A political campaign leaflet in support of the Social Democratic Party describing German inflation after the Treaty of Versailles, 1932.

This election campaign leaflet supports the Marxist SPD (Sozialdemokratic üdernahm, or Social Democratic Party) in the 1932 Reichstag, or German parliamentary, elections. Note the line of individuals waiting for food and the high prices of bread, margarine, and coffee. The SPD inherited a suffering Germany, devastated by the reparations they owed to the Allied Powers and mired in massive debt as a result of the Treaty of Versailles. In 1933, increasingly powerful Chancellor Adolf Hitler used the Enabling Act, a law that allowed him to bypass the Reichstag when making decisions, to ban the SPD.

English Translation:

The Social Democracy (Party) took over a "well-ordered" Empire in 1918.

[Translations of selected ration cards:]

[Ausweis 32055]

Ration Card 32055

in the amount of

1/2 Pound of Margarine

from a Berlin Magistrate trusted/approved City Margarine Seller location

Valid until the 29th of February 1916

Whosoever procures a ration card through dishonest means is in danger of punishment. The transfer of this ration card or the goods allotted thereby is forbidden.

[Card numbered XI 03162]

Valid in Berlin

the County of Teltow

Amount of Ration

1/2 Pound Coffee

Merchant's Stamp

Non-Transferrable! Details on back!

XI 03162

Coffee = Replacement = Card

Valid in Berlin, the neighboring cities and

the County of Teltow and Niederbarnim

Amount of Ration

1/2 Pound of Coffee=Replacement

Merchant's Stamp

Non-Transferrable! Details on back!

XI 03162

[Card with crest and headed “Groß Berlin”]

Greater Berlin

Butter Card

for

[???]

until the 8th Week

Valid on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, [???]

Not transferable.

Details on the back!

XLV

[Around the side of this one it has place to put the stamps upon receipt. Lower left, then right side:]

1/4 Pound Butter Valid from the 10.April until the 16.April

1/4 Pound Butter Valid from the 17.May until the 23.May

1/4 Pound Butter Valid from the 24.June until the 30.June

1/4 Pound Butter Valid from the 1.July until the 7.July

1/4 Pound Butter Valid from the 8?.August until the 14.August?

[Card with “Kartoffelkarte” at center]

Potato Card

for Berlin and Neighboring Areas

Valid for the period of the 21st of January until the 17th of February 1918?

Details on back!

XX 97740

[Right side asking for name and address of card holder.]

[Text at bottom right of photo]

Daylong waiting for 100 grams of meet or 1/4 of margarine.

[Text at bottom in black background/white text]

95 Million Marks (currency) funded Debt (War Bonds)

35 Million Marks fluctuating Debt

130 Million in Debt on the 31st of October 1918