Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Although I have a little knowledge of German, I am having trouble translating the slogan so that it makes any sense. The main stumbling block is the word 'Maßstab'. This means, scale or measure, or standard.
So, this translates to "Not YOU are the scale! But the FRONT!
Google comes up with the same.
I would imagine that the word actually means something else in the context of the slogan, particularly as the words 'DU' and 'FRONT' are stressed. This may be an instance where 'interpretation' rather than straight translation is needed.
Can anybody help?
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https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maßstab
The last two or three meanings might get us nearer.
Guess: Wehrmacht man to his wounded mate: "You're not like all the others! More fighting to do!"
The writer in this review suggests that the message was harsher - something along the lines of "You're not that wounded, chum - I'm getting you back to the Front!"
http://www.feldpost-archiv.de/05-x-may.shtml
At any rate, we know it emanated from Poland, the Generalgouvernement, August 1943. It's an unusual image, not at all upbeat, and there's the suggestion of WW1 trench warfare in there, as well. We need someone who speaks German and is familiar with the vernacular of those times.
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Unfortunately I can't find that review from the link. There is however another translation of the word Maßstab: social norm.
Now this may fit with your guess or something along the lines of "above and beyond the call of duty".
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My mistake, sometimes the format buttons chop off a letter or two, and I didn't check.
Should be OK now. (It is, with an extra click on the page that comes up.)
And now the first one works! Heigh-ho...
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I Googled a bit on the meaning of the slogan. I guess Maßstab could indeed be best translated as 'norm'. The slogan would then translate to 'It's not you that's the norm, it's the front'. The more straightforward interpretation would indeed seem to be - as stated up thread - a call upon soldiers to preform above and beyond the call of duty to save the front. More philosophical interpretations stress that the slogan shows how the Nazi ideology totally lost touch with human values. The front has become the norm, not even the own population is of value anymore. Remember 1943 was the turning point of the war the Nazi armies being pushed back on several fronts.
Curious if other members may have additional input.
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I think the general translation has been nailed, at least the tenor of the slogan. Perhaps it could be refined to something like "It is not you who is the most important, but the front" or "you should not set the standard yourself, the front does so"
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""It is not you who is the most important, but the front""
That Jansimon, is the best so far and I doubt it could much improved. Thank you for your input.
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As propaganda, I'm not convinced that this makes a very clear statement.
Who is being addressed here, and by whom? Is the principal figure addressing his wounded comrade? Is the NSDAP addressing the principal figure (or the wounded man)? Is the NSDAP addressing those non-combatants who look on at this touching scene?
Whatever the case, it's a strange and apparently savage message. I've had this card for some time myself, and hadn't given it much thought until now.
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I think this is addressing non-combatants. As it was intended for purchase and use by the public, its aim was to instill a powerful message into the mind of the one who buys it and then once sent, into the recipient's consciousness. Add to that, the effect that it would have on those that would see it in transit.
A simple and quite potent propaganda mechanism.
ALthough this may well be straying from the true intention of the slogan, I think I would, from the image alone, interpret the message as: If you think you are having a tough time, think about those at the sharp end.
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This postcard, was produced to commemorate the NSDAP in government, in August 1943. The image was from an original painting by Will Tschech.
Although I have a little knowledge of German, I am having trouble translating the slogan so that it makes any sense. The main stumbling block is the word 'Maßstab'. This means, scale or measure, or standard.
So, this translates to "Not YOU are the scale! But the FRONT!
Google comes up with the same.
I would imagine that the word actually means something else in the context of the slogan, particularly as the words 'DU' and 'FRONT' are stressed. This may be an instance where 'interpretation' rather than straight translation is needed.
Can anybody help?
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this post
re: Germany: Propaganda postcard - translation difficulty.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maßstab
The last two or three meanings might get us nearer.
Guess: Wehrmacht man to his wounded mate: "You're not like all the others! More fighting to do!"
The writer in this review suggests that the message was harsher - something along the lines of "You're not that wounded, chum - I'm getting you back to the Front!"
http://www.feldpost-archiv.de/05-x-may.shtml
At any rate, we know it emanated from Poland, the Generalgouvernement, August 1943. It's an unusual image, not at all upbeat, and there's the suggestion of WW1 trench warfare in there, as well. We need someone who speaks German and is familiar with the vernacular of those times.
Login to Like
this post
re: Germany: Propaganda postcard - translation difficulty.
Unfortunately I can't find that review from the link. There is however another translation of the word Maßstab: social norm.
Now this may fit with your guess or something along the lines of "above and beyond the call of duty".
Login to Like
this post
re: Germany: Propaganda postcard - translation difficulty.
My mistake, sometimes the format buttons chop off a letter or two, and I didn't check.
Should be OK now. (It is, with an extra click on the page that comes up.)
And now the first one works! Heigh-ho...
Login to Like
this post
re: Germany: Propaganda postcard - translation difficulty.
I Googled a bit on the meaning of the slogan. I guess Maßstab could indeed be best translated as 'norm'. The slogan would then translate to 'It's not you that's the norm, it's the front'. The more straightforward interpretation would indeed seem to be - as stated up thread - a call upon soldiers to preform above and beyond the call of duty to save the front. More philosophical interpretations stress that the slogan shows how the Nazi ideology totally lost touch with human values. The front has become the norm, not even the own population is of value anymore. Remember 1943 was the turning point of the war the Nazi armies being pushed back on several fronts.
Curious if other members may have additional input.
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re: Germany: Propaganda postcard - translation difficulty.
I think the general translation has been nailed, at least the tenor of the slogan. Perhaps it could be refined to something like "It is not you who is the most important, but the front" or "you should not set the standard yourself, the front does so"
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re: Germany: Propaganda postcard - translation difficulty.
""It is not you who is the most important, but the front""
That Jansimon, is the best so far and I doubt it could much improved. Thank you for your input.
Login to Like
this post
re: Germany: Propaganda postcard - translation difficulty.
As propaganda, I'm not convinced that this makes a very clear statement.
Who is being addressed here, and by whom? Is the principal figure addressing his wounded comrade? Is the NSDAP addressing the principal figure (or the wounded man)? Is the NSDAP addressing those non-combatants who look on at this touching scene?
Whatever the case, it's a strange and apparently savage message. I've had this card for some time myself, and hadn't given it much thought until now.
Login to Like
this post
re: Germany: Propaganda postcard - translation difficulty.
I think this is addressing non-combatants. As it was intended for purchase and use by the public, its aim was to instill a powerful message into the mind of the one who buys it and then once sent, into the recipient's consciousness. Add to that, the effect that it would have on those that would see it in transit.
A simple and quite potent propaganda mechanism.
ALthough this may well be straying from the true intention of the slogan, I think I would, from the image alone, interpret the message as: If you think you are having a tough time, think about those at the sharp end.
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