Hitler Wanted for Murder pin

Object | Accession Number: 2015.514.19

Overview

Brief Narrative: Anti-Nazi pin-back button distributed in the United States during World War II. The pin falsely claims that Adolf Hitler’s real name is Adolf Schicklgruber (misspelled on the pin as Schickelgruber). An assertion which was originated by Hans Habe, a Viennese Jewish writer. The claim was based on the last name of Hitler’s father, who was born Alois Shicklgruber. Before Hitler was born, Alois changed his name and it became Alois Hitler. The motif of Hitler’s “real” name was likely an attempt to ridicule the leader and belittle him to the public. Buttons of this type came in various sizes, ranging in diameters from under 1 inch to 3.5 inches. The Adolf Schicklgruber motif was also used on other ephemera, such as posters. After the Japanese surprise attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and Germany’s declaration of war four days later, a wave of American patriotism and anti-Axis sentiment swept through the country. Much of this was manifested through pieces of ephemera such as posters, buttons, pins, cards, toys and decals. Often such pieces would depict unflattering or caricatured images ridiculing the Axis leaders, along with a call to action for the public to aid in their defeat. This sentiment continued in America until the end of the war.
Date: manufacture: 1941-1945
Geography: distribution: United States
Credit Line: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, The Leonard and Evelyn Lauder Acquisition Fund
Markings: front, top, printed, black ink : WANTED FOR MURDER
front, bottom, printed, black ink : ADOLF SCHICKELGRUBER / ALIAS [in italics] “HITLER” [Schicklgruber misspelled as Schickelgruber]

Physical Details

Language: English
Classification: Identifying Artifacts
Category: Badges
Object Type: Pin-back buttons (lcsh)
Genre/Form: Buttons (Information artifacts)
Physical Description: Cream colored, metal pin-back button with an image of the head of Adolf Hitler in the center, flanked by two swastikas. Black, English text is printed below the image and along the top edge. The surface is flat with rounded edges. The back is recessed, silver-colored metal that is covered with a thin layer of surface rust. A vertical, thin metal pin with a pointed bottom end is attached just below the top edge. There is a small, red stain on the bottom edge.
Dimensions: overall: | Diameter: 2.500 inches (6.35 cm)
Materials: overall : metal, plastic, ink

Rights & Restrictions

Conditions on Access: No restrictions on access

Keywords & Subjects

Topical Term: Patriotism--United States. Pin-back buttons. World War, 1939-1945--United States--Propaganda. World War, 1939-1945--United States--Public opinion.
Geographic Name: United States.
Personal Name: Habe, Hans, 1911-1977. Hitler, Adolf, 1889-1945.

Administrative Notes

Legal Status: Permanent Collection
Provenance: The artifact was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2015.
Funding Note: The acquisition of this artifact was made possible by the Leonard and Evelyn Lauder Acquisition Fund.

Record last modified:: 2024-10-03 12:56:41
This page:: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn535150

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