---
title: '"Der deutsche Friedensvertrag bändigt den westdeutschen Militarismus!": sign at the Friedrichstraße checkpoint, Berlin'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/gdr-friedrichstrasse-checkpoint-peace-treaty-sign-1961/
description: A large board beside the GDR coat of arms stands before the Friedrichstraße crossing barrier, with two uniformed men and a Volkswagen at the checkpoint…
section: Collection
---

[Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)

[!["Der deutsche Friedensvertrag bändigt den westdeutschen Militarismus!": sign at the Friedrichstraße checkpoint, Berlin](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/gdr-friedrichstrasse-checkpoint-peace-treaty-sign-1961.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/gdr-friedrichstrasse-checkpoint-peace-treaty-sign-1961.jpg)

# "Der deutsche Friedensvertrag bändigt den westdeutschen Militarismus!": sign at the Friedrichstraße checkpoint, Berlin

A large board beside the GDR coat of arms stands before the Friedrichstraße crossing barrier, with two uniformed men and a Volkswagen at the checkpoint behind it. Its text pairs warm words ('peace and understanding') with a single named cause of danger, 'West German militarism', which a peace treaty is said to tame.

## Text on the object

Original (German) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
Laßt uns gemeinsam für Frieden
und Verständigung wirken!
Der deutsche
Friedensvertrag bändigt den
westdeutschen Militarismus!

[GDR coat of arms on the left board; 'STOP' on the road sign at right]
```

English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader)

```
Let us work together for peace
and understanding!
The German
peace treaty tames
West German militarism!

[GDR coat of arms on the left board; 'STOP' on the road sign at right]
```

Read from the 784 px image; line breaks as on the board.

[← "Wer uns angreift wird vernichtet": GDR border sign beside the new Berlin Wall (CIA photograph)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/gdr-wer-uns-angreift-wird-vernichtet-sign-1961/) ["Aktuelle Kamera" interview with a detained West Berliner, Deutscher Fernsehfunk →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/gdr-aktuelle-kamera-schroeter-interview-1961/)

## Using the same techniques

- [Der Warner (broadsheet lampoon on the Jesuits after Breitenfeld and Rain)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/der-warner-anti-jesuit-broadsheet-1632/) (Holy Roman Empire · 1632 · Scapegoating, Fear appeal)
- [Ondersoeckt de Geesten, ofse van den Duyvel syn, of niet (the De Witt brothers as devils)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/ondersoeckt-de-geesten-de-witt-devils-1672/) (Dutch Republic · 1672 · Scapegoating, Name-calling)
- [Proclamation by the Queen in Council, to the Princes, Chiefs, and People of India (printed sheet, Allahabad, 1 November 1858)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/queens-proclamation-to-the-people-of-india-1858/) (British India · Nov 1, 1858 · Glittering generalities, Scapegoating)
- [De Vlamingen aan de Negers van den Congo (The Flemings to the Negroes of the Congo)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/de-vlamingen-aan-de-negers-van-den-congo-1885/) (Belgium · 1885 · Scapegoating)
- [The Radical Programme, No. 4: Dismemberment of the Empire (Gladstone & Co. auction India), St Stephen's Review Presentation Cartoon](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/radical-programme-selling-india-st-stephens-review-1891/) (United Kingdom · Oct 31, 1891 · Fear appeal, Scapegoating)
- [宣戦ノ詔勅 (Imperial Rescript declaring war on China), Kanpō extra no. 3328, 2 August 1894](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/kanpo-declaration-of-war-on-china-1894/) (Empire of Japan · Aug 2, 1894 · Glittering generalities, Scapegoating). Content note: Official wartime declaration assigning blame for the war to the Qing government; no imagery.
- ["England and the War in South Africa" (Der wahre Jacob, 1899)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/war-and-capitalism-der-wahre-jacob-1899/) (German Empire · Dec 5, 1899 · Card stacking, Scapegoating)
- ["Negro Rule" vampire cartoon with sworn affidavit](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/negro-rule-vampire-1900/) (United States · Jul 4, 1900 · Accusation in a mirror, Fear appeal, Scapegoating). Content note: Racist "Negro Rule" caricature.