Aujourd’hui le NPD, demain le fascisme 1969

This powerful 1969 poster by Victor Koretsky stands as a stark example of late Cold War political propaganda. It warns of the perceived resurgence of fascism in West Germany, specifically targeting the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD), which had gained visibility in the 1960s.

“Today the NPD — tomorrow fascism.”

The composition is strikingly minimal yet psychologically intense. At the center, a face is split into two halves: one side depicts a seemingly ordinary, well-fed civilian figure, while the other reveals a shadowed, menacing visage wearing a Nazi helmet marked with a swastika. This duality conveys the central warning—the idea that fascism can hide beneath a respectable exterior.

Koretsky, known for his emotionally charged and symbolic style, uses this visual transformation to suggest a direct ideological continuity between contemporary far-right movements and the horrors of World War II. The message is not subtle: the NPD is portrayed as a gateway to the re-emergence of Nazism.

The dark background isolates the figure, intensifying the focus on the face and its disturbing metamorphosis. The absence of contextual detail reinforces the universality of the warning—it is not tied to a specific place or moment but presented as an ever-present خطر.

Below the face, a small, almost symbolic object resembling a projectile or bullet points upward, subtly reinforcing the threat of violence associated with fascist ideology.

This poster must be understood within the broader ideological confrontation of the Cold War. The Soviet Union frequently positioned itself as the defender against fascism, using historical memory as a political tool. By invoking the legacy of Nazi Germany, the poster seeks to discredit contemporary Western political movements and reinforce Soviet moral authority.

At the same time, it reflects genuine anxieties of the period. The rise of far-right parties in postwar Europe raised concerns across the political spectrum, and Soviet propaganda amplified these fears to serve its narrative.

Ultimately, Сегодня НДП — завтра фашизм is a vivid example of how visual art was used as a weapon in ideological struggle. Through its stark imagery and uncompromising message, it transforms a political argument into an immediate and emotionally charged warning: vigilance is necessary, because the past, it suggests, can return under a different guise.

Original Poster

Politics - USSR - Propaganda - Russia

A Nazi soldier hiding behind the mask of a member of the National Democratic Party

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