Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini in Munich, Germany

Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini in Munich, Germany

Braun, Eva

Adolf Hitler; Benito Mussolini; Munich; Germany; Fascist Italy; Nazi Germany; Axis powers; political leadership

This black-and-white photograph shows Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini together in Munich, Germany, around June 1940. The image comes from Eva Braun’s photo albums, which are part of the National Archives Collection of Foreign Records Seized. For a project about propaganda in World War II Europe, this image is useful because it shows how fascist leaders used public appearances and photography to present unity, power, and confidence. Images of Hitler and Mussolini together helped visually support the idea of a strong Axis alliance between Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Instead of using a written slogan, the photograph communicates political authority through the bodies, uniforms, and public presence of the two leaders. It shows that propaganda could work through staged leadership images, not only posters.

National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland

National Archives and Records Service, Office of the National Archives

1940-06 (ca.)

Image

Black-and-white photograph

242-EB-7-38; National Archives Identifier: 540151

National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 242: National Archives Collection of Foreign Records Seized, 1675–1983; Series: Eva Braun’s Photo Albums, ca. 1913–ca. 1944; Local Identifier: 242-EB-7-38; National Archives Identifier: 540151.

https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2/photos/images/thumbnails

No linguistic content

Eva Braun’s Photo Albums; National Archives Collection of Foreign Records Seized

Munich, Germany; June 1940; World War II in Europe; Axis alliance

Public domain / no known copyright. National Archives DocsTeach lists this item as “No Known Copyright,” and NARA’s record identifies it as unrestricted.