Nazi Propaganda poster

'Behind the enemy powers: the Jew'

This poster was created in 1945, by Hamil. This poster protrays the theme of propaganda, aiming to influence all Germans. Propaganda is misleading information that is used to promote political causes, coming from the Latin root: pangere- to fasten. Nazi's used propaganda to presaude Germany that Jews were a threat (to fasten the thought into German's heads). 

In this image there is a big man with a big nose wearing a nice suit, with a top hat. This man is Jew, as shown by the Star of David. The Jewish man is standing in between an American flag, an English flag and a Soviet Union flag. These are the flags of the Allied countries. The caption reads “Behind the enemy powers: The Jew. This gives the theory that Jews are attacking Germany.

This poster depicts a  stereotypical Jew behind the American, English and Soviet Union flag. By placing the Jew behind the flags it seems as though he controls the countries. Hamil was trying to warn Germans about the Jews evil actions that are harming families in Germany. The Jewish man looks guilty, as shown by his eyebrows, this implies that he has done something bad/wrong. The quote “Behind the enemy powers: The Jew” suggests that the Jews are manipulating the Allied powers to bring Germany down. This poster shows the Jews as sluggish, evil characters trying to overthrow Germany. Men would’ve been easily persuaded by this image as they want to provide for there families and with rich Jews as the rulers that wouldn’t be possible. Women would’ve tried to control their children’s lives by forcing them to stop interacting with Jews. Even if their friends were Jews, they couldn’t talk to one another. Children are influenced at very young ages by what their parents do, therefore children could’ve tried to protect themselves and stay away from stereotypical Jews. Children might of been cautioned to ask if person was a Jew or not before getting to know them.

This image is unethical because it depicts a negative message through lies. Jews were never trying to harm Germany, Hitler (like many others) needed someone to blame. Jews were infact never a threat to Germany in any way, they helped Germany rise by contributing in wars, education and health care. In this poster Jews are illustrated as filthy rich slobs which is unfair to the Jewish people, as they did nothing wrong. This image was spreading lies, that were designed to cause fear and hate to the Germans.

Credit: 

- geheugenvannederland.nl

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Prejudice and Bias

In the novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne, prejudice and bias are recurring images. Bruno's father was a commandant during World War I, which means he was a high ranked soldier under Hitler's power. With his new position he was moved to Auschwitz, a concentration camp that he was put in charge of. Bruno didn't really know what to make of the move, all he new was that his father had gotten a promotion and now needed the family to back him up and go to Auschwitz with him. Bruno's father was obviously a Nazi supporter and detested the Jews. Bruno didn't really know what was happening on the other side of the fence and didn't know anything about Jews. Bruno finally asked Gretel about the people on the other side. Gretel told him that Jews were horrible people and needed to be punished. Bruno grasped onto this idea, but also thought about how him and Shmuel had become friends when they're not meant to be. Herr Liszt, Bruno and Gretel's tutor answered a question from Bruno very biased:

 "There is such thing as a nice Jew, though, isn't there?"

 "I think, Bruno, if you ever found a nice Jew, you would be the best explorer in the world."

How did Bruno and Shmuel remain friends after all the horrible things people had told Bruno about Jews? Bruno had met Shmuel before he had talked to anyone about Jews, therefore he got to know Shmuel without any premature thoughts about him. If Bruno had met Shmuel after Father, Gretel and Herr Liszt had talked to him, Bruno might of judged Shmuel when he met him. This suggests that prejudice is caused by what parents or people we trust think. When kids are growing up, we are influenced by what are parents think and tell us. 

Another was prejudice can be caused is peer pressure. When you're in a group of friends and everyone else had a different opinion, you are most likely going to go with the flow and change your views based on others. In many groups they have a leader. The leader of Germany (a group) was Adolf Hitler. Many Germans followed him and his ways because Hitler persuaded them. Hitler came up with a Nazi Party Plan that included promises to gain the greatness of Germany again. Some of the points included the 'abolition of the Treaty of Versailles' and 'land and territory (colonies) for our surplus population'.

Gretel was influenced by fathers opinions, Bruno on the other hand, was closed minded and talked to Shmuel based on what he had figured out on his own. This shows that in many situations prejudice and bias is caused by others opinions, in other situations people refuse to judge based on a preempt analysis.   

Image: allmoviephoto.com

The Treaty of Versailles- Fair or Unfair?

“It is the principle of justice to all peoples and nationalities, and their right to live on equal terms of liberty and safety with one another, whether they be strong or weak. Unless this principle be made its foundation, no part of the structure of international justice can stand.”

- Woodrow Wilson

The war between Germany and the allied countries had stopped, but many countries didn't want a repeat of the war. Woodrow Wilson came up with a plan called The Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles was an agreement against Germany, signed by 27 allied countries. British Empire (includes Australia, Canada, South Africa, India and New Zealand), Frace, Italy, Japan, United States, were the main allies, though many countries backed them up. Such as: Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ecuador, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hejaz, Honduras, Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Siam, Uruguay and Yugoslavia. Together they ganged up on Germany and signed a treaty they had designed, putting Germany in fault for World War I.

Negotiations begun on the 18th of January, 1918. The treaty included fourteen points, addressed by Woodrow Wilson. In the actual treaty there were many more demands brought forth by the allied countries, most of which, were harsh and unjust. Many Germans were outraged by the demands and couldn't believe their government had agreed to sign it, especially with all the humility the would be subject to by other countries. The Deutsche Zeitung was raged that they wrote,“In the place where, in the glorious year of 1871, the German Empire in all its glory had its origin, today German honor is being carried to its grave. Do not forget it! The German people will, with unceasing labor, press forward to reconquer the place among the nations to which it is entitled. Then will come vengeance for the shame of 1919." The treaty was added to The League of Nations Treaty Series on October 21st 1919 and became effective on the 10th of January 1920.


Although I agree with the Germans that some of the demands in the treaty were unfair, but fair in a sense. Just a year earlier, on the 3rd of March 1918, the Germans signed a treaty against Russia. This treaty included harsher demands on Russia, than The Treaty of Versailles. It is unfair because Germany wasn't the only country that participated in World War I. Germany lost a lot of land, as stated in The Treaty of Versailles. The over all cost Germany owed was $33 billion.

Overall, The Treaty of Versailles was unfair and fair at the same time. Germany punished Russia in 1918 and now they were paying for it. Germany signed the treaty and took full responsibility for what they had taken part in.












Credits:
- en.wikipedia.org
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