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

[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.

[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.

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[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.