How a crude, privately owned tabloid became the most lethal weapon of Nazi propaganda.

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Der Stürmer was not an official Nazi Party publication, yet it became a cornerstone of the regime's antisemitic agenda. Through lurid cartoons and fabricated stories, Julius Streicher turned a weekly tabloid into a lucrative empire, eventually influencing Hitler himself and inciting the German public toward the horrors of the Holocaust.

Launched in Nuremberg on April 20, 1923, Der Stürmer operated outside the formal Nazi Party structure. Its founder, Julius Streicher, maintained total control, allowing the paper to bypass the 'serious' tone of official party organs like the Völkischer Beobachter. Instead, it relied on vulgarity, graphic caricatures by artist Philipp Rupprecht, and sensationalist claims to target the lowest strata of society. By 1937, the paper reached a peak circulation of 486,000, distributing its message across Germany and internationally.

The paper’s content was defined by a relentless, dehumanizing focus on the 'Jewish question.' Streicher frequently recycled medieval myths, including blood libel and accusations of ritual murder, while inventing stories about sexual misconduct to stir public outrage. These articles were rarely investigated for accuracy; their primary goal was to provoke emotional responses rather than provide information. This strategy was so effective that Hitler, who was an avid reader, famously claimed that Streicher’s depictions were not libelous, but rather understated the 'diabolical' nature of the Jewish people.

Despite its popularity with the public and Hitler’s personal endorsement, the paper’s crude style eventually embarrassed some senior Nazi officials. Figures like Joseph Goebbels and Hermann Göring attempted to restrict or ban the publication to protect the regime’s international reputation, particularly during the 1936 Summer Olympics. Yet, Streicher’s influence remained secure due to Hitler’s unwavering support. The paper continued to publish until February 1945, serving as a primary tool for radicalizing the German population.

After the war, the legal consequences for this propaganda were severe. During the Nuremberg trials, prosecutors argued that Streicher’s incendiary rhetoric directly incited the murder of Jews, making him an accessory to crimes against humanity. The evidence highlighted that he continued his campaign even as he became aware of the ongoing extermination. Streicher was found guilty and executed by hanging in 1946, marking the end of a publication that had weaponized hatred for over two decades.

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