The Motherland is Calling! (1941) Soviet WWII Poster

Please note, we also sell a framed version of this poster here on RUS & SOV. About the Poster The Motherland is Calling! (Russian: Родина-мать зовет!) is one of the most famous and iconic Soviet posters there is. The poster’s artist, Irakli Toidze (Russian: Ираклий Тоидзе), began work on it as soon as he heard that the Nazi German invasion of the Soviet Union had begun on June 22, 1941. According to the Toidze family, Irakli’s wife, Tamara, first heard of the invasion from the Soviet Information Bureau through a street loudspeaker. As soon as she got the news, she ran into Irakli’s study and shouted in despair, “War!” Apparently, her expression was so brilliant that Irakli immediately exclaimed “Stop, don’t move!” and began to sketch her figure. By the following morning, the poster was ready. Within five days, the first The Motherland Calls! posters were leaving the printing house. And by mid-July, the entire country recognized it. Of all the many propaganda posters that appeared a