Brian Coppola :: WW2 Era

WW2 Era Hitler Cartoon in Metal (est. 1945) by unknown

Artist: unknown (All)

0 Comments - 225 Views - 1 Like

WW2 Era Hitler Cartoon in Metal (est. 1945) by unknown Comic Art

Click Image to View Full Size

Additional Images:

detail

Previous Item:
1940.10.08 “So Am I” By Bill Saylor

Next Item:
1939.12.22 “The Man Who Caught the Wildcat” By Bill Saylor

Artwork Details

Title:	WW2 Era Hitler Cartoon in Metal (est. 1945) by unknown
Artist:	unknown (All)
Media Type:	Mixed Media
Art Type:	Illustration
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	225
Likes on CAF:	1 2
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	1/24/2021
Comic Art Archive:

Description

WW2 Era Hitler Cartoon in Metal (est. 1945)
Artist unknown
9 x 2-3 in, 26 g
Hand-wrought in 1 mm aluminum
Coppola Collection

How is this for a snarky drawing of Der Liebe Führer? …jawohl!

I have really limited provenance on this piece. It came out of a collection of WW2 memorabilia located in Germany, from among hundreds of items. It was unique to the collection.

I used density to confirm the ID on the metal. It is spot on for aluminum.

Listening to historians and museum people speculate and debate is a delight. Everyone agrees that (a) it was cut from a larger piece, (b) it was hand etched, and (c) the lower pair of holes and the one in the lower center were likely part of the original metal, while the other three were pushed through.

Metal parts are often stamped by the manufacturer. This piece does not carry the press mark, which is such a pity.

There is not much to figure out in terms of intent. Hitler with his pants down and his ass out. The pointer to Berlin might be the telling clue on what this was used for.

The two most intriguing suggestions to date:

(1) the 1 mm thickness and the width are the right size to have come from a German helmet liner

(2) the little graphic below the figure might be key; perhaps it means that this was fastened to a bridge entrance (or other passage) that was leading to Berlin (go this way to kick Hitler’s Nazi ass) and placed there (as a joke) as the US troops were closing in, which is why I am tagging it as ca. 1945

Anyone could have made this, but the default assumption is a US soldier, killing time on the way to Berlin, keeping his eye on the prize, using metal taken from a German helmet.

The Soviet forces first occupied Berlin at the end of April 1945. American and British troops did not enter the city until two months later on July 4, the French forces participating initially with only a small unit.

The march to Berlin was full of obstacles. When the U.S. 2nd Armored Division, also known as ‘Hell on Wheels’ due to its wartime activities, started moving from Halle to Berlin on July 3, the Soviet forces stopped the advance on the Elbe Bridge near Dessau. A detour of more than 140 km became necessary because the Soviets declared the bridge unsafe, although it had been previously tested and determined to be passable by U.S. units.

The Elbe is a famous name. “Elbe Day,” April 25, 1945, is the day Soviet and American troops met at the Elbe River, near Torgau (about 60 km from Dessau) in Germany, marking an important step toward the end of World War II in Europe. This contact between the Soviets, advancing from the East, and the Americans, advancing from the West, meant that the two powers had effectively cut Germany in two.

On 4 July 1945, an official ceremony was held in the American sector: the Star-Spangled Banner was hoisted in front of the former Prussian Cadet Headquarters in Berlin-Lichterfelde, at what is now the Bundesarchiv (The Federal Archives).

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	Brian Coppola Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	March 2009
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

Contact the Owner

Use can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
but, you must be logged in to use this feature.

Comments on this Artwork

You must be logged in to make comments.

All
	Jason Baccus 9/6/2025 10:02:00 PM
	Mike Sig Slayer 9/6/2025 9:57:00 PM
	David H 9/6/2025 9:51:00 PM
	Kom S 9/6/2025 9:23:00 PM
	James Posey 9/6/2025 8:51:00 PM
View All


	Troy Rubizovsky 9/6/2025 8:38:00 PM
	Michael Hosey 9/6/2025 7:55:00 PM
	Timothy L. 9/6/2025 7:42:00 PM
	Benedict Judas Hel 9/6/2025 7:22:00 PM
	Mike Humphrey 9/6/2025 7:22:00 PM