April 2026 Militaria and Political Auction
Lot 653:
Description
This is a **Dutch Waffen-SS recruitment poster** from **World War II**, distributed under the **German occupation of the Netherlands (1940–1945)**.
It uses the Dutch proverb **“De vos verliest wel zijn haren, maar niet zijn streken”** — literally:
> “The fox may lose its fur, but not its tricks, ” > to describe what the poster calls the “common enemy” — clearly referring to the Allies.
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### ???? **Full Translation**
> **“…The fox may lose his fur, but not his tricks”** > > This old Dutch saying is now very fitting for our common enemy, who has once again invaded our **Fatherland’s soil**. > > True Dutchmen and good patriots now recognize the great danger that threatens them. Many have in recent days enlisted in the **Waffen-SS** and the **Landstorm Brigade Nederland**. > > **Enroll yourself as well!** > > Our great heroes of the past have set the example. Tens of thousands of our best Dutchmen have already followed! > > **Enlistment:** > *SS-Ersatzkommando Nederland* > Korte Vijverberg 5, The Hague
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### ?? **Historical Context**
This poster comes from the **later phase of the Nazi occupation**, likely around **1944**, when Germany was suffering defeats and desperately seeking **foreign volunteers** to replenish its forces — especially in the Waffen-SS.
The **Landstorm Nederland** and **Waffen-SS divisions** (including the *23rd SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division “Nederland”*) consisted of Dutch collaborationist soldiers fighting mainly on the **Eastern Front** against the Soviet Union.
This poster sought to appeal to Dutch nationalism and anti-Communist sentiment, attempting to portray enlistment as patriotic duty rather than collaboration.
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### ?? **Design & Tone**
* **Typography:** The key phrase *“DE VOS”* (the fox) and the recruitment call *“Meldt U zich eveneens!”* are in large red type to capture attention. * **Layout:** Simple and text-heavy — more like an official proclamation than a pictorial poster. This was typical of **late-war recruitment efforts**, when printing resources were limited, and propaganda became more urgent and direct. * **Tone:** Stern and moralizing. The message frames joining the SS as both *patriotic* and *heroic*, equating it with defending the homeland from the “enemy fox” — meaning the Allies, often personified as deceitful Britain or America.
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### ?? **Publication Details**
* Issued by the **SS-Ersatzkommando Nederland**, headquartered at **Korte Vijverberg 5, The Hague**, the main SS recruitment office in the occupied Netherlands. * The layout and phrasing indicate it was sanctioned by the **Germanic SS in the Netherlands (Germaansche SS in Nederland)** or the **Waffen-SS propaganda bureau**.
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### ?? **Summary**
| Feature | Details | | —————– | ————————————————– ————————————————– —- | | **Title / Motto** | “De vos verliest wel zijn haren, maar niet zijn streken” (*The fox may lose his fur but not his tricks*) | | **Language** | Dutch | | **Date** | ca. 1944 | | **Issuer** | SS-Ersatzkommando Nederland, The Hague | | **Purpose** | Recruitment for Waffen-SS and Landstorm Brigade Nederland | | **Style** | Textual, urgent, nationalistic | | **Tone** | Anti-Allied, patriotic, militaristic |
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Measures roughly 21.5 inches x 27.5 inches.
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