What does this poster mean in English?

Question

I heard this was a propaganda poster. What does it say ??

http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Luftschutz-ist-Selbstschutz-Posters_i397254_.htm

Answer 1

The poster is no more propaganda than any other poster that advances a state's defenses.  It says "Air Defense is Personal Defense," and advertises an Air Defense Exhibition from 12-21 January 1935.  The exhibition took place at a military post, specifically in its horse riding hall, in St. Gallen.

No propaganda here.  Please understand that the Swiss Army is more of a civil defense force with every member of society part of the effort.

Answer 2

it says "during WW@ the Swiss were so poor the had no shirts or guns, only shields"

Answer 3

The headline reads:

"Air raid protection means protecting YOU"

The subtitle reads:

"air raid protection exhibition"

"St. Gallen" is a place in Switzerland, NOT Germany!

"12.-21. Januar 1935" should be clear; "Januar" just means "January", the month.

"Reithalle und Kaserne" means "horse stable and military barracks"

As Switzerland was neutral during WWII, I suppose this is less a "propaganda" poster, but a poster for Swiss civilians to instruct them on how to protect themselves from possible air raids, just in case a bomb should be dropped on Switzerland by mistake.

(I`m German myself, so please take that translation for granted. The Swiss speak German. Sort of.)

I assume that this poster was meant to make clear to the public that the darkening of their windows at night (German: Verdunkelung) was a necessery means to prevent attacks by allied "bombers".

Answer 4

"Defense is Self-Protection".  Yeah, given the dates at the bottom of the poster, it seems like a n**i propaganda piece.

Answer 5

well it's a war poster so it most definitely is a propaganda poster, what for though, I don't know.

Answer 6

Air defence is self defence

Air defence Exibition

St. Gallen (Town-Name)  12.-21. January1935

Horsearena and barracks

Answer 7

It looks like a world war 2 poster and it is saying the Americans are coming the Americans are coming to save us.

Answer 8

"Air-raid protection is self-protection" - that's the main slogan.

And underneath it says

"Air-raid protection exhibition, St. Gallen, January 12th to 21st, (held at) indoor riding hall and baracks"

So it's a poster advertising an exhibition where you can found out how to best protect yourself against air raids, and it was held in the Swiss town of St. Gallen.

Answer 9

The translations given by others are correct.

I am always wondering where you guys find this old stuff. In my view it is really sad that so many Americans apparently are only interested in the III Reich part of the German history. How about showing at little more interest in what's going on in Germany and in other countries nowadays? No wonder one of my American students believed that Hitler was still alive!