Mourning India - WW2 Nazi Propaganda Postcard against British India

Today's post is in continuation to my earlier Propaganda War Postcard post. You have seen couple of propaganda postcards from UK now see this alleged Swiss product, probably printed by the German Propaganda Ministry.

It depicts an Indian woman standing near a tombstone. It implies that the Indians are against the British and may soon rise us against their colonial rulers.

India in Mourning

Years of lost opportunities.

Here lies the hope of settling the Indian question!

An interesting propaganda from Axis side!

Anti-Nazi Propaganda Postcard - U.K. (India) WW2

Today's post is in continuation to my earlier Propaganda War Postcard post. This one shown below is also part of same series of such postcards published by UK where they showed how all allies nations (read commonwealth nations) came together and contributed in the war.

This item is not specifically meant for India but in general covers all the commonwealth nations. Since it depicts an Indian Sikh Soldier as part of contingent hence I decided to cover it here. In fact, the (contingent) photograph shown in this postcard is taken from a very famous WW2 poster which I am still trying to get for my collection.

This postcard was published with J.S., initials printed on front side of postcard in lower left corner. Back side mentions the numbering SI-2093. This seems to be of different series as this is not India specific. The postcard is of approx 4" x 6" sized having caption "Mas que abalo para Hitler!".

As I mentioned earlier, all such postcards were printed in Portugal and distributed in Lisbon by the British Embassy during WW2. Portugal was neutral ground for Allies and Axis to do propaganda against each other. United Kingdom issued series of anti-Nazi propaganda postcards distributed by their embassy in Lisbon, Portugal.


The main text is in Portuguese which when translated in English reads (section wise since the postcard has three section):

Top portion shows a text extract of radio broadcast of 30th September 1939 where Hitler is sarcastically quoted saying -

"It seems that different parts of the British Empire are putting their own independence above their loyalty to England."

Basically, this is to show that Hitler was trying to break the commonwealth strength by giving such statements.

Then middle section shows soldiers of British Commonwealth Countries joining and fighting together under British flag. The poster extract has a message:

"The huge war effort of the Empire and Commonwealth, iron, sea and air, is an epic of united resistance to Nazi aggression."

Finally the bottom section quotes Hitler again from an German article published on 13th December, 1940 where Hitler ruefully acknowledges:

"Germany fully recognizes the energy and power of resistance of Great Britain and Empire loyalty to the Motherland."

This postcard served two purpose:
- discouraging people supporting axis powers that commonwealth nations are strengthening their position in war and they are united as always. Any malicious propaganda can't break the unity.
- conveying message to people living in commonwealth countries not to get misled by German propaganda. They have been proven wrong. Let's continue to fight together until end of war.

Finally, above shows back side of this postcard.

Anti-Nazi Propaganda Postcard - U.K. (India) WW2

Today's post is in continuation to my earlier Propaganda War Postcard post. This one shown below is also part of same series of such postcards published by UK where they showed how all allies nations (read commonwealth nations) came together and contributed in the war.

This item is showcasing India's might to world. The postcard was published by R.K., initials printed on front side of postcard in lower left corner. Back side mentions the numbering 51-629.

As I mentioned earlier, all such postcards carry 51-xxxx pattern where xxxx seems to be numbering given to each such issue (focussing countries). Also, all of such postcards carry same heading "Em Liberdade - Forcas!" in Portuguesse meaning "In Freedom - Strength!". Portugal was neutral ground for Allies and Axis to do propaganda against each other. United Kingdom issued series of anti-Nazi propaganda postcards distributed by their embassy in Lisbon, Portugal.

The main text is in Portuguese which when translated in English reads:

The India is steadily growing in strength and stature within the British Commonwealth of Nations. The British administration led peace inside its borders and laid the foundations of its future prosperity. Today, India is providing to its strength to safeguard their freedom against Nazi tyranny.

It then shows at bottom steel production in 1914 (during WW1) and in 1939 (during WW2) with heading "Increase in production of steel".

1914 - 63,000 Tons
1939 - 9,77,000 Tons

Anti-Nazi Propaganda Postcard - U.K.

Well, it was 1940s and place Lisbon. So what? :-)

I know that's irritating piece of information. But of late, I found that Lisbon was the place :-) Ok. You knew it. So for others, who didn't know. Lisbon was the place of heightened political activity during world war II from both side. Oh, ya! I meant political activity meaning war propaganda :-)

By this time, you would have already judged not just guessed that today's item is about war propaganda (postcard), of course focusing on India :-) Am sorry but I can't control my infectious smile.

On a serious note though, let's start. War had just started spreading all over the Europe and beyond. Great Britain and Germany both were on full swing with publishing propaganda items against each other (Allies versus Axis). As part of their strategy, United Kingdom issued series of anti-Nazi propaganda postcards distributed by their embassy in Lisbon, Portugal.


In one of my earlier post, I showed one of Germany's propaganda postcard targeting all allies nations. This one above is part of series of such postcards by UK where they showed how all allies nations (read commonwealth nations) came together and contributed in the war.

The above item is showcasing India's might to world. The postcard was published by R.K., initials printed on front side of postcard in lower left corner. Back side mentions the numbering 51-761.

As far as I know, all such postcards carry 51-xxxx pattern where xxxx seems to be numbering given to each such issue (focussing countries). Also, all of such postcards carry same heading "Em Liberdade - Forcas!" in Portuguesse meaning "In Freedom - Strength!".

The main text is also in Portuguesse which when translated in English reads:

"No country in the British commonwealth is playing this part more vigorously than India in the fight against Nazi aggression. In India, as much as in the Indian States, their sons work and fight to defeat the tyranny that, they know well, would mean the end of any free and peaceful progress."

[Thanks a lot to Pablo from Álbum de Estampillas for getting text translated for me.]

Also note that Portugal too had some colonies in India though relatively smaller ones than to Great Britain which ruled the Indian sub-continent and most of Asia/Australia barring China.

Then the postcard shows how India is contributing in fight against Nazi aggression. It shows how India contributed during world war I period (1914) with her factories and manifacturing units. And again, it is contributing as need arised. It depicts the number of factories that have grown, almost 4 times (in 1936), to help allies in the great war.

This was very interesting series of propaganda postcards issued by UK where they showed how each commonwealth countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia etc were contributing with their milk, cheese, manifacturing, ships etc.

Propaganda Postcard - Germany

This is an interesting propaganda postcard issued during 1940. These (along with other such postcards) were distributed in Lisbon (Portugal), by the German embassy during WWII.


The text is in Portuguese which reads:

"Nations of all world benefit from all the goods of earth"

Basically, it is sarcastic comment on America and allies where postcard shows D. Roosevelt helping Winston Churchill with cigar while a Chinese, an Indian (shown as sardar [Sikh]), an Arab and an Vietnamese or some south Asian is tied to same log.

The log has label which states:

"American Peace"

The postcard shows what is the meaning of American peace where Americans are using all other countries for their benefit.

The intention seems very clear which is to divide the allies [nations].