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Windows on War: Russian Posters from World War II

Posted on November 29, 2011

24 November 2011 - 24 April 2012
Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

(LEFT) <b>Paris Is Liberated!</b><br/><i>The bright hour of victory is getting nearer, Dawn is breaking over France. The Soviet warrior sends his greetings, To liberated Paris. In the west and in the east. The land is burning under the Germans. Paris! Do you hear the call of the Kremlin:– Let’s finish off the enemy in his lair.</i><br/>Artist: V. Ladiagin. Text: V.Lebedev-Kumach.<br/><br/> CENTRE) <b>Along Berlin’s “Victories Avenue</b><br/><i>Hitler – kaput, Hitler – kaput, Frederick II. Berlin raised its hands and shouted “Kaput!” Our tanks are advancing along “Victories Avenue”. Frederick is scared, and Bismarck trembles. And Hitler’s shadow is running without looking back. For it seems that “Victories Avenue” has changed its name To “Kaput Avenue”</i><br/>Artist: P. Sokolov-Skalia. Text: V. Lebedev-Kumach.<br/><br/> (RIGHT) <b>Suvorov’s Places</b><br/><i> The Dniester area and the shores of the Danube are covered with the glory of Suvorov’s victories Where our forefathers gained victories in battles,The Russian hero soldier is covered in glory again.And Suvorov, proud of our victory,Congratulates his valiant grandchildren.</i><br/>Artist: P. Sokolov-Skalia. Text: A. Mashistov. Alexander Suvorov (1729-1800) was the fourth and last generalissimo of the Russian Empire and one of the few great generals in history never to have lost a battle. (LEFT) Paris Is Liberated!
The bright hour of victory is getting nearer, Dawn is breaking over France. The Soviet warrior sends his greetings, To liberated Paris. In the west and in the east. The land is burning under the Germans. Paris! Do you hear the call of the Kremlin:– Let’s finish off the enemy in his lair.
Artist: V. Ladiagin. Text: V.Lebedev-Kumach.

CENTRE) Along Berlin’s “Victories Avenue
Hitler – kaput, Hitler – kaput, Frederick II. Berlin raised its hands and shouted “Kaput!” Our tanks are advancing along “Victories Avenue”. Frederick is scared, and Bismarck trembles. And Hitler’s shadow is running without looking back. For it seems that “Victories Avenue” has changed its name To “Kaput Avenue”
Artist: P. Sokolov-Skalia. Text: V. Lebedev-Kumach.

(RIGHT) Suvorov’s Places
The Dniester area and the shores of the Danube are covered with the glory of Suvorov’s victories Where our forefathers gained victories in battles,The Russian hero soldier is covered in glory again.And Suvorov, proud of our victory,Congratulates his valiant grandchildren.
Artist: P. Sokolov-Skalia. Text: A. Mashistov. Alexander Suvorov (1729-1800) was the fourth and last generalissimo of the Russian Empire and one of the few great generals in history never to have lost a battle.
In 1954 the South African Library received a large number of posters produced in the Soviet Union during the Second World War. In 1991 the posters were presented to the South African National Gallery and an exhibition of selected works was shown at the Gallery in 1997.

(LEFT) <b>Glory to the Liberators of Kishinev!</b><br/> <i>Our fighters have covered themselves with eternal glory. By taking back from our enemies. The capital of sunny Moldavia. The Soviet city of Kishinev.</i><br/> Artist: M. Soloviov. Text: A. Zharov<br/> Kishinev, from 1991 Chisinău, is the capital and largest city of Moldova. During World War II Kishinev was almost completely destroyed through the actions of the Soviet, German and Romanian armies, heavy air-raids by the German air-force and a devastating earthquake in 1940. Kishinev was finally taken by the Soviet Army in August 1944.<br/><br/> (CENTRE) <b>The National Flag of the Polish State Has Been Raised over Gdansk</b><br/> Inscriptions in the poster: <i>Danzig Bay, Vistula, Danzig. Our strength is growing and increasing.We have taken yet another fortress –The Red Army has hoisted. The victory banner over the port of Danzig.</i><br/> Artist: M. Soloviov. Text: F. Fedotov.<br/> Gdańsk (German, Danzig) is Poland’s principal seaport. The city was annexed by Nazi Germany shortly after the start of the war in September 1939. The Soviet Army captured the city on 30 March 1945.<br/><br/> (RIGHT)<b> Let’s Exterminate the Hydra!</b><br/><i>…To destroy the German general staff forever…(From the declaration of the Crimean conference)</i> The inscription on the hydra reads: <i>the German general staff.In order to prevent the fascist snake. From destroying millions of lives - We shall destroy the hateful German general staff.</i><br/>Artist: P. Sarkisian. Text: Lebedev-Kumach. (LEFT) Glory to the Liberators of Kishinev!
Our fighters have covered themselves with eternal glory. By taking back from our enemies. The capital of sunny Moldavia. The Soviet city of Kishinev.
Artist: M. Soloviov. Text: A. Zharov
Kishinev, from 1991 Chisinău, is the capital and largest city of Moldova. During World War II Kishinev was almost completely destroyed through the actions of the Soviet, German and Romanian armies, heavy air-raids by the German air-force and a devastating earthquake in 1940. Kishinev was finally taken by the Soviet Army in August 1944.

(CENTRE) The National Flag of the Polish State Has Been Raised over Gdansk
Inscriptions in the poster: Danzig Bay, Vistula, Danzig. Our strength is growing and increasing.We have taken yet another fortress –The Red Army has hoisted. The victory banner over the port of Danzig.
Artist: M. Soloviov. Text: F. Fedotov.
Gdańsk (German, Danzig) is Poland’s principal seaport. The city was annexed by Nazi Germany shortly after the start of the war in September 1939. The Soviet Army captured the city on 30 March 1945.

(RIGHT) Let’s Exterminate the Hydra!
…To destroy the German general staff forever…(From the declaration of the Crimean conference) The inscription on the hydra reads: the German general staff.In order to prevent the fascist snake. From destroying millions of lives - We shall destroy the hateful German general staff.
Artist: P. Sarkisian. Text: Lebedev-Kumach.
The posters are the famous TASS WINDOWS which were produced and printed shortly after the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany in 1941. The TASS WINDOWS are large, brightly coloured posters accompanied by a didactic text or often by a length poem.The posters are printed using a highly sophisticated stenciling technique called pochoir.

<b>Hindenburg and Hitler</b><br/>(LEFT) <i>In January 1933 Hindenburg gave Hitler the “fullness of power”. In January 1945 Hitler hurriedly removed Hindenburg’s remains from Eastern Prussia</i>. <br/>(RIGHT)The first image is captioned.<i>The general told the bandit:“Get down to work, bitte! You are fresh, and I am tired. I’ve been beaten, and you haven’t yet been.”</i> Thesecond image is captioned<i>But frightening nineteen forty five Finished off this thug as well. And the beaten one carries another beaten one To the rubbish dump, to a common grave</i><br/>Artist: P. Sarikisian. Text: O.Brik. Hindenburg and Hitler
(LEFT) In January 1933 Hindenburg gave Hitler the “fullness of power”. In January 1945 Hitler hurriedly removed Hindenburg’s remains from Eastern Prussia.
(RIGHT)The first image is captioned.The general told the bandit:“Get down to work, bitte! You are fresh, and I am tired. I’ve been beaten, and you haven’t yet been.” Thesecond image is captionedBut frightening nineteen forty five Finished off this thug as well. And the beaten one carries another beaten one To the rubbish dump, to a common grave
Artist: P. Sarikisian. Text: O.Brik.
In addition to the posters there is a display of commercially printed lithographic copies of the original posters, as well as material clearly showing the strength of the support in South Africa for the Soviet Union during the war years.

(LEFT) <b>Our Thousandth Charge</b><br/><i>I want the pen to be equated to the bayonet…(V.Mayakovski) I feel proud that the pen has been equated to the bayonet,And that in battle, together with our other weapons. The Bolshevik’s passionate word. Helps the charge against the enemy! Mayakovski! Realising your dream. The poet and painter are at their post. And the enemy is tirelessly and severely lambasted. With poem and prose, with drawing and a bright poster!</i><br/>Artists: N. Denisovskii and P. Sokolov–Skalia. Text: V. Lebedev-Kumach<br/><br/> (RIGHT)<b>The Inglorious End</b><br/><i>Marshal Zhukov in the picture. Looks stern. – Are Germans Here? – Waiting for the order. – Let them come! The Germans – three, of the highest rank – For the universally known reason. Gloomily scratch with their pen: Having lost the war, in Berlin. They have signed: – “Kaput!”</i><br/>Artist: P. Shukhmin. Text: Demian Bednyi (LEFT) Our Thousandth Charge
I want the pen to be equated to the bayonet…(V.Mayakovski) I feel proud that the pen has been equated to the bayonet,And that in battle, together with our other weapons. The Bolshevik’s passionate word. Helps the charge against the enemy! Mayakovski! Realising your dream. The poet and painter are at their post. And the enemy is tirelessly and severely lambasted. With poem and prose, with drawing and a bright poster!
Artists: N. Denisovskii and P. Sokolov–Skalia. Text: V. Lebedev-Kumach

(RIGHT)The Inglorious End
Marshal Zhukov in the picture. Looks stern. – Are Germans Here? – Waiting for the order. – Let them come! The Germans – three, of the highest rank – For the universally known reason. Gloomily scratch with their pen: Having lost the war, in Berlin. They have signed: – “Kaput!”
Artist: P. Shukhmin. Text: Demian Bednyi
The idea to curate another exhibition of the Russian posters came from Jonathan Berndt whose research for a PhD thesis at the University of Cape Town has been incorporated into this exhibition. Sadly, Jonathan passed away in August 2010 and this exhibition is a tribute to his memory and work.

For further information see the Iziko Museums website

Source: Iziko South African National Gallery