Tackling Pictorial Sources!

Picture Sources and Political Cartoons are very common sources at the National Exams.

They appear in both History and Social Studies papers.

An example is the Nazi propaganda poster below.

To do well :

A good amount of contextual knowledge about the topic is necessary as this will allow students to make connections between the poster and what they had learnt during lessons.

For example:

• The eagle represents the Nazis. The Nazi eagle is one of their main symbols.

• The eagle is wrapping its wings around the family

=> This could mean the Nazis are promising to care for the German citizens.

=> This could also mean they are encouraging German citizens to have many

children!

• Within the family, who appears to be the focus?

=> The mother seems to be at the centre surrounded by many children.

=> What are the Nazis trying to tell women?

• Poster was published in the 1930s period

=>We know they created and distributed propaganda materials extensively.

=>One reason was to win the hearts and minds of the German citizen.

=>By creating this poster - What do you think the Nazis were encouraging their

women to do

Studying the source carefully and making these connections would help greatly in understanding the intention of the Nazis in creating this poster.