The Rise of Fascism

Distorted Swastika

by Werner Drewes

After moving to New York City from Germany, Drewes created Distorted Swastika for the cover of his woodcut portfolio, It Can’t Happen Here. 

Drewes was grateful for the right afforded to him in America to freely create controversial images, such as this distorted symbol of the Nazi Party.

The repressive laws and regulations the Nazi party inflicted on artists in the 1930s prevented Drewes from creating such images while living in Germany.