Des Quinn and Martin Williams A German view of the world Press ‘Esc’ on your keyboard at any time to end the presentation.
Des Quinn and Martin Williams
A German view of the world
Press ‘Esc’ on your keyboard at any time to end the presentation.
Study this postcard image carefully. How many countries have been shown?
Highlight those countries names. Can you find them on a map?
You may like to ask your teacher where Serbia, Monaco and Morocco are on the image.
Map of the world:
http://go.hrw.com/atlas/norm_htm/world.htm
Interactive Map of Europe:
http://www.yourchildlearns.com/europe_map.htm
Map of Europe in 1914:
http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/map01eu.htm
What helped you to make up your mind?
Which country do you believe produced this postcard and when?
How has Germany been portrayed?
Why do you think that Germany has been shown
in this way?
How have the other countries been portrayed?
France:
Russia:
Great Britain: Italy:
Montenegro:
Monaco:
Serbia: Morocco:
Japan:
Belgium: Austria:
Discuss why with your teacher.
Study this map of Europe that was produced in 1914.
Note: Not all of Europe is shown.
Write down two or three questions about the image that you would like to discuss.
Click on parts of the images that you would like to find out more about.
A figurative map of the theatre of war
If you do not know what figurative means, highlight the word using the mouse and go to ‘Tools’ and ‘Thesaurus’.
This figure represents Great Britain.
Who or what was a Suffragette and
why has the artist chosen this figure
to represent Great Britain in 1914?
A Suffragette is….
A Suffragette has been chosen to represent Great Britain in 1914 because…..
Suffragettes fought for the rights of women – such as the right
to vote. Although their demonstrations were largely peaceful
their need to attract publicity meant that they increasingly
engaged in disruptive activities to get their message across.
Image courtesy of Pembrokeshire Record Office, Ref: HDX/101/64
Suffragette disturbances at Llanystumdwy, Caernarfonshire
Suffragettes sometimes chained themselves to railings,
broke shop windows and interrupted sporting events.
If arrested, many Suffragettes went on hunger strike to
gain further publicity. Sometimes the police would then
have to try to force-feed them to keep them alive. The
Government passed the ‘Cat and Mouse Act’ as it was
embarrassed by the attention that hunger strikes caused.
This act allowed women to go on hunger strike until the
authorities believed them to be too weak to cause any
more trouble. They were then released.
The activities of the Suffragettes and the Government’s
response to their actions was viewed with amusement
and bewilderment in many countries within Europe.
This wealthy gentleman who is drinking ‘Schwed’ punch
represents Sweden.Note: Punch is a drink made from fruit juices –
usually mixed with wine or other alcoholic beverages.
Sweden remained neutral throughout World War One.
Sweden exported many goods abroad during the war
period, most notably food to Germany. Swedish industry
produced steel, ball-bearings and wood pulp that were
exported, although the use of blockades during the war
interfered with both Swedish imports and exports.
This devilish figure represents Belgium.
This military officer represents the French
Army.(Germany and France had gone
to war before in 1870).
Who do you think that this figure represents?
Discuss:
Why do you think these countries have been portrayed in this way?
What impression did the maker of the postcard wish to give of Germany’s neighbours?
This military officer
represents the German Army holding back Germany’s enemies.
This officer represents the Austrian Army bravely holding back the threat from the east
with her German ally.
This ‘dashing’ military officer
represents Italy, who was
Germany’s ally in 1914.
The small head of this beautiful lady
represents neutral
Switzerland .
This ‘Bear-Like’ figure represents
Russia, which was a huge and
powerful country.
Germany was particularly worried
that Russia would attack her. Not
only was the Russian army very
large, but conflict with Russia in
the east and France and Britain in
the west would mean that
Germany would have to split her
army in two to fight a war on two
fronts.
Overall what was the purpose behind producing a postcard such as this one?
Purpose
END