one, showing the prehistory of Germany, were designed to hang in classrooms and were distributed to schools throughout Germany with approval from the Nazi Party. This image would have also reinforced Nazi views of men as warriors, hunters, and creators, and women as procreators of future mothers or warriors.

Wall hanging depicting a town scene around the birth of Christ

Object

Classroom wall hanging depicting a town scene around the birth of Christ, produced in 1935. The Nazi Party encouraged archaeologists to find evidence that supported the regime's claims of Germans descended from an ancient, advanced Aryan race. The Nazis used this pseudoarchaeology in their propaganda campaigns in order to generate nationalistic pride while also defending their decisions to invade other regions. Education reform in the Third Reich served to indoctrinate students with the National Socialist worldview, and depictions of pseudoarchaeology effectively contrasted the glorified Nordic race with the "inferior" Jews and other stigmatized peoples. Posters like this one, showing the prehistory of Germany, were designed to hang in classrooms and were distributed to schools throughout Germany with approval from the Nazi Party. This image would have also reinforced Nazi views of men as warriors, hunters, and creators, and women as procreators of future mothers or warriors.

Wall hanging depicting clothing from the Iron Age

Object

Classroom wall hanging depicting clothing from the Iron Age, and produced in 1936. The Nazi Party encouraged archaeologists to find evidence that supported the regime's claims of Germans descended from an ancient, advanced Aryan race. The Nazis used this pseudoarchaeology in their propaganda campaigns in order to generate nationalistic pride while also defending their decisions to invade other regions. Education reform in the Third Reich served to indoctrinate students with the National Socialist worldview, and depictions of pseudoarchaeology effectively contrasted the glorified Nordic race with the "inferior" Jews and other stigmatized peoples. Posters like this one, showing the prehistory of Germany, were designed to hang in classrooms and were distributed to schools throughout Germany with approval from the Nazi Party. This image would have also reinforced Nazi views of men as warriors, hunters, and creators, and women as procreators of future mothers or warriors.

Ribbon

Object

Red silk ribbon ribbon used to show support for the Nazi Party leading up to and during World War II. Adolf Hitler assumed the title of "führer" starting in the 1920s as leader of the Nazi Party. This title changed to "Führer und Reichskanzler" in 1934 and then "Führer und Reichskanzler des Großdeutschen Reiches" [Leader and Chancellor of the Greater German Reich].

German Labor Front buttons

Object

German Labor Front buttons (set of 36), used for uniforms during the Third Reich. The German Labor Front [Deutsche Arbeitsfront or DAF] was the national Labor organization of the Nazi Party, replacing independent trade unions in a process called Gleichschaltung [Nazification].The paper backing features the Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) emblem. The RZM was the primary quartermaster's office and national material control office of Nazi Germany. As noted on the paper backing, the buttons are made of tagua nuts, which were popular in the 1920's. Due to their durability, they were also used for German military uniforms.

Nazi pennant

Object

Small cloth Nazi pennant flag used to show support for the Nazi Party leading up to and during World War II. The red flag with white central disk and black swastika was introduced by Hitler in the 1920s as the flag of the National Socialist political party [Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP]. After the Nazis came into power in 1933, two legal national flags were established: the black, white, and red Imperial flag and the Nazi Party flag. By September 1935, the Nazi party flag was the sole national flag of Germany. This flag was used in various iterations, from the massive banners hung at Party Day rallies to hand-held, paper flags distributed during parades and rallies. They were used by the German military, businesses, and individuals.

Nazi pennant

Object

Small cloth Nazi pennant flag used to show support for the Nazi Party leading up to and during World War II. The red flag with white central disk and black swastika was introduced by Hitler in the 1920s as the flag of the National Socialist political party [Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP]. After the Nazis came into power in 1933, two legal national flags were established: the black, white, and red Imperial flag and the Nazi Party flag. By September 1935, the Nazi party flag was the sole national flag of Germany. This flag was used in various iterations, from the massive banners hung at Party Day rallies to hand-held, paper flags distributed during parades and rallies. They were used by the German military, businesses, and individuals.

Nazi pennant

Object

Small cloth Nazi pennant flag used to show support for the Nazi Party leading up to and during World War II. The red flag with white central disk and black swastika was introduced by Hitler in the 1920s as the flag of the National Socialist political party [Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP]. After the Nazis came into power in 1933, two legal national flags were established: the black, white, and red Imperial flag and the Nazi Party flag. By September 1935, the Nazi party flag was the sole national flag of Germany. This flag was used in various iterations, from the massive banners hung at Party Day rallies to hand-held, paper flags distributed during parades and rallies. They were used by the German military, businesses, and individuals.

Nazi pennant

Object

Small cloth Nazi pennant flag used to show support for the Nazi Party leading up to and during World War II. The red flag with white central disk and black swastika was introduced by Hitler in the 1920s as the flag of the National Socialist political party [Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP]. After the Nazis came into power in 1933, two legal national flags were established: the black, white, and red Imperial flag and the Nazi Party flag. By September 1935, the Nazi party flag was the sole national flag of Germany. This flag was used in various iterations, from the massive banners hung at Party Day rallies to hand-held, paper flags distributed during parades and rallies. They were used by the German military, businesses, and individuals.

Nazi pennant

Object

Small cloth Nazi pennant flag used to show support for the Nazi Party leading up to and during World War II. The red flag with white central disk and black swastika was introduced by Hitler in the 1920s as the flag of the National Socialist political party [Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP]. After the Nazis came into power in 1933, two legal national flags were established: the black, white, and red Imperial flag and the Nazi Party flag. By September 1935, the Nazi party flag was the sole national flag of Germany. This flag was used in various iterations, from the massive banners hung at Party Day rallies to hand-held, paper flags distributed during parades and rallies. They were used by the German military, businesses, and individuals.

Nazi pennant

Object

Small cloth Nazi pennant flag used to show support for the Nazi Party leading up to and during World War II. The red flag with white central disk and black swastika was introduced by Hitler in the 1920s as the flag of the National Socialist political party [Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP]. After the Nazis came into power in 1933, two legal national flags were established: the black, white, and red Imperial flag and the Nazi Party flag. By September 1935, the Nazi party flag was the sole national flag of Germany. This flag was used in various iterations, from the massive banners hung at Party Day rallies to hand-held, paper flags distributed during parades and rallies. They were used by the German military, businesses, and individuals.

Nazi pennant

Object

Small cloth Nazi pennant flag used to show support for the Nazi Party leading up to and during World War II. The red flag with white central disk and black swastika was introduced by Hitler in the 1920s as the flag of the National Socialist political party [Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP]. After the Nazis came into power in 1933, two legal national flags were established: the black, white, and red Imperial flag and the Nazi Party flag. By September 1935, the Nazi party flag was the sole national flag of Germany. This flag was used in various iterations, from the massive banners hung at Party Day rallies to hand-held, paper flags distributed during parades and rallies. They were used by the German military, businesses, and individuals.

Nazi pennant

Object

Small cloth Nazi pennant flag used to show support for the Nazi Party leading up to and during World War II. The red flag with white central disk and black swastika was introduced by Hitler in the 1920s as the flag of the National Socialist political party [Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP]. After the Nazis came into power in 1933, two legal national flags were established: the black, white, and red Imperial flag and the Nazi Party flag. By September 1935, the Nazi party flag was the sole national flag of Germany. This flag was used in various iterations, from the massive banners hung at Party Day rallies to hand-held, paper flags distributed during parades and rallies. They were used by the German military, businesses, and individuals.

Nazi pennant

Object

Small cloth Nazi pennant flag used to show support for the Nazi Party leading up to and during World War II. The red flag with white central disk and black swastika was introduced by Hitler in the 1920s as the flag of the National Socialist political party [Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP]. After the Nazis came into power in 1933, two legal national flags were established: the black, white, and red Imperial flag and the Nazi Party flag. By September 1935, the Nazi party flag was the sole national flag of Germany. This flag was used in various iterations, from the massive banners hung at Party Day rallies to hand-held, paper flags distributed during parades and rallies. They were used by the German military, businesses, and individuals.

Nazi flag

Object

Small Nazi flag used to show support for the Nazi Party leading up to and during World War II. The red flag with white central disk and black swastika was introduced by Hitler in the 1920s as the flag of the National Socialist political party National Socialist German Workers' Party [Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP]. After the Nazis came into power in 1933, two legal national flags were established: the black, white, and red Imperial flag and the Nazi Party flag. By September 1935, the Nazi party flag was the sole national flag of Germany. This flag was used in various iterations, from the massive banners hung at Party Day rallies to small pennants. They were used by the German military, businesses, and individuals.

Nazi flag

Object

Small Nazi flag with unhemmed edges used to show support for the Nazi Party leading up to and during World War II. The red flag with white central disk and black swastika was introduced by Hitler in the 1920s as the flag of the National Socialist political party [Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP]. After the Nazis came into power in 1933, two legal national flags were established: the black, white, and red Imperial flag and the Nazi Party flag. By September 1935, the Nazi party flag was the sole national flag of Germany. This flag was used in various iterations, from the massive banners hung at Party Day rallies to small pennants. They were used by the German military, businesses, and individuals.

German army paper model

Object

German army paper model cut-out sheet featuring Reichsheer soldiers, which was the German army during the Weimar Republic and the start of Nazi Germany. In the 1930s and 1940s, the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology in every way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism. This model was manufactured by Deutscher Herold, an insurance company that joined the Völkisch-Social Bloc [VSB] in the 1920's. The VSB was a political party with similar ideals of the Nazi Party prior to the latter taking power.

German army paper model

Object

Paper army model with cut-out intelligence troops scenes, and produced after Adolf Hitler reinstated conscription in 1935. Starting in the 1920s, the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology in every way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism. This model was manufactured by Deutscher Herold, an insurance company that joined the Völkisch-Social Bloc [VSB] in the 1920's. The VSB was a political party with similar ideals of the Nazi Party prior to the latter taking power.

German army paper model

Object

Paper army model with cut-out mountain troops scenes, and produced after Adolf Hitler reinstated conscription in 1935. In the 1930s and 1940s, the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology in every way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism. This model was manufactured by Deutscher Herold, an insurance company that joined the Völkisch-Social Bloc [VSB] in the 1920's. The VSB was a political party with similar ideals of the Nazi Party prior to the latter taking power.

German army paper model

Object

Paper army model with cut-out air raid scenes, and produced after Adolf Hitler reinstated conscription in 1935. In the 1930s and 1940s, the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology in every way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism. This model was manufactured by Deutscher Herold, an insurance company that joined the Völkisch-Social Bloc [VSB] in the 1920's. The VSB was a political party with similar ideals of the Nazi Party prior to the latter taking power.

German army paper model

Object

Paper army model with cut-out artillery scenes, and produced after Adolf Hitler reinstated conscription in 1935. In the 1930s and 1940s, the Nazi Party targeted German youth for its propaganda depicting the Party as a youth movement characterized as dynamic, resilient, and hopeful for the future. German youth were subjected to the Nazi ideology in every way possible including in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, and even toys. Board games and toys proved to be the perfect vehicle to spread racial and political propaganda to German youth, and toy manufacturers voluntarily produced Nazi-themed items to capitalize on the success of the new regime. Toys included Wehrmacht military scenes to indoctrinate children into militarism. This model was manufactured by Deutscher Herold, an insurance company that joined the Völkisch-Social Bloc [VSB] in the 1920's. The VSB was a political party with similar ideals of the Nazi Party prior to the latter taking power.

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