Enemy of Goebbels No. 3

The graphic artist Alexander Zhytomyrsky entered the history of visual arts primarily as an author of political photomontages. During the war against fascism, his works were printed on leaflets addressed to enemy soldiers, serving as a kind of pass for them to surrender. The enemy general staff issued an order prohibiting the collection of Russian leaflets, and after the defeat at Volga, those who were found to possess them were shot. Reich Minister of Propaganda Goebbels, upon learning through his agents who was making illustrations for Front Illustrirte, included Zhytomyrsky's name on his list of personal enemies at No. 3, after Levitan and Ehrenburg. These people were to be found and hanged. The employees of Front Illustrirte worked tirelessly, leaving only about four hours for sleep. The artist recalled: All my thoughts were focused on propaganda among enemy troops. To maintain a semblance of internal balance, I devised a little relief for myself. Before going to bed, I spent about forty minutes away from the war. On the left page, I wrote what I could remember from the pre-war past. On the right page, I made a sketch – an illustration for the text. This unique diary became the basis for the book Enemy of Goebbels No. 3, which was written in memory of his father by the artist’s son – journalist and writer Vladimir Zhytomyrsky.