Teaching the Holocaust and other Genocides

Created in collaboration with the Holocaust & Human Rights Center, the NYS Education Department, and the NYS Archives Partnership Trust.

The Poisonous Mushroom: An Examination of Antisemitic Propaganda in Nazi Germany

The Poisonous Mushroom (German: Der GiftPilz) is a children’s book written by the German author and Nazi propagandist, Ernst Hiemer. First published in 1938 by Julius Streicher, the founder and publisher of the virulently antisemitic newspaper Der Stürmer, it was a crucial tool in Nazi Germany’s systematic effort to spread antisemitic ideology and manipulate young minds. The book was part of a broader campaign aimed at indoctrinating the youth of Germany with racist and anti-Jewish views.

Nazi Germany, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, was committed to the belief in racial purity, which led to the widespread persecution of Jews and other minorities. Antisemitic propaganda was a critical element of the Nazi agenda, and the regime used all available means, including literature, to cultivate hatred toward Jews. One of the most disturbing aspects of this campaign was its targeting of children. The Nazis believed that the younger generations were essential in perpetuating their ideology, so they systematically used educational tools to instill their views. In this context, The Poisonous Mushroom emerged as a key piece of Nazi propaganda.

German children read an anti-jewish propaganda book for children titled Der Giftpilz (The Poisonous Mushroom). The girl on the left holds a companion volume, the translated title of which is Trust No Fox. Germany ca. 1938.

Translation: “Just as it is often very difficult to tell the poisonous from the edible mushrooms, it is often very difficult to recognize Jews as thieves and criminals..."

The book's illustrations further emphasized these racist ideas. The artwork, created by the illustrator Philipp Rupprecht (known as Fips), depicted Jews as having exaggerated, grotesque features. These images reinforced the notion of Jews as a dangerous "other" that needed to be eradicated for the survival of the German nation.

The emphasis on children’s literature in the Nazi propaganda effort was strategic. By targeting young minds, the regime hoped to ensure long-lasting adherence to Nazi values. The book was not just a work of fiction; it was a pedagogical tool designed to teach children how to think about Jews, how to view them in relation to the state, and how to integrate these racial prejudices into their worldview.

Translation: "Money is the god of the Jews. He commits the greatest crimes to earn money. He won't rest until he can sit on a great sack of money, until he has become king of money."

Cover of "The Poisonous Mushroom"

Poisonous Mushroom is a simple story about a young boy named Franz and his interactions with his mother, who teaches him the dangers of Jews. The central metaphor of the book is that of a poisonous mushroom, which is used to represent Jews. In the story, Franz is warned by his mother to avoid the "poisonous mushroom" because it appears harmless but can cause great harm if consumed. The mother further explains that Jews, like the mushroom, appear normal on the surface but are inherently dangerous and malicious.

The book's text is filled with overt antisemitic messages, casting Jews as deceitful, untrustworthy, and a threat to German society. Jews people are depicted as “parasites” who are portrayed as being inauthentic and capable of hiding their true nature, much like the poison of the mushroom. This kind of narrative was designed to create a clear, simple, and memorable image for children, helping to solidify this hateful belief in their minds.

Translation: “The Jewish nose is crooked at its tip. It looks like a 6 …”

The book was part of a broader effort to control the educational system and shape the minds of German children through schools, youth organizations, and literature. As a result, millions of young Germans were exposed to these hateful ideas, which would later form the basis for the complicity and participation in the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Discussion Questions

What role did children's literature, specifically The Poisonous Mushroom, play in the broader Nazi strategy of indoctrinating youth with antisemitic ideology, and why was targeting children considered crucial to the regime's long-term goals?

How did the use of metaphor, such as comparing Jews to "poisonous mushrooms," contribute to the effectiveness of antisemitic propaganda, and why might such imagery have been particularly impactful on young readers?

In what ways did the illustrations by Philipp Rupprecht (Fips) in The Poisonous Mushroom enhance the antisemitic messages presented in the text, and how did visual representation influence children's perceptions of Jewish people?

How did the portrayal of Jewish people in The Poisonous Mushroom reflect the broader antisemitic stereotypes perpetuated by Nazi propaganda, and what consequences did this have for shaping public opinion and justifying persecution?

What are the long-term psychological and social impacts on children who were exposed to texts like The Poisonous Mushroom, and how did such propaganda contribute to the normalization of racial hatred in Nazi Germany?

Sources

Corelli, Marie. "Poisoning Young Minds in Nazi Germany: Children and Propaganda in the. Third Reich,” 66 (4) Social Education, 228(3) (2002)

Feldman, Daniel. “Reading Poison: Science and Story in Nazi Children’s Propaganda,” National Library of Medicine. May 19, 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8146176/

Gellately, Robert. Backing Hitler: Consent and Coercion in Nazi Germany. Oxford University Press, 2001.

Hiemer, Ernst. Der GiftPilz (The Poisonous Mushroom). Nazi Youth Literature, 1938.

Koonz, Claudia. The Nazi Conscience. Harvard University Press, 2003.

Weitz, Eric D. A Century of Genocide: Utopias of Race and Nation. Princeton University Press, 2003.

https://perspectives.ushmm.org/item/pages-from-the-antisemitic-childrens-book-the-poisonous-mushroom/collection/everyday-encounters-with-fascism