JF Ptak Science Books Post 1156This appeal to practicing French metallurgists by the Nazi occupying force (Metallurgistes misere? Non 1943.) promised good wages, a clean place to sleep, and a livable future. This included a life for professional metallurgists with a family, as well. The Nazis were (blood) thirsty for practically-trained "help", desperate for people with an expertise in occupied France to help contribute to their war effort, and this pamphlet was one means of trying to persuade (via propaganda) or purchase the tacit approval of these professionals. The Nazis were promising a place to all of those who followed the call, a place in the resurrection of Europe, in the rebuilding of the European community under German/Nazi rule.
There was one very odd problem in this pamphlet. The map shows the creation of this very large allegorical structure, which naturally centers on Germany;
but strangely enough, none of the structure seems to touch French soil--so much for the "New Europe". As a matter of fact it looks as though there is a table with three men standing around it at just about the exact place that Paris would be. I'm not convinced that this was intentionally represented this way, showing the French reader that France was not going to be part of the rebirth--not having France as a part of this new empire would seem to be unthinkable--perhaps. Maybe the issue was to show the inductees that should they decide to stay at home they and their family and the rest of the country will be part of a destitute agrarian Medieval future, that France would not be part of the New Europe, rather than someone screwing up in the Nazi propaganda offices. The screwup is possible though--they were, after all, only Nazis.
Photos of the promised facilities:
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