Collection of aerial leaflets dropped on Britain by Germany in the Second World War. [A Last Appeal to Reason by Adolf Hitler; From the Führer's Speech; Wanted for Incitement to Murder.]

WORLD WAR II.

Published by [1940]

About this Item

Three leaflets dropped by German planes over Britain in 1940 - two comprising Hitler's speeches to the Reichstag appealing for Britain to make peace, and an anti-Churchill "wanted" poster mock-up. The "wanted" poster uses one of the most famous images of Churchill, holding a Tommy gun and smoking a cigar. The verso of the leaflet claims, "This gangster, who you see in his element in the picture, incites you by his example to participate in a form of warfare in which women, children and ordinary civilians shall take leading parts. This absolutely criminal form of warfare which is forbidden by the Hague Convention will be punished according to military law. Save at least your families from the horrors of war!". "Goebbels had thousands of the leaflets dropped over Britain. He ceased the program within two weeks, when he realized the image was only boosting Churchill's popularity among Britons" (Manchester & Reid, p. 190). That summer, the Germans targeted more than one hundred towns and cities with leaflet raids, hoping to force Britain to make peace and depose Churchill. Later that year, they switched to bombing, effectively ending their peace efforts. Only a tiny proportion of copies survives: many landed in streams or trees, while police and air-raid wardens retrieved others for wastepaper drives. The leaflets are stored in an envelope with a note that the owner, J. Cahill, was then serving with the Ministry of Home Security; one is stamped "Intelligence Branch", and another has a later note, "German leaflet dropped during the Battle of Britain". William Manchester & Paul Reid, The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Defender of the Realm, 1940-1965, 2012. Three leaflets, varying sizes. Slight toning and minor peripheral chips, Last Appeal with contemporary appeal to save paper attached. In very good condition.

Seller Inventory # 186785

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Collection of aerial leaflets dropped on Britain by Germany in the Second World War. [A Last Appeal to Reason by Adolf Hitler; From the Führer's Speech; Wanted for Incitement to Murder.]
• Publisher: [1940]