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Primary sourcePhotographMarch 1937

Die Totengräber Russlands

March 1937

A 1930s Nazi propaganda pamphlet that used antisemitic caricatures of Soviet communist leaders, including Jewish-born Bolsheviks such as Kun, to spread anti-communist hatred.

Kun appears among the Soviet leaders the pamphlet caricatures, showing how his Jewish origin was used in far-right propaganda.

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Photograph of a yellowed Nazi propaganda pamphlet titled 'Die Totengräber Russlands' with a headline 'Nicht wegwerfen!' and 'Weitergeben!'. It has rows of ink caricatures of men's faces with text captions naming Soviet communist leaders, and the slogan 'Vor dem bolschewistischen Chaos bewahrt uns nur Adolf Hitler!' at the bottom. A handwritten note 'März 1937' is at the top left.
Die Totengräber Russlands, Nazi propaganda pamphlet, annotated 'März 1937'. Imperial War Museum, London.

About this source

What it is

This is a photograph of a yellowed Nazi propaganda pamphlet titled Die Totengräber Russlands ('Russia's Gravediggers'). It has rows of ink caricatures of men's faces, captioned with the names of Soviet communist leaders, and ends with the slogan urging readers to rely on Adolf Hitler against bolshevik chaos. A handwritten note reading 'März 1937' appears at the top. The photograph is held in the collection of the Imperial War Museum in London.

Why it matters

The pamphlet shows how the far right used Jewish-born Bolshevik leaders in its 'Judeo-Bolshevism' myth, presenting communism as a Jewish plot. Kun, who was of Jewish origin, was among the leaders targeted by such propaganda. The source reveals how antisemitism and anti-communism were combined to win support for the Nazi movement.

Look closer

  • What do the caricatures emphasise about the men's faces, and what do those choices suggest the pamphlet wanted readers to feel?
  • Why might a pamphlet be kept and dated by a reader, and what does the handwritten note tell us?
  • Whom does the pamphlet leave out, and what did it want its readers to believe about the communist threat?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Béla Kun on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Front page of the first issue of the Hungarian newspaper Vörös Ujság, dated Budapest, 1918 December 7, with the masthead 'VÖRÖS ÚJSÁG' and subtitle 'KOMMUNISTA LAP', and a lead editorial titled 'Osztályharcot!' in several columns of Hungarian text.Newspaper article

Primary source

Vörös Újság: First Editorial

Béla Kun · 7 December 1918

Spine and cover of a bound book with a dark green spine and grey-brown boards. Gold lettering on the spine reads 'TREATY OF PEACE... HUNGARY' and 'Cmd. 896'. A white library barcode label reads 'DOCS. COLL. CU-1' and 'D001182819'. A Google digitized watermark appears at the lower right.Document

Primary source

Treaty of Trianon

4 June 1920

Black and white photograph of a man in a dark suit and vest speaking to a dense crowd of men in hats in front of a building; other men sit on a rooftop and balcony at left and right.Photograph

Primary source

Béla Kun, Leader of the 1919 Hungarian Revolution

1919

Sepia photograph of a dense crowd of men in hats and coats gathered in a city square in front of a stone building with arched windows. Lamp post and banners rise above them; a large statue on a pedestal stands at right, and a man on the far right holds a flag.Photograph

Primary source

Sándor Garbai and Béla Kun, Leaders of the Hungarian Soviet Republic

1919

Soviet postage stamp, 10 kopeck denomination, 1986, printed with the name Бела Кун and dates 1886 and 1939 above a black-and-white engraved portrait of a man with short dark hair and a mustache, wearing a suit and tie, with a laurel branch below and the text ПОЧТА СССР 1986.Artifact

Secondary source

Soviet postage stamp honouring Béla Kun (1986)

1986

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