1945 Ek Anti-Fascist Propaganda Broadside of Allied Bombs Falling on Hitler

This is a powerful 1945 WWII Era Sándor Ék anti-Nazi pro-soviet propaganda poster published shortly after the liberation of Budapest.

A Closer Look

American, British, and Soviet bombs rain down on Hitler, who, injured, cowers under a broken Nazi helmet. Hitler is attempting a sly escape but is met by a phalanx of bayonets. The whole rests upon a Harrison-esque presentation of the Earth, underscoring the global nature of World War II (1939 - 1945).

Ek, the artist, was a pro-Soviet socialist and, when this map was made, a soldier in the Red Army. While the imagery is broadly pro-Allies, it is specifically pro-Soviet, their bombs having done the most damage and being the most numerous.

Hungary During World War II

In the 1930s, Hungary became ever more deeply linked to fascist regimes in Italy and Germany. Through the influence of the Axis powers, territory lost in the Treaty of Trianon after World War I (1914 - 1918) was returned to Hungary. Under pressure from Germany, Hungary joined the Axis in 1940, after which Hungarian troops participated in the invasions of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. When the tides of war began to turn against Germany, Hungary initiated armistice negotiations with the United States and the United Kingdom. In March 1944, when Germany became aware of Hungary's betrayal, German troops invaded. In defense, the Red Army crossed into Hungary in September, and a unilateral armistice between Hungary and the Soviet Union was signed. In retaliation, Nazi forces deposed the Hungarian president and installed a fascist leader, Ferenc Szálasi. Nonetheless, Budapest was liberated on February 13, 1945, after a 50-day siege by the Red Army.

Publication History and Census

This poster was drawn by Sándor Ék in 1945. Variants were issued in Hungarian, German, and possibly other languages. We are aware of one other example, located at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.