Abstract

In 1934, Reich President Paul von Hindenburg died, and to consolidate political power, the regime passed a new law immediately after the funeral allowing Chancellor Hitler to hold the title of President simultaneously. Within a month, the government held a referendum to amalgamate the roles of President and Chancellor, in which 98 percent of participants voted in favor. The new title of Führer strengthened Hitler’s authority, as he was now head of both the state and government. This poster was released shortly after von Hindenburg’s death, and was meant to depict Hitler’s personal power, both in terms of his new role as Führer, but also—and perhaps more important in this context—the overwhelming support among the population. The crowd behind Hitler is a mixture of men, women, and children, and based on their clothing, of different socio-economic backgrounds as well. All are cheering and saluting with enthusiasm. Hitler himself stands in a determined and powerful stance, wearing the uniform of the Sturmabteilung (SA or “brown shirts”), his most common attire prior to the war. Already by this time, the economy seemed to be recovering from the worst of the Depression, and the political uncertainty of the past decade was disappearing—albeit at the cost of the mass-incarceration of oppositional voices. These factors contributed greatly to the people’s support for Hitler, as well as to the early strength of the “Hitler myth.”

Propaganda Poster: “Führer We Will Follow You! Everyone Votes Yes!” (1934)

Source

Source: NSDAP propaganda poster on the unification of the offices of Reich President and Chancellor. Publisher: Reichspropagandaleitung der NSDAP. 83,5 x 60,6 cm. Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin, Inv.-Nr.: P 62/1593

© Deutsches Historisches Museum