JF Ptka Science Books  Post 1168

[One of a long series of posts on propaganda–enter this term in the search box at left to see the listing.]

In my “reading” of the Illustrirte Zeitung (Leipzig) I found this full-page illustrative representation of data (11 April 1929), one of the earliest propoagandist pieces (to my mind) in that magazine, showing the state–and great height–of militaristic weakeness in Germany, one of the lowest points that it reached in the breathing space between the two wars. It was really a picture of nothingness, a mention of the lost possibilities, and also what needed to be done–it was an early call to attention, to arms, to the reconsider of the Paris agreement, of doing “something”. Four years later the rearming business would be kicking into action, six years and five months later, the Second World War would start in earnest.

“Abruestung? Aufruestung!” is the name of the article-ette (roughly shouting Disarmament? ARMAMENT!, or Disarm? ARM!), basically stating that enough was enough, and that now was the time to start the process of having a military again.

Every Germany (basically) would’ve known these facts, but seeing the representations of their zero-strength force of planes and tanks would’ve been an enormous blow.  And it was intended to be so.