Robert Ley Tries to Build Hope (January 1945)

Robert Ley was one of the less capable Nazi propagandists. Today I add an article titled “Lippe!,” one of his last articles, dated 18 January 1945. With no good arguments for victory left, he resorts to a standard Nazi argument: since the Nazis had overcome difficulties in the past, they would again in the present.

Last Speech by Gauleiter Hofer (1945)

I have added the last speech by Gauleiter Franz Hofer of Tyrolia and Voralberg, delivered over the radio on 30 April 1945. A few days later he was captured by the Allies. After a lively legal set of proceedings, he lived a long life as an unrepentant Nazi.

63 Issues of "Signal" for Sale

Signal was a glossy illustrated Nazi monthly, printed in over 20 languages. I have a collection of 63 issues for sale:

1940: 13, 14
1941: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23/24
1942: 1-22
1943; 2-5, 7-24

The conditions range. All are complete, but some have loose pages or covers. Some of the war time paper is crumbly. To my non-expert eye, I'd put their conditions this way:

Poor: 12
Fair: 28
Good: 23

Together, the issues give a remarkable view of German wartime propaganda. All issues together: $1100, shipping included.

If you'd like more information, drop me an email.

An East German Textbook’s Explanation of the Berlin Wall

On a recent visit to Germany I picked up some East German history textbooks, which make interesting reading. I've posted one textbook’s account of the necessity of the Berlin Wall.

Völkischer Beobachter Front Pages

I've gotten a start on a long-term project: Posting the front pages of the Völkischer Beobachter, the Nazi Party’s daily newspaper, for the war years. It is an interesting way to follow the trajectory of the war, beginning with victories in Poland and ending in disaster.

Since there are 1500 or so issues this will take me a while, but if you check the page occasionally new months will be added.

The Great Translation Movement and Me

I recently learned of the Great Translation Movement, a fascinating project begun shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. An anonymous group is posting translations of Chinese material, approved by government censors, but not intended for international distribution.

It turns out that according to an article in The Atlantic, my book Bending Spines: The Propagangandas of Nazi Germany and the German Democratic Repupblic, had at least some influence on the originators of the project.

Can I say that I am delighted, minor though my part in this great project may be?

Goebbels Boasts of Electoral Success

Hitler did not win the German presidential election of 10 April 1932, but did well enough to make Goebbels write a boasting article titled "The Rising Tide."