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Signal- Hitler's Wartime Picture Magazine: Years Of Triumph 1940-42
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200 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 22, 2020
They say the victor writes the history, and no where is this more evident in recent history than from WWII. There are many reasons for this. For one thing, it is still in living memory for some. Another reason is that the bad guys, at least in the case of the Nazis, are legitimate villains. It is therefore okay to hate Nazis and call them 'fascists' and not worry about being caught up in a hate crime, or flak from the politically correct crowd, even though 'fascist' is the PC catchall phrase for political opponents, and the fascists were in Italy not Germany.
If it sounds like I am spreading propaganda here, that is my intention. You see, propaganda has the connotation of lies, but in reality that is not always the case. Propaganda can start out as truths, and if sometime down the road you need to twist the truth, or outright lie, then the lies are more believable.
The propaganda companies that provided the material for the German wartime magazine 'Signal' started out pretty much telling the truth. Besides the photos and stories of the great German victories, they presented their version of past and current events. For instance, their version of British subterfuge in acquiring Gibraltar and Malta probably differed from British history books. Yet they outright lied about Polish military aggression being the reason for the invasion of Poland. "Signal' makes for interesting reading, as long as one can easily recognize the lies they put out.
Did the average reader believe the material put out in "Signal' during the war? I don't know. I do know that it was very widely read, even in English, and that the layout was copied by 'Life' magazine.
This is the second book I have read of Hitler's wartime magazine.
No, I am not defending Nazis and their genocide. Hell, I wouldn't blame the Mossad for tracking down and killing every last one of them. But the book is fascinating.
If it sounds like I am spreading propaganda here, that is my intention. You see, propaganda has the connotation of lies, but in reality that is not always the case. Propaganda can start out as truths, and if sometime down the road you need to twist the truth, or outright lie, then the lies are more believable.
The propaganda companies that provided the material for the German wartime magazine 'Signal' started out pretty much telling the truth. Besides the photos and stories of the great German victories, they presented their version of past and current events. For instance, their version of British subterfuge in acquiring Gibraltar and Malta probably differed from British history books. Yet they outright lied about Polish military aggression being the reason for the invasion of Poland. "Signal' makes for interesting reading, as long as one can easily recognize the lies they put out.
Did the average reader believe the material put out in "Signal' during the war? I don't know. I do know that it was very widely read, even in English, and that the layout was copied by 'Life' magazine.
This is the second book I have read of Hitler's wartime magazine.
No, I am not defending Nazis and their genocide. Hell, I wouldn't blame the Mossad for tracking down and killing every last one of them. But the book is fascinating.
September 29, 2010
Scary stuff. My goodness, didn't they do well? The world at their feet. Thank goodness The Years of Retreat followed. My dad brought a couple of the actual magazines back after the war and as a young boy I thought they were fascinating, all colour and action and a Nordic pinup as well (not included in the books, I'm afraid).
This is what the Wehrmacht and all the civilians in Germany and occupied Europe had to read and is interesting for that reason alone.
It was published in a surprising number of languages. Which makes you think, I suppose.
This is what the Wehrmacht and all the civilians in Germany and occupied Europe had to read and is interesting for that reason alone.
It was published in a surprising number of languages. Which makes you think, I suppose.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews