Original WWII Eastern Front Propaganda Leaflet Set – Soviet & German, 1943

Description

This original WWII Eastern Front propaganda leaflet set brings together three double-sided wartime leaflets produced for psychological warfare during one of the most decisive phases of the Second World War. The group reflects propaganda aimed at both German and Soviet troops during the fighting on the Eastern Front, with material in German and Russian and strong references to the aftermath of Stalingrad.

The set contains three separate original propaganda leaflets. Two are printed in German and are directed toward German soldiers, presenting Soviet wartime messaging intended to undermine confidence in the German command and encourage surrender. The third leaflet is printed in Russian and was intended for Soviet troops, using anti-Soviet messaging and references to the Russian Liberation Army in an effort to encourage defection or surrender.

The first German-language leaflet carries the headline “Eine neue Lüge des Hitlerschen Oberkommandos,” translated as “A New Lie of Hitler’s High Command.” It challenges official German reports concerning losses on the Eastern Front and includes printed references to Soviet military successes. The leaflet identifies the Soviet Information Bureau at the bottom, making its source and intended propagandistic purpose especially clear.

The reverse features a powerful wartime illustration and a printed safe-conduct pass. Such passes were designed to be carried by soldiers wishing to surrender, transforming an ordinary leaflet into a practical instrument of psychological warfare. The text encourages German soldiers to stop fighting and surrender to the Red Army.

The second leaflet is strongly connected with the collapse of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad. One side is headed “Der Anfang vom Ende,” meaning “The Beginning of the End,” and refers to captured German officers and the immense scale of German losses. The reverse, headed “Wie soll es enden?”, compares the situation at Stalingrad with events in Tripoli and presents the military disasters of 1943 as evidence of the failing German war effort.

The third leaflet is printed in Russian and includes text linked to the Russian Liberation Army. It uses anti-Soviet language and presents an alternative narrative aimed at Red Army troops. The reverse includes a “Propusk / Passierschein” safe-conduct form intended for Soviet soldiers, officers and political personnel. This makes the document an important example of German-directed psychological warfare against Soviet forces.

Together, the three leaflets create a highly interesting wartime group because they preserve propaganda from opposing sides of the same conflict. Rather than representing only one political or military viewpoint, the set shows how both sides attempted to influence morale, shape perceptions of battlefield losses and persuade enemy soldiers to surrender.

Paper propaganda was often distributed by aircraft, artillery shells, patrols or frontline units. Because these pieces were made to be carried, dropped, read quickly and discarded, surviving examples are often fragile. This set shows age-related folds, creasing, handling marks, staining, edge wear and small losses consistent with original wartime field-distributed paper. These condition issues are visible in the photographs and form part of the historical character of the group.

The most appealing aspect of this set is its strong Stalingrad connection. The leaflets reflect the turning point of 1942–43, when the destruction of the German Sixth Army became a major psychological and political subject for both sides. The printed texts, illustrations, wartime language and surrender passes make this a particularly suitable group for collectors focused on the Battle of Stalingrad, Eastern Front history, propaganda studies, military psychology and original Second World War paper memorabilia.

This lot includes the three original double-sided leaflets shown in the photographs. No frame, mount or additional items are included.

Sold strictly as historical material for collectors, museums, researchers, archive study and educational display. It is not offered to promote, endorse or glorify any ideology associated with the period.