Ruthlessly destroy and destroy the enemy! (Kukryniksy)

The image is a Soviet propaganda poster created by the Kukryniksy artist collective in 1941. It depicts a stylized, caricatured Nazi figure being attacked by a Red Army soldier.

What I see:

• The main figures: On the right, a determined-looking Soviet soldier in a helmet with a red star is aiming a rifle bayonet directly at the eye of a grotesque caricature on the left. The soldier is mostly rendered in red, a common color in Soviet propaganda.
• The caricature: The figure on the left is shown as a sinister, hook-nosed individual wearing a Nazi swastika armband. He is holding a torn document titled Treaty of Non-Aggression between the USSR and Germany and a smiling theatrical mask. His posture suggests fear and desperation, with one claw-like hand reaching out.
• The text: The prominent red text at the top of the poster reads We will crush and destroy the enemy ruthlessly! (БЕСПОЩАДНО РАЗГРОМИМ И УНИЧТОЖИМ ВРАГА!). The signature Kukryniksy - 41 appears in the lower right, indicating the artists and year. The bottom caption confirms the title and year.

Subtexts:

• Betrayal of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact: The torn treaty signifies the breaking of the non-aggression pact between the USSR and Nazi Germany. The poster implies that Germany, despite the agreement, was the aggressor, and the USSR is now forced to defend itself and retaliate.
• Deception of Nazism: The theatrical mask represents the perceived deceitfulness and false friendly face of Nazism. The tearing of the mask and the bayonet piercing the eye suggest that the true, evil nature of the enemy is being exposed and directly confronted.
• Moral Justification for War: The poster aims to rally Soviet citizens and soldiers by portraying the war as a righteous struggle against a perfidious and brutal enemy. The ruthless destruction called for in the text emphasizes the perceived severity of the Nazi threat.
• Strength and Determination of the Red Army: The resolute stance and action of the Soviet soldier symbolize the strength, courage, and unwavering resolve of the Soviet forces against the invasion. The overwhelming force depicted by the soldier highlights the expected victory.
• Dehumanization of the Enemy: The distorted, grotesque depiction of the Nazi figure serves to dehumanize the enemy, making it easier for onlookers to accept and even embrace the idea of their complete destruction.
• Propaganda for Mobilization: Created in 1941, the year Germany invaded the Soviet Union, this poster was a crucial piece of wartime propaganda designed to boost morale, instill hatred for the enemy, and mobilize the population for total war.