A series of illustrated anti-Nazi caricatures. [Alsace, 1942]

A series of illustrated anti-Nazi caricatures. [Alsace, 1942]

8 anti-Nazi caricatures in postcard format (blank on verso), mocking Adolf Hitler and the leaders of the Nazi regime, issued at great personal risk in the midst of World War II. Distributed in the Alsace region C. 1942. All signed MIK (a clandestine cartoonist who operated under strict censorship, whose identity remains unknown to this day).

A collection portraying Adolf Hitler and his men as drunken, idiotic figures devoid of self-control.

Among the caricatures:

Adolf Hitler as "The wicked painter", and "Une 'Gretchen'!" — Gretchen being a stereotypical German youth movement girl, representing childishness and a lack of independent thought.

A bloodthirsty Waffen-SS assassin.

“Le baveu!” – The drooler – a grotesque figure of a German officer, a tattered Nazi in ripped clothes, announcing on the radio: “Marshal Göring informs us that he will eat only 3 chickens for his lunch, in support of the victims of the Cologne disaster. Signed: Hermann Mayer.”

The "Cologne disaster" refers to the massive RAF bombing raid on Cologne on the night of May 30–31, 1942, in which 1,040 bombers participated — the largest RAF attack of the war. In 1939, Göring had boasted: “No enemy bomber can reach the Ruhr... If one does, my name isn’t Göring. You can call me Mayer, ” referencing the common German surname (akin to saying "you can call me Smith"). Hence the satirical signing as Hermann Mayer (i.e., not Göring), suggesting the publication date.

"Gros plein de soupe de la S.A.!" – a grotesque, ridiculous figure from the German SA stormtroopers: sagging body, uniform too small, head bulging out from under the cap – clearly not a fighter but a bloated, mocking brute.

"Grenadier du peuple!" ("People’s rifleman!" or "The common soldier of the people!") – a satirical figure criticizing the dire condition of ordinary German soldiers in contrast to the well-fed, arrogant Nazi leadership.

"Officier boche!" – "Boche officer!" – “Boche” being a common French slur for Germans, particularly soldiers and officers, used in anti-German contexts since World War I.

An extremely rare series, which began to disappear already during the war due to fear of being caught by Nazi forces in occupied France with such direct mockery of everything the Third Reich represented.

Uniform size: 15×10 cm. Some with stains. Overall good condition.