Physical Description
Color poster with an image of a German soldier standing in front of a Nazi flag.
Dimensions
overall: Height: 30.000 inches (76.2 cm) | Width: 20.000 inches (50.8 cm)
Materials
overall : paper, ink
Markings
WAFFEN SS M JÖLNIR Eintritt mit vollendetem 17. Lebensjahr Kürzere oder längere Dienstzeitverpflichtung Auskunft erteilt: Ergänzungsamt der Waffen-SS Ergänzungsstelle Nordwest Für Holland: Den Haag, Stadhouderslaan 132 Für Flandern: Antwerpen, Koningin Elisabethlei 22" [Waffen SS. Join up at the end of your 17th year. Engagement for shorter or longer periods of service. Information available from: Recruitment Office of the Waffen-SS Recruitment Centre for the north-west. For Holland: The Hague [address]. For Flanders: Antwerp, Koningin [address].] 1941
Contributor
Artist:
Mjölnir
Biography
Hans Schweitzer (1901-1980) was born in Berlin, and joined the Nazi party in 1926. As a member of the party, Schweitzer created cartoons, caricatures, and political posters under the penname, Mjölnir. He worked for several Nazi newspapers, including the Völkischer Beobachter (The People’s Observer) and a paper published by early Nazi leaders Gregor and Otto Strasser. With his artistic talents, Schweitzer advanced through the party. He was appointed as an honorary member of the SS and became friends with Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. Later, Schweitzer illustrated several books for Goebbels, including Die Verfluchten Hakenkreuzen, published in 1930. Throughout the 1930s, Schweitzer created images for Nazi antisemitic, political, and election posters. He was also a cartoonist for the paper Der Angriff (The Attack), publish by Goebbels, and illustrated the book, Kampf um Berlin (Fight for Berlin). In 1935, he was appointed as Representative for Artistic Design and worked in conjunction with the Ministry of Propaganda for the creation of exhibitions, erection of monuments, and the development of insignia and national symbols. Later, he worked with a commission to decide how to utilize artwork stolen from Nazi victims. Schweitzer was arrested by American authorities in 1947 and fined 500 deutsche marks for his actions during the Holocaust. In 1955, he had his Nazi record expunged and was able to work as an illustrator and teacher.
