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Conquered Territories Six Times The Size of England

This WWII-era Vichy France propaganda poster, entitled "Les richesses de l’est, l’Europe les a gagnées!" ("The riches of the East, Europe has won them!"), employs both visual and textual strategies to depict Germany's conquests in the East during the war as a victory for Europe against the USSR.

The poster features a stylized black silhouette of England and its surrounding territories, enclosed by a bright red jagged line symbolizing the Eastern Front. Inside this outline, major cities like London and Belfast are marked, drawing a geographic comparison to the points of interest in the Soviet Union, such as Smolensk, Charkow (Kharkiv), Odessa, and Sewastopol (Sevastopol). This visual technique contrasts what Germany might have gained by conquering England with what was ostensibly achieved in the East.

The background shows agricultural machinery and workers, emphasizing the productive "riches" gained from the conquered territories. A tank further alludes to the military strength used to secure these regions. The red text underscores that the area conquered is six times the size of England, appealing to notions of economic gain and territorial expansion. 

This poster served to convince the French population of the futility of Soviet resistance, portraying the USSR as almost defeated by a united European force under German leadership. By framing the conquests as "European" victories, it attempts to foster unity among Axis-aligned or occupied countries. The emphasis on resources (such as fertile lands in Crimea and the Donbass) aimed to justify the war as an economic and strategic necessity. 

During WWII, Nazi propaganda frequently exploited economic themes to rationalize their eastern campaigns, promoting the idea of the "Lebensraum" (living space) and the wealth of the East. France, under occupation, was subjected to these messages to demoralize support for the Allies, particularly the USSR. By comparing England's relative insignificance to the supposedly immense riches of the East, this poster reinforces Germany's military actions and Europe’s collaboration in achieving these gains.