Inside Palestinian Anti-Nazi Political Art of the 1940s - Part 1
Rare political art from a 1940s Palestinian newspaper reveal a lost antifascist and anti-Nazi expressions during WWII. Part 1 of a series on Palestine’s antifascist tradition.
Palestinian history is often viewed through a narrow lens, leaving many aspects of its rich and complex traditions underexplored. One of these overlooked traditions is Palestine’s antifascist and antinazi legacy during the Second World War. Today, I want to share rare examples of Palestinian political art from 1941 that reflect this tradition.
The artwork featured here was published in Al-Harb wal-Siyasa (War and Politics), a weekly Arabic-language newspaper based in Jerusalem. This publication offered a detailed analysis of global political developments during WWII and their influence on the Arab countries of the Middle East. The newspaper extensively covered the Second World War, including the military fronts, political shifts in Europe, and the increasing involvement of the United States, even predicting the timeline for America’s entry into the war. As a historical source, Al-Harb wal-Siyasa is invaluable for understanding the war from an Arab-Palestinian perspective.
The origins of the art itself, as well as the identities of those behind it, are subjects I am exploring as part of my PhD research. For now, I am sharing these pieces as part of an effort to reclaim and highlight Palestine’s antifascist and antinazi heritage—a significant yet forgotten chapter of our history.
The Artwork
Göring’s Headache: British Bombers Strike Back
January 4, 1941
Accompanying Text: Göring: “These British bombers have split my head open…”
The artwork depicts Hermann Göring surrounded by British Royal Air Force bombers, with his expression conveying frustration and defeat. The caption quotes Göring saying, “These British bombers have split my head open.” The illustration also shows Luftwaffe planes crashing to the ground around him, symbolizing the beginning of the collapse of Germany’s air superiority.
Hitler’s ‘Thousand-Year Reich’ Built on Lies and Bloodshed
January 25, 1941
Accompanying Text: Hitler: “The solid system I’ve built for Germany and the world rests on firm foundations that will ensure its survival for a thousand years.”
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