Background: This page is part of a larger project to trace the history of World War II as reflected in the headlines of the Völkischer Beobachter, the Nazi Party’s daily newspaper.
The news seemed good in May 1941. Although Germans didn’t know it, the successful campaign in the Balkans delayed the planned attack on the Soviet Union, with perhaps disastrous consequences. Crete was captured. The Bismarck was sunk.
Völkischer Beobachter: May 1941
Our Oath on 1 May
Front and Homeland: A Phalanx
Reichsleiter Dr. Ley Appeals to all Workers
Rudolf Heß to German Workers
The Victory of German Weapons Is Also Your Victory!
Amann, Ohnesorge, and Messerschmidt awarded “Pioneer of Labor”
Ceremonial Award of the Golden Flag to Model Companies
Howl of Stuka Bombs
Flight from Greece
First Eyewitness British Reports
Reichstag Meets Today at 18:00
One Million BRT Sunk in April!
Highest Month Since the War Began
The Führer Speaks to the Reichstag:
“Nothing Is Impossible for the German Solider!”
Proud Report of Victory on the Campaign in the Southeast
Europe Has Understood Adolf Hitler
Howls of Rage in the Anglo-Saxon Press about Führer’s Victory
Two Key Aegean Positions Captured
Mykonos and Chios in German Hands
New Strong Attacks against Targets in North and Southeast England
Systematic Attacks on British Harbors
An Important Step in the Battle of the Atlantic
Heroism with Packed Suitcases
Churchill’s Vote of Confidence Comedy Ends Successfully
Smuts Invites the Heirs
South Africa in Roosevelt’s Grasp
Fall of the Empire Can No Longer Be Stopped
“An Unpleasant Surprise”
Churchill Admits Record Sinkings in April
Quota of Lies Reduced from 70% to 50%
The cartoon depicts Churchill standing on a lit bomb, saying to Roosevelt: “It is a consolation that I can stand here.”
For Each British Bomb, a Hundred German Bombs!
Over a Hundred Thousand Bombs on London
New Hard Revenge Attack by the German Luftwaffe
Destruction of British Raw Material Factories
Systematic Attacks by the German Luftwaffe
“Washington — Not London is the Center of Command of the Seas!”
Admission by USA Imperialism
Openness of a Democratic Champion
Dollar Imperialism without a Mask
North American — Jewish — British State Trust
The World Empire of Jazz, Hollywood Films, and USA Canned Goods
The cartoon shows Roosevelt following the ghost of Wilson onto a field of graves while the American public tries to hold him back: “Once again — Because it was lovely back then!?”
Roosevelt Aims for Dakar
The “Times” Reveals USA Imperialism’s New Plans
The cartoon titled “England’s Life Clock” shows ships sinking.
Dunkirk or Not?
Endless Contradictions about England’s Losses in the Balkans
Roosevelt’s War Goal:
USA Police Billy Clubs in Germany
Europe — A Colony of North American Jewish Capital
Roosevelt Wants to Make Plutocracy Eternal
USA President Says Germany is Responsible for Economic Chaos
Heavy Blows from the Luftwaffe
Bombing Attacks from the North Atlantic to the Aegean
Systematic Strangulation of British Oil Imports
85,000 BRT of Tankers Destroyed in 19 Days
The cartoon is titled “Battle against Waste.” A worker looks into a crate destined for England and says: “Hey, there are only stones here!” A Jew says: “Quiet, you idiot. The ship will never get there!’
A Heavy Blow in the Eastern Mediterranean
Seven English Warships Hit by Bombs
Four British Cruisers Sunk
Destroyers Also Sunk — A Battleship and Two More Destroyers Heavily Damaged
Major Attack by German U-Boats
110,000 BRT from an English Convoy Destroyed
The cartoon is captioned: “England loses control of its waters.” Churchill is spilling water from a pan named the Mediterranean into another one named Atlantic, which is spilling onto the ground.
Western Crete in German Hands
Courageous Attack by German Paratroopers and Airborne Forces — Air Superiority over the Area Achieved — Operations Proceeding as Planned
Paralyzing Horror in England
“The End of the Hood — A Symbol of Great Britain’s Fate”
English Loses over the Past Six Days
Mediterranean Cruiser Squadron Wiped Out
The Bloodbath on Crete
England is 90,000 BRT Poorer
77,600 Sunk West of Africa — German Troops on Crete Advance as Planned
The article to the top left reports the sinking of the Bismarck.
The Bismarck’s Heroic Battle
Overpowered by Sixteen British Warships
“If We Lose Crete...”
Howls of Fear in the British Press about the Fortress in the Mediterranean
The cartoon is titled “Fair Play.” Roosevelt, carrying off the world, says to England: “We want honest sharing. I keep the globe, and you can keep busy with the Axis”
