Die Heimat ist in Gefahr! [The fatherland is in danger!]

German poster depicting an ogre-like figure (symbolising Bolshevism) driving people in the east from their homes. The title of this poster transaltes as "The fatherland is in danger" and further text on the poster reads; " The wave of Bolshevism threatens our frontiers; in our own country there are Bolshevistic powers who want to destroy our country economically. Polish Units invade old German territory heading westward. Extraordinary measures are needed. Help immediately! No time to lose! All bank deposit accounts and branch offices are ready to accept your contribution for the 'Osthilfe' (i.e. Eastern Help)." The poster refers to events in Germany following its defeat in 1918. Gustav Noske was a member of the Ruling Council 1918-19 and defence minister in the Weimar Cabinet. In January 1919 he ruthlessly suppressed a communist uprising in Berlin.
The poster artist Karl (or Carl) Hachez was born in 1880 in Oldenburg, Germany. He was based in Berlin, and was known as an etcher, portrait painter and landscape painter. He studied at the Unterrichtsanstalt des Kunstgewerbemuseums in Berlin (the Educational Establishment of the Museum of Decorative Arts, Berlin which was set up in 1868) and was a student of the artist Lovis Corinth. He also studied at the Academy Julian in Paris. German poster design during the First World War was intended to be simple, graphic and visually arresting. In German posters, words and images were integrated and the essence of communication conveyed through powerful shapes and patterns. They often also extolled an overt nationalism, with the preference of the authorities being for wordy slogans which encouraged people to contribute to the war economy.