Satirical drawing by Karl Schwesig depicting a German prison
- Artwork Title
- Zellenkrug Nr. 12 (Ulmer Höhe I)
- Series Title
- Rosenmontag
- Date
-
creation:
1933
- Geography
-
creation:
Dusseldorf (Germany)
- Language
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German
- Classification
-
Art
- Category
-
Drawings
- Object Type
-
Cartoons (Commentary)--German (tgm)
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection
Pencil drawing of a jug created by Karl Schwesig in 1933 while he was a prisoner in Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
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Record last modified: 2022-07-28 18:28:31
This page: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn513893
Also in Karl Schwesig collection
The collection consists of seventeen drawings, three watercolors, and 1 typed manuscript created by Karl Schwesig before and after the Holocaust when he was arrested in Dusseldorf, Germany, for anti-Nazi activity and for being a Communist, and incarcerated in multiple internment and prison camps in German and then France, as well as works relating to his wartime experiences done when he returned to Dusseldorf after the war.
Date: 1933-1949
Karl Schwesig political cartoon mocking a Nazi parade
Object
Satirical drawing created by Karl Schwesig in February 1938 in Antwerp, with caricatures of soldiers, a Nazi officer, and Nazi eagles on a parade float. It is part of a series of eight political cartoons published in an illegal newspaper, the Kolner Rosenmontags-Zeitung (Cologne Rose Monday Newspaper). The newspaper was distributed at the Cologne Carnival on Rose Monday before Lent in early 1938. The printer in Cologne was unable to smuggle the dangerous drawings out of Germany, so he kept them in his shop, where they were damaged by a fire during the war. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and jailed for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, Germany, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Cartoon by Karl Schwesig of Nazi soldiers bowing to a part human/part animal puppet
Object
Satirical ink drawing created by Karl Schwesig in February 1938 in Antwerp, depicting Nazi soldiers bowing to a marionette caricature of the Duke of Windsor, formerly Edward VIII of Great Britain, whose given name was David. He abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson. The couple accepted an invitation from Hitler's government and visited Nazi Germany in October 1937. It is from a series of eight political cartoons published in an illegal newspaper, the Kolner Rosenmontags-Zeitung (Cologne Rose Monday Newspaper). The newspaper was distributed at the Cologne Carnival on Rose Monday before Lent in early 1938. The printer in Cologne was unable to smuggle the dangerous drawings out of Germany, so he kept them in his shop, where they were damaged by a fire during the war. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and jailed for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, Germany, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Drawing by Karl Schwesig satirizing the embrace of Fascism in France
Object
Drawing created by Karl Schwesig that was part of a series of 9 drawings entitled "Rosenmontag" representing early anti-Nazi satiric material. The image shows a Nazi military officer with arms outstretched standing on a platform (float?) with wheels beckoning to another man in formal attire and saying, "Komm in meine Liebeslauber." A cave labeled "I Solierzelle" and surrounded by tanks, guns, and soldiers is in the background. A sign to the left of the float says, "Heil Csar! Nieder Mit Uns Franzos."
Satirical drawing by Karl Schwesig depicting Hitler greeting a British diplomat
Object
Satirical ink drawing created by Karl Schwesig in February 1938 in Antwerp, depicting Hitler kissing the hand of a British man in front of his home of Berchtesgaden. It is part of a series of eight satirical drawings published in an illegal newspaper, the Kolner Rosenmontags-Zeitung (Cologne Rose Monday Newspaper). The newspaper was printed in Cologne and distributed at the Cologne Carnival on Rose Monday before Lent in early 1938. The printer was unable to smuggle the dangerous drawings out of Germany, so he kept them in his shop, where they were damaged by a fire during the war. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Satirical drawing by Karl Schwesig depicting the subjugation of Yugoslavia to Nazi Germany
Object
Satirical ink drawing created by Karl Schwesig in February 1938 in Antwerp, depicting a man and three scantily clad women protesting the Slavs. It is part of a series of eight satirical drawings published in an illegal newspaper, the Kolner Rosenmontags-Zeitung (Cologne Rose Monday Newspaper). The newspaper was printed in Cologne and distributed at the Cologne Carnival on Rose Monday before Lent in early 1938. The printer was unable to smuggle the dangerous drawings out of Germany, so he kept them in his shop, where they were damaged by a fire during the war. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Satirical drawing by Karl Schwesig depicting Nazi followers as robots
Object
Satirical ink drawing created by Karl Schwesig in February 1938 in Antwerp, depicting a woman standing next to a robot and cannon. It is part of a series of eight satirical drawings published in an illegal newspaper, the Kolner Rosenmontags-Zeitung (Cologne Rose Monday Newspaper). The newspaper was printed in Cologne and distributed at the Cologne Carnival on Rose Monday before Lent in early 1938. The printer was unable to smuggle the dangerous drawings out of Germany, so he kept them in his shop, where they were damaged by a fire during the war. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Satirical drawing by Karl Schwesig depicting Nazi soldiers as pigs
Object
Satirical ink drawing created by Karl Schwesig in February 1938 in Antwerp, depicting Himmler measuring the udder of a cow with a milking machine. It is part of a series of eight satirical drawings published in an illegal newspaper, the Kolner Rosenmontags-Zeitung (Cologne Rose Monday Newspaper). The newspaper was printed in Cologne and distributed at the Cologne Carnival on Rose Monday before Lent in early 1938. The printer was unable to smuggle the dangerous drawings out of Germany, so he kept them in his shop, where they were damaged by a fire during the war. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Pencil and ink drawing by Karl Schwesig depicting a skeletal Hitler atop an airplane
Object
Satirical ink drawing created by Karl Schwesig in February 1938 in Antwerp, depicting a skeleton with the face of Hitler entering the burning Cologne train station. It is part of a series of eight satirical drawings published in an illegal newspaper, the Kolner Rosenmontags-Zeitung (Cologne Rose Monday Newspaper). The newspaper was printed in Cologne and distributed at the Cologne Carnival on Rose Monday before Lent in early 1938. The printer was unable to smuggle the dangerous drawings out of Germany, so he kept them in his shop, where they were damaged by a fire during the war. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Watercolor created by Karl Schwesig postwar based on his experiences in an internment camp
Object
Ink wash drawing created by Karl Schwesig in 1948 in Dusseldorf. The drawing depicts the hospital in Noe internment camp in France, where Schwesig was held from February to March 1941. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Drawing created by Karl Schwesig postwar based upon his experiences as a political prisoner
Object
Ink wash drawing created by Karl Schwesig in 1948 in Dusseldorf. The drawing depicts people in Noe internment camp in France, where Schwesig was held from February to March 1941. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Drawing created by Karl Schwesig postwar depicting a beating he witnessed in a concentration camp
Object
Ink wash drawing created by Karl Schwesig in 1948 in Dusseldorf. The drawing depicts two guards beating a nude inmate in Noe internment camp in France, where Schwesig was held from February to March 1941. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Watercolor created by Karl Schwesig postwar of Jewish prisoners in a concentration camp
Object
Ink wash drawing created by Karl Schwesig in 1948 in Dusseldorf. The drawing depicts Jewish women from Baden in Noe internment camp in France, where Schwesig was held from February to March 1941. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Watercolor created by Karl Schwesig with a scene of soldiers and inmates in a concentration camp
Object
Ink wash drawing created by Karl Schwesig in 1948 in Dusseldorf. The drawing depicts inmates receiving soup in Noe internment camp in France, where Schwesig was held from February to March 1941. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Etching by Karl Schwesig of 3 inmates at work under an armed guard in a prison camp
Object
Etching created by Karl Schwesig between 1948 and 1949 in Dusseldorf. The drawing depicts three inmates missing limbs and is based on Schwesig’s experiences in internment camps in Vichy France. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Etching by Karl Schwesig showing inmates bartering bread and cigarettes in a concentration camp
Object
Etching created by Karl Schwesig between 1948 and 1949 in Dusseldorf. The drawing depicts an inmate trading cigarettes for bread with a civilian and is based on Schwesig’s experiences in internment camps in Vichy France. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Etching by Karl Schwesig showing one legged inmates going to work in a concentration camp
Object
Etching created by Karl Schwesig between 1948 and 1949 in Dusseldorf. The drawing depicts two inmates missing legs and is based on Schwesig’s experiences in internment camps in Vichy France. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Ink drawing by Karl Schwesig showing one legged inmates working in a field in a concentration camp
Object
Etching created by Karl Schwesig between 1948 and 1949 in Dusseldorf. The drawing depicts four inmates working in a field, three of whom are missing a leg, and is based on Schwesig’s experiences in internment camps in Vichy France. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Etching by Karl Schwesig showing a fellow prisoner writing in a concentration camp
Object
Etching created by Karl Schwesig between 1948 and 1949 in Dusseldorf. The drawing depicts five inmates writing, three of whom are missing a limb, and is based on Schwesig’s experiences in internment camps in Vichy France. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Satirical etching by Karl Schwesig showing men in academic robes saluting a corpse
Object
Etching created by Karl Schwesig in 1949 in Dusseldorf, depicting six men and a military officer saluting over a corpse. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, Schwesig, a Communist, was arrested and imprisoned for 16 months. After his release in 1935, he lived in Antwerp, Belgium. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. Schwesig was arrested and sent to Vichy France, where he was held in St. Cyprien, Gurs, Noe, and Nexon internment camps. In 1943, he was sent to Ulmer Hoeh prison in Dusseldorf, where he was liberated by American forces in April 1945.
Karl Schwesig manuscript
Document
Karl Schwesig's manuscript is not formally titled but has been referred to as "Pyrenäenbericht." It is divided into five sections: untitled (39 pages), "Noé" (8 pages), "Zwischensatz [Noé]" (10 pages), "Nexon" (14 pages), and "Fort Romainville, Kaserne" (11 pages). The manuscript relates his internment as a political prisoner in Holocaust-era concentration camps in France including Noé, Gurs, Saint-Cyprien, Nexon, as well as the Fort de Romainville prison in Paris and the Ulmer Höhe prison in Düsseldorf. It describes the scenery in the Pyrenees, camp conditions, food, his health, the treatment he received, fellow prisoners, daily life, and extraordinary events. The manuscript is accompanied by a map tracing Schwesig's Holocaust era itinerary from Düsseldorf, through Belgium and France, and back to Düsseldorf.
