- Brief Narrative
- Handbill, printed in New York City, with fraudulent quotes on the front and an antisemitic cartoon on the back. The cartoon shows two men with stereotypical Jewish features outfitting a Christian American man for combat, while the radio broadcasts Jewish pro-war messages. The Talmud quote is ripped from its original context and used to legitimize the antisemitic canard that Jews sought exemption from military service, while simultaneously advocating American intervention in World War II. The handbill’s purpose was to provoke anti-Jewish sentiment in the United States by perpetuating the myth that Jews will harm or use gentiles for their own benefit. The handbill was printed by the Nationalist Press Association, a small New York based print house that disseminated bigoted and pro-Nazi leaflets, pamphlets, newspapers, and flyers across the United States. Much of their information came directly from the Nazi government. The Nationalist Press Association was part of a larger consortium of pro-Nazi organizations that were fueled by antisemitism, strong anti-Communist sentiments, and isolationism. Their aim was to preserve the United States’ neutrality during the war, and to promote Fascist, authoritarian and racist ideals to the public. After the United States entered World War II, many of these organizations ceased operation or were investigated by the Un-American Activities Committee, and lost most of their support. During World War II, over 550,000 Jewish men and women served in the U.S. armed forces: 26,000 received citations for valor and merit, and 11,000 sacrificed their lives for their country.
- Title
- Americans! Stop - Look - Read! Jews Against Military Service
- Date
-
publication:
after 1937 June 26
- Geography
-
publication:
New York (N.Y.)
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection. The acquisition of this collection was made possible by the Philip and Janet Levin Foundation
- Markings
- front, top, printed, black ink : AMERICANS!
front, left, printed, black ink : STOP
front, right, printed, black ink : LOOK
front, bottom, printed, black ink : READ!
front, center, printed, black ink : Jews Against Military Service. / “Exemption of Jews from / military service ‘in accord- / ance with the highest in- / terpretation of Judaism’ is / sought from the United / States Government in a re- / solution adopted tonight / by the Central Conference / of American Rabbis at the / session of the organiza- / tion’s forty seventh annual / convention here.” New York Times, June 26, 1937. / “WHEN YOU GO TO WAR DO NOT GO AS THE FIRST. / BUT AS THE LAST, SO THAT YOU MAY RETURN AS / THE FIRST.” From the Talmud, the Code of the Jews.
back, top, printed, black ink : ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
back, bottom, printed, black ink : Additional Copies Available – 500 for $1.00 Order from the / NATIONALIST PRESS ASSOCIATION / P.O. Box 18 – Station “U” – New York City, N.Y.
back, within image, top near the loudspeaker, printed, black ink : MOBILIZATIONNN / MANPOWER / WAR / DEMOCRACY / ARMS / FIGHT / FIGHT
back, within image, bottom, platform, printed, black ink : AMMUNITION
back, within the image, bottom, paper scraps, printed, black ink : DEAL / SOCIAL SECURITY / NRA / AAA / U.S.A. WPA / ENGLAND DOLE / FRENCH PROMOTIONS / HUMANITARIAN IDEALS
- Signature
- back, lower right corner, printed, black ink : TC[illegible]F
- Contributor
-
Publisher:
Nationalist Press Association
