Can Posters Kill?: Antisemitic Propaganda and World War II

by Jerry Faivish (Primary Contributor), Kathryn Cole (Contributor)

“How on earth did people come to hate, participate in, or turn a blind eye to the disappearance of six million people?”

How did Hitler and the German Nazi party convince millions of people that the genocide of Jews during the Holocaust was not only justifiable, but correct? What can we learn from one of the world’s most terrible times in history? Can Posters Kill? uses rare, historical posters to take readers on a visual journey from 15th-century anti-Jewish media to the venomous propaganda of the Second World War. These posters show how powerful propaganda can be as a social and political tool, and act as a warning sign for the kind of messages that can be spread, in an instant, in today’s digital world. Through understanding propaganda from the past, we can recognize and prevent similar campaigns from succeeding again.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Holocaust

100 pages, Paperback

Published October 21, 2025

Reviews

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should be made aware how easily propaganda can become the truth.
in people’s minds.

[The Phrontist · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing and very powerful book, and it's made me rethink some things about my life. I've always not understood antisemitism at all, and been appalled at how people could believe such things. Can't people see things in other's shoes and be content with being equal? How would they like it if they experienced the holocaust?

But then I read this book, which had a masterful analysis on each page of Nazi propaganda. It made me realize that the constant repetition changes the way your brain thinks. The constant antisemitic posters on every page of the book rewire your brain to believe that, and I found myself having to consciously think--this is wrong, this is not true.

If you believe it can't happen to you, read this book. It's a fascinating concept.

Additionally, it delivers some key insight onto the leader of the Nazi Propaganda campaign, Goebbel--though he was a heinous person and undoubtedly committed crimes against humanity for which he was not tried, he was a master at what he did. One of the biggest things I learned from the book was this: Goebbel said that the greatest way to spread information is to make things as simple as possible. The man who can reduce things to the simplest information is the man who gains control of the most people.

I think that is a powerful thing, and it is all too true. People unfortunately have used that idea countless times in history to do the wrong thing.

I have always disliked people who say that they do not like to learn about the Holocaust. They think it's too gruesome, or worse--too boring and uninteresting. Those are the people most likely to be sucked in to similar campaigns. I am of the opinion that every person should be made to study the Holocaust in depth, as it is imperative that we do not repeat those events.

I highly recommend this book.

[Alisha (booksmellz) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can Posters Kill? takes readers through a historically visual journey of anti-Jewish media dating from 15-century paintings to the horrendous propaganda of the second World War. With each poster, the author breaks down the image on how it was used as both a political and social tool. With understanding of how it was used in the past, we can recognize and prevent it from happening again.

I’m not sure if this book is aimed at younger (teen) readers or adults, but either way, it’s a fantastic, informational read. I did read it in chunks through the three days I read it, because it’s a lot to take in, but it’s easily done as every two pages is a poster and then the explanation on the corresponding page.

It still amazes me that people didn’t look at these posters and see just how wrong everything was with it. Some of them are subtle, sure, but others literally have their hatred for Jews in big, bold lettering - and these would be posted in the middle of towns and marketplaces!

People need to see these posters; and thankfully, the author, who is a child of two Holocaust survivors, collected them and is sharing them in this collection. I know we have to understand our past, in order to (hopefully) not repeat it in our future, but so many people love to turn a blind eye to things that don’t directly involve them, or are upset and need someone to push their anger onto.

*Thank you Publishers Weekly and Second Story Press for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Perlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a complicated book. Understanding the dangers of propaganda is crucial at any age, perhaps even more so in an age where so many get their knowledge of geopolitics from social media soundbites and images can be (and are) manipulated to tell a particular story. The challenge of writing about a heavy topic for young people is getting the content and tone just right. The library marked this one with a "teen" sticker, but the language is a little more 'tween.' Given a publication date of 2025, I was also surprised by the lack of an afterward, to discuss propaganda today, which has been used to sway the hearts of college students across the country and world. While the context may have shifted, the content is the same; it's clear that the vilification of Jews leads to their murder, and the same hoary tropes are trotted out again and again.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been trying to find ways of talking about critical thinking and the dangers of accepting false information with the kids in my life, and it's tough. This one is definitely for the older kids, since the subject matter is just so abhorrent and it takes a little extra critical thinking to get past the repetition. I think it could have used a little extra context at times, but it was overall a decent work for an older middle schooler or a high schooler. I was struck by this Goebbels quote: "It would not be impossible to prove with sufficient repetition and psychological understanding of the people concerned that a square is, in fact, a circle...They are mere words, and words can be molded until they cloak ideas in disguise." Yikes.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very good collection of antisemitic posters from before and during World War II. Because most of the posters are from the author's collection, decades in the making, they're a somewhat uneven collection -- a lot from a single exhibit in Serbia, very few from Germany itself, etc. I scanned a few of the posters to use in my teaching of Holocaust memoirs.

There is no indication on the book cover, prologue, etc. that this is intended for a youthful audience, but the text is written at a 7th-9th-grade level. I have mixed feelings about such a collection for an audience of that age, and I wish that the text were more nuanced at times.

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at the author's own antisemitic propaganda poster collection. He does well providing context and showing the role propaganda played in increasing antisemitism before and during WWII, and he's able to add a personal element as his family was decimated under the Nazis.
It is terrifying and infuriating to see the parallels to our current situation in the US (and globally with Palestine) and how the same tactics are still used. I am hopeful that history books like this will continue to open our eyes.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This YA title collects a sizable array of antisemitic posters and introduces readers to the propaganda campaign of Nazi Germany. The author draws attention to the bold colors, distorted shapes, and symbols meant to turn ordinary people against their Jewish neighbors and the Allies. It ends with a warning to watch for similar injustices. The book is a thought-provoking effort to shake teens out of a self-focused, "mind-your-own-business" life. I wonder how the book has been received in light of the present Israeli and Palestinian conflict and Gen Z's understanding of the issues.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Goodreads. The focus of this book is on the hateful antisemetic propaganda posters, which largely speak for themselves, and the addition of thoughtful comments provides some context as to the influence on the population's thinking leading to desensitization and dehumaniztion allowing the Holocaust to unfold. It is chilling to consider the parallels with today's online propaganda and algorithms shifting opinions even more rapidly.

[Quinn Blackley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like walking through a museum exhibit. Critical discussion matter, but the writing itself could have been better considered/would have benefited from the help of a writer historian. And there was a poster that seemed very out of place in its content, which bugged me.

[Rebecca Plaza · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear passion project that poignantly illustrates the harm we brought on humanity and continue to bring on each other.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is in the YA collection at our library, but I thought that it read younger and would probably be better suited for tweens and younger teens. Regardless, it is an excellent introduction to the anti-Semitic propaganda that has fuelled hatred of Jews for centuries.

Because many of these posters are from the author's own collection, they are not the most representative sample, but they are still shocking and illustrative.