In 1930, Heartfield began publishing his work in the A-I-Z or Arbeiter-Illustrierte-Zeitung (Workers' Illustrated Paper). His photomontages took aim at Hitler and the Nazi party, exposing their greed, anti-Semitism, love of war and ultimately, their plans for Germany.

"Heartfield's work intended to be provocative, with images such as Adolf the Superman from 1932 and Goering the Executioner of the Third Reich from 1933, deliberately satirising and insulting the figures they refer to, while also suggesting an alternative reading of events from that which the Nazi's propagated. As fascism's power increased, Heartfield's work became more dangerous to view or be seen in possession of and so their need to be direct and easily understood (at a glance) was heightened. Although, from the 1930s onwards, many exhibitions of Heartfield's propagandist photomontages were held, the artist did not wish the viewer to lose sight of what his works of art were originally intended for, and therefore AIZ originals would be displayed next to each art work." [5]