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Nazi-Kitsch is a very interesting, heavily illustrated, full-color German book published in 1975 about items produced in the very early days of Nazi Germany that featured National Socialist emblems like the eagle and swastika, likenesses of Adolf Hitler or other Nazi notables, etc., etc.. The book is a great resource for collectors of Third Reich memorabilia or those interested in how German law and merchandising changed as the Hitler government sought to control the proliferation of what they saw as tasteless trash.

That was good for manufacturers and the economy, but not for the image of the German nation, according to Nazi Propaganda Minister Dr. Joseph Goebbels who on 19 May 1933, introduced the “Law to Protect the National Symbol” (Gesetz zum Schutze der nationalen Symbole vom 19. Mai 1933). The law made it illegal to use National Socialist symbols and likenesses of personalities for advertising purposes. The Nazi Party published a detailed list of items that were allowed and items that were verboten, and the list was continually updated. In general, souvenir type material that bore any connection to the NSDAP or Chancellor Hitler had to reflect a certain taste and quality that was carefully regulated, and material that could only be produced or sold by those who sought and were given Nazi Party permission to make and/or sell it.

Nazi-Kitsch is an 8 x 8 inch, 84 glossy page softcover book filled with very clear color photos of early examples of Nazi “kitsch” such as swastika rings and silver charms, swastika neckties and cuff links, Hitler pictures and woodcuts, clothing emblazoned with Heil Hitler!, SA dolls, Hitler wall plaques and statues, Nazi toy figures, Nazi beer coasters and swastika paperweights, musical instruments with swastikas, ashtrays and matchboxes with swastikas, pocket knives with the likeness of Adolf Hitler, swastika hairpins, swastika thimbles, Hakenkreuz desk flags and decorative objects, porcelain coffee cups and egg cups featuring swastikas, swastika candles, glow-in-the-dark Hitler buttons (“the glowing example for every German, our Leader Adolf Hitler”), even a crank-type music box that played the Nazi anthem, the Horst Wessel Lied!

In the introduction, author Rolf Steinberg explains that immediately after the National Socialists were elected to power in 1933, black, white and red souvenirs, decorations and trinkets with swastikas and the likeness of Chancellor Adolf Hitler were produced by clever and enthusiastic entrepreneurs, without the permission or authorization of the Nazi Party or Reichskanzler Hitler. Almost overnight it seemed, an enormous assortment of nationalistic “kitsch” and souvenir articles appeared on the market.

Published by Melzer Verlag of Darmstadt and printed in Germany, this 49 year old example of Nazi-Kitsch is in very nice, little used condition. Tight spine, no odor.