FREIWILLIGENVERBAND NIEDERLANDE

RARE poster—but why so rare?

On July 5, 1941, propaganda leader ERNST VOORHOEVE issued a call to put up the recently distributed poster (in NSB terminology: propaganda plate) “FREIWILLIGEN-VERBAND NIEDERLANDE.” It was a German initiative to recruit young men for the fight against Russia through this poster.

A few days later, on July 10, a new order appeared to destroy all these already distributed posters. Who rejected this poster? Indeed, the highest authority in the Netherlands: SEYSS-INQUART. The reason is easy to guess. The German word VERBAND (formation, unit) was poorly chosen and later replaced by LEGION, which sounded much more impressive and bold. Meanwhile, these posters had already been put up here and there and had to be covered with a call from SEYFFARDT—but that call was still in preparation.

Few photos of these posted versions are known.

55 x 80 cm, fair condition