Adolf Hitler: His Life and Work – a Nazi publication aimed at presenting a softened image of Hitler in occupied Holland

Adolf Hitler: His Life and Work – a Nazi publication aimed at presenting a softened image of Hitler in occupied Holland

ADOLF HITLER ZIJN LEVEN ZIJN WERK – “Adolf Hitler: His Life and Work”. Holland, [January 1942] – first edition. In Dutch. An official “educational” booklet distributed in Nazi-occupied Holland by the German authorities, aimed at shaping a positive image of Adolf Hitler and the German regime in the eyes of the Dutch public. Extremely rare.

After the German invasion and occupation of the Netherlands, the German authorities initially adopted a “soft approach, ” aiming to persuade the Dutch people to willingly embrace the ideals of Nazism. The goal was to reshape Hitler’s image in the eyes of the Dutch population and present him as a worthy leader. Since not all Dutch citizens had read Mein Kampf or were familiar with Hitler’s life story, the NSB (the Dutch National Socialist Party), in cooperation with the NSDAP, decided in late 1941 to publish an updated version of the German booklet “Hitler – His Life and Work”, in an effort to offer a positive perspective on the Führer cult. The booklet was a translated and revised version of “Der Führer – Sein Leben – sein Werk” (“The Leader – His Life – His Work”) – a special propaganda publication issued by the journal Der Schulungsbrief, an educational magazine affiliated with the NSDAP (Nazi Party) and the German Labor Front (DAF), published between 1934 and 1944.

At the opening of the booklet appears a quote from Hitler stating that his sole commitment is to his people. The booklet intertwines the story of his life with excerpts from his own speeches, in an attempt to portray him as a fighter for freedom and justice, whose unwavering belief in his values led to his rise through the ranks. The founding of the Nazi Party on the principle of German racial purity is presented as Germany’s return to its historical values - values that Hitler sought to realize for the first time through political power. 

At the center of the booklet appear the 25 principles of the Nazi Party, as formulated in February 1920, including the annulment of the Treaty of Versailles, and explicit doctrines calling for the exclusion of Jews from all areas of German society. The booklet also presents, in heroic tone, Hitler’s rise to power, the unification of the German people, and the sweeping popular support for their new leader. Throughout, the booklet is illustrated with photographs of Hitler, from his youth, through his early years during the founding of the Nazi Party, his rise to power, and Germany’s transformation into a dictatorship under his leadership.

The original booklet was published by the Central Publishing House of the Nazi Party (Zentralverlag der NSDAP, Franz Eher Verlag GmbH) in Munich. In Amsterdam, it was printed by the “De Arbeiderspers” press in an almost identical format, ironically, this Dutch printing house was originally a social-democratic publishing house! After the Dutch surrender to Nazi Germany, beginning on July 20, 1940, control of the press was transferred to Rust van Tonningen, an NSB member, who began using it to disseminate Nazi materials, hence, the propaganda booklet was printed there. NSB propaganda leader Ernst Voorhoeve sent letters to all district leaders, circles, and distributors, instructing them to promote the booklet throughout the Netherlands. It was distributed to the Dutch public between January 2 and January 12, 1942.

An extremely rare booklet. Only one copy is recorded in the global WorldCat library catalog - held at The British Library in London.

[31] pages. 28 cm. Very good condition.