Churchills neue Warnung – Allied German-Language Propaganda Leaflet, G.11 – March 1944 – RAF Bombing Offensive / German Civilians – Robert Hastings & Steve Forbes Provenance

Description

Original Allied German-language propaganda leaflet, issued in March 1944 and identified by the printed code G.11. The leaflet was directed at German civilians during the intensification of the Anglo-American bombing offensive against Germany.

The front is headed:

“Churchills neue Warnung”
“Churchill’s New Warning”

Above the title is a quotation from Churchill’s statement of 22 February 1944:

“Die Luftoffensive wird Ausmasse annehmen, von denen man bisher nicht einmal geträumt hat.”
“The air offensive will assume dimensions of which one had previously not even dreamed.”

The text warns German civilians that the Allied air offensive against Germany is now becoming the principal weapon of attack, and that the RAF and USAAF will strike German industrial centres with increasing force. It refers to the heavy air raids of February 1944 and states that the coming offensive will surpass previous attacks in scale and intensity.

The lower section is addressed directly to “Deutsche Zivilisten!”, warning civilians in remaining German industrial centres that there is no safety except a rapid end to the war or removal from industrial targets.

The reverse is particularly effective, showing a stark comparative graphic headed “7 Tage Luftkrieg – Damals und heute”. It compares Allied bomb tonnage dropped on Germany over seven-day periods in 1942, 1943 and 1944, rising from 3,000 tons to 11,000 tons and then 15,000 tons. Further text quotes Churchill’s earlier statements from 1941, 1942 and 1943, arguing that each warning had proved accurate and that the new 1944 warning should therefore be taken seriously.

This is a strong example of British psychological warfare directed at the German home front. It combines Churchill’s authority, statistical comparison, graphic design and direct civilian warning to intensify pressure on Germany’s industrial population.

The leaflet is institutionally and bibliographically recorded. The Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek records a copy of “Churchills neue Warnung” dropped over Büdesheim on 18 March 1944, while the specialist Leaflet Collector sales list records this title as G.11 / 1944, described as “7 Tage Luftkrieg – Damals und heute” and “Churchill’s new warning”, dated March 1944.

This copy has notable provenance, having formed part of the collection of Robert Hastings, Churchill scholar and collector, before entering The Churchill Collection of Steve Forbes, publisher of Forbes magazine. The Steve Forbes Churchill Collection catalogue also included this title, describing it as a leaflet dropped over Germany in March and April 1944 containing Churchill’s warning of a major new bombing offensive.

Condition

Good. Filing holes to the left-hand side, minor edge wear, creasing and light age toning. Complete and clearly legible.

Date: March 1944
Code: G.11
Language: German
Format: Two-sided propaganda leaflet
Size: 29.8 x 12.5 cm
Subject: Winston Churchill, RAF bombing offensive, Allied propaganda, German civilians, air war, Second World War
Provenance: Robert Hastings, Churchill scholar and collector; subsequently The Churchill Collection of Steve Forbes.

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