This pamphlet, disguised as a horticultural guide on how to care for cacti, conceals material from the German Communist Party’s 1935 Brussels Conference including a manifesto and an article entitled ‘the new way to overcome the common struggle of all working people for the overthrow of the Hitler dictatorship’. C.1935.
Courtesy of The Wiener Holocaust Library Collections.
In Nazi Germany, Tarnschriften (anti-Nazi or illegal pamphlets camouflaged as everyday publications) were used to resist Nazi rule and spread opposition. This pamphlet, published in 1934, contained anti-Nazi jokes and humour. To avoid detection and allow for easy distribution, it was disguised as a SA songbook, and even pretended to be published by Franz Eher Nachfolger – the central publishing house of the Nazi Party.
Courtesy of The Wiener Holocaust Library Collections.
At each stage of the Nazis’ persecution of Jews and others that they deemed ‘undesirable’, people resisted their rule, responded to their policies, and collaborated with them in a variety of ways.
This section will explore how people, groups and countries across the world reacted to the Nazi rule and persecution.
On 9 November 1923, Hitler and the Nazi Party tried to overthrow the Weimar Republic. This became known as the Beer Hall Putsch.
On 8 November 1937, an exhibition called ‘The Eternal Jew’ was opened in Munich. The exhibition promoted antisemitic stereotypes.
On 9 November 1938, Kristallnacht took place. Throughout Germany, synagogues were burned and Jewish businesses were looted by the Nazis.
On 8 November 1939, labourer Georg Elser attempted to assassinate Hitler. Elser was later murdered in Dachau concentration camp.
On 24 November 1941, Theresienstadt, a concentration camp and ghetto, was established.
On 20 November 1945, the Nuremberg trials began. Twenty one top level Nazis were tried for crimes against humanity and war crimes.
