Nazi Germany started a strong anti-tobacco movement and led the first public anti-smoking campaign in modern history . ( ( Image : German anti-smoking ad . jpeg thumb right 300px A Nazi anti-smoking ad titled `` The chain-smoker '' saying `` He does not devour it ( the cigarette ) , it devours him '' ) ) After German doctors became the first to identify the link between smoking and lung cancer , Nazi Germany initiated a strong anti-tobacco movement and led the first public anti-smoking campaign in modern history .