For the honor of his wife, for the lives of children, For the happiness of his homeland, For our fields and meadows – Kill the invader-enemy! (Golovanov L.) Soviet Posters (1917-1941)

The image depicts a German soldier, clad in a helmet and uniform with a swastika armband, standing over the bodies of a woman and a child. The soldiers face is grim and determined as he holds a submachine gun. The background is filled with flames and destroyed buildings, suggesting a wartime scene of destruction and violence.

The subtext of the painting is intended to be patriotic and propagandistic, evoking strong emotions of anger and a call to action.

• The Soldier: He represents the invading enemy. His menacing posture and the weapon he carries symbolize aggression and destruction. The swastika on his arm is an unmistakable symbol of Nazi Germany and its ideology.
• The Woman and Child: They represent innocent victims, likely civilians of the invaded land. Their prone positions and the implied tragedy create a sense of loss and suffering, aiming to elicit sympathy and outrage from the viewer.
• The Background: The burning landscape and ruined structures serve as a stark visual representation of the devastation caused by war. The fiery colors and dark smoke create a sense of chaos and despair.
• The Text: The surrounding text, which translates to For the honor of his wife, for the lives of children, For the happiness of his homeland, For our fields and meadows - Kill the invader-enemy!, is a call to arms, urging the viewer to defend their home, family, and land against the enemy symbolized by the soldier. This text provides context for the image, framing it as a justification for violence and resistance against an aggressor.

Overall, the painting is a powerful piece of wartime propaganda designed to dehumanize the enemy, evoke empathy for the victims, and motivate the audience to fight for their homeland.