10 Propaganda Posters from Soviet Union for International Workers’ Day

To begin our look at Communist propaganda posters for International Workers’ Day, we have this delightful couple. They are pictured proudly holding aloft the classic communist hammer and sickle, representing industrial laborers and peasantry.

The symbol stood for their alliance with socialism and in opposition to foreign intervention and reactionary movements. Translated, the wording reads "long live the proletarian holiday 1st May".

Featured image: Long Live the Proletarian Holiday 1st May

This poster celebrating 1st of May is a stunning piece of Soviet Union propaganda art, with the poster proudly proclaiming Long live May 1st Labour Day.

The poster features an abundance of red, coupled with the workers celebrating by dancing in the background and the workers in the foreground proudly displaying a banner, a common occurrence on the celebratory day along with images of flowers which can also be seen in the poster.

The poster also illustrates a show of strength with the workers tools and the presence of the military and naval figures.

Featured image: Long Live May 1st Labour Day

A simple but strong piece of Soviet Union propaganda poster art for 1st of May, declaring unity and that it is a holiday to share with friends. The poster features all of the classic images associated with the Day of International Solidarity of the Working Class, banners, balloons and flowers.

Combine these with the joyful looking gentleman calling out to his friends and you already know that 1st of May is a day you are expected to enjoy, as many of us still do.

Featured image: May 1st Holiday With Mates

Next up on our celebration of Soviet Union propaganda art is this beautiful example from 1920. The three main figures proudly standing, chests stuck out and carrying the tools of their trades for everyone to see as they celebrate the Day.

Again they are surrounded by a mass of red banners and flowers, albeit in a more symbolic and decorative form than on some posters. One can only feel compelled to join in with the celebrations when confronted with such fine and solid figures, proud of who they are and what they do.

Featured image: 1st of May 1920

This stunning piece of communist propaganda art proudly informs us that workers have nothing to lose but their chains and a whole world they acquire. To back this up, the poster artwork has the classic banner associated with the holiday embracing the globe, many parts of which are colored red.

The main figure, in red of course, is proudly pointing at the world while declaring the workers have nothing to lose but much to acquire, so celebrate and be proud on the 1st of May.

Featured image: Workers Have Nothing to Lose But Their Chains

"Where there is work, go there, go where work is", is basically what this painterly piece of Soviet Union propaganda art is urging the workers for the 1st of May.

The beautiful technique of this poster portrays an industrial landscape, chimneys busy blowing out smoke and the fine, strong worker proudly standing with his hammer, urging people to find work where it is available.

Of course, red features strongly once again in the image, representing the blood of the workers and to honor the suffering and sacrifices of the proletariat.

Featured image: Go Where Is Work

A simple and bold declaration is the main feature of this dramatic piece of communist propaganda poster - "workers of the world unite!". On the right we find the strong workers, carrying their red banners for the Day, marching with music playing as they reach out to a comrade.

Emerging from the smoke of the factory in the top left is a ghoulish spectrum of a figure, no doubt a greedy businessman content to pay low wages and to make his workers suffer in bad conditions.

Featured image: Workers of the World Unite

"Long live the fifth anniversary of the great proletarian revolution" this fascinating poster proudly declares. In the center, we find a proud worker complete with red banner along with hammer and sickle, an emblem that was originally created in 1917 in a competition started by Lenin and Lunacharsky.

The winning design also included a sword but Lenin objected to its inclusion because of its violent connotations. In the background, we find a host of workers from around the globe and various famous landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and Pyramids, joining to celebrate The Workers’ Day.

Featured image: Long Live the Fifth Anniversary of the Great Proletarian Revolution

1920 was an important year for the Soviet Union, having just come through the First World War, Bolshevik Revolution and civil war. 1919 has also seen subbotniks take place, a day of unpaid labour often on a Saturday, aimed at uniting the masses.

However, it soon became apparent that is was just a way for the ruling class to get free labour and in 1920 on the 1st of May, the Communist Party started the first all-union subbotnik, which saw Lenin join thousands of people in removing building rubble from the Kremlin.

This poster seems to represent much of the feelings being demonstrated by the workers at that point, rising up against the ruling classes.

Featured image: Celebrating the First of May 1920

A strong and stirring finish to our look at Soviet Union propaganda art for the important holiday and a simple declaration of "long live May 1st". The rousing piece of propaganda art features a worker stood atop a globe and breaking free from his chains in a symbol of workers power.

While for many International Workers’ Day has just become a national holiday to relax, one should not forget the blood of the workers and honor the suffering and sacrifices of the proletariat who have built the world we live in with little in return.

Featured image: Long Live May 1st. All images creative commons