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Dutch Winterhulp Nederland (WHN) Nazi Propaganda Poster

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 400.00 USD
Dutch Winterhulp Nederland (WHN) Nazi Propaganda Poster
This is another **Winterhulp Nederland (WHN)** propaganda poster from the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands (1940–1945), promoting a **street collection campaign** for the regime’s official welfare organization.---### ???? **Text Translation****14–15 FEBRUARI STRAATCOLLECTE** *February 14–15 street collection***WINTERHULP NEDERLAND** *Winter Aid Netherlands***BRENGT ZONNESCHIJN** *Brings sunshine*---### ?? **Design & Symbolism**This poster takes a **softer and more sentimental approach** than many other Winterhulp designs.* **Visuals:** A **mother and child**, rendered in blue silhouettes, walk forward carrying parcels — presumably filled with donations or supplies — under the large **red cloverleaf emblem** of Winterhulp. Behind them radiate **yellow sunbeams**, symbolizing hope, light, and renewal — an image intended to suggest that giving to Winterhulp literally “brings sunshine” into the lives of the needy.* **Colors:** * **Red cloverleaf:** The official WHN emblem — originally modeled on the four-leaf clover of the German *Winterhilfswerk* (WHW). It represents charity and social unity. * **Blue silhouettes:** The mother and child are shown as humble but hopeful — evoking sympathy and compassion. * **Yellow background with sun rays:** A warm, optimistic contrast designed to lighten the somber mood of wartime.* **Typography:** * “**Winterhulp Nederland**” is written in an elegant Art Deco–style serif font — visually refined and respectable. * “**Brengt zonneschijn**” (brings sunshine) is in bold red, reinforcing warmth and positivity.---### ?? **Historical Context**By the time this poster was issued — likely **1942–1943** — the German occupation authorities had fully replaced all Dutch private charities with **Winterhulp Nederland**, claiming it was *“for the people, by the people.”* In practice, it was **state-controlled propaganda** intended to:* Replace independent Dutch civic institutions with Nazi-aligned ones. * Create an image of benevolent occupation. * Encourage a sense of moral duty toward participation.This “straatcollecte” (street collection) refers to public donation days when volunteers with collection tins solicited money from passersby. Posters like this would appear on street corners and shop windows to announce the campaign.---### ??? **Artist**At the bottom right, the poster is signed **Joop Geesink**, a Dutch illustrator and animator (1913–1984). Geesink later became known for *Dollywood* puppet animation films but worked under Nazi supervision during the occupation, designing propaganda materials like this one.---### ?? **Summary**| Feature | Details | | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Organization** | Winterhulp Nederland (WHN) | | **Slogan** | “Brengt zonneschijn” (*Brings sunshine*) | | **Type** | Street collection announcement | | **Date** | ca. February 1942–43 | | **Artist** | Joop Geesink | | **Visuals** | Mother and child bringing aid under the Winterhulp clover symbol | | **Tone** | Warm, sentimental, persuasive | | **Purpose** | Encourage donations and portray Nazi welfare work as compassionate |---Measures roughly 15 inches x 21 inches.