Strange propaganda posters

[UNSC_Trooper]

I've noticed that several Italian propaganda posters depicted countries like Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia as part of the Axis alliance. This seems strange since these countries were never in the Axis (Yugoslavia was in the Axis only a couple of days before its invasion).

Was it just a tactic to depict as many countries as possible as "friends" of the Axis? What may have influenced Italian artists to depict these countries like this?


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_NSd04qYxYI/T ... itp269.jpg

[LColombo]

Well, the "Yugoslav" flag is actually a Croatian flag; and in Croatia the Axis created the puppet Ustase state of Ante Pavelic ("Independent State of Croatia"), so Croatia was a sort of allied of the Axis. As for Czechoslovakia, maybe it was considered as a sort of protectorate of Germany, and therefore depicted as an ally?

[Bernaschek]

it's a Yugoslavian, not a croatian Flag (red white checkerboard) and Slovakia at least was an ally (don't know about it's war time flag), whilst the Czek part, without majority german areas, was a "protectorate" and as such, with some phantasie, could be counted amongst "allies"

[Hecht]

Yugoslavia was initially on the Axis side.

[Eugen Pinak]

As for Czechoslovakia, maybe it was considered as a sort of protectorate of Germany, and therefore depicted as an ally?

Flag of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was white over red over blue, so it's a mistake still.

[Dr Eisvogel]

it's a Yugoslavian, not a croatian Flag (red white checkerboard) and Slovakia at least was an ally (don't know about it's war time flag),

It is a Croatian flag depicted. Croatian colours are red-white-blue, while Yugoslav colours are blue-white-red.

The Slovak flag had the same colours as now: white-blue-red.

Finland's flag is also depicted on the poster and it wasn't an Axis member.

The main mistake is flag of Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia was neither part of Axis, nor did it fought along with Axis states.

[Von Schadewald]

[Dili]

Yugoslavia was buying mostly Italian and German bombers and German fighters.

[LColombo]

Finland's flag is also depicted on the poster and it wasn't an Axis member.

Well, Finland fought together with the Axis agains the Soviet Union, I think this was enough. I think the poster wanted to depict the Axis and its allies (or presumed ones) rather than the Axis alone and itself.

[Klaus Von Kueste]

The main mistake is flag of Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia was neither part of Axis, nor did it fought along with Axis states.

Yes, the real mistake is the flag of CS... but I think that the author of this poster didn't know the flags of Protektorat and Slovakia... and could have use the flag of CS to show both of them...
Time ago I've seen a map produced by a veteran of the Eastern front that have draw a map of his travel... the protektorat and Slovakia are signed as "former Czechoslovakia" (in Italy, also today some people confuse and mixed Czechia and Slovakia!! [sigh!])
So, maybe the author of the poster, could have make the same mistake of some Italians who didn't know the actual (or former) political situation