“Der Tag!” a carton published in the Daily Express in London on May 7 1919(Source A), represents Germany being forced to take and accept a peace term. This peace term is way too harsh for the Germans and it is depicted in the cartoon that the allies have all ganged up towards Germany keeping a concrete grip. The struggling old man gripped securely and venerably represents as Germany as an innocent country, while the large hand represents all the countries that are forcing the brittle man to accept and agree with the terms. The “very bitter,” pill as described by the box portrays all of the peace terms and it has been quite easily illustrated by the author that the man’s mouth is not big enough suggesting that the peace terms are way too harsh and big for the small innocent country. The pill also implies that the man (Germany) would be destroyed if it had to swallow the pill placing Germany in a very secure position from the allies’ point of view. Also the line “Pills worth millions a box” signifies the large cost the peace terms had on Germany, through reparations and territorial losses. The men spoon feeding the German, with satisfied and confident looks on their faces, portray the Allies, while on the pill container they stand on
The treaty of Versailles can be referred to in both Source A and B as a scale of similarity and both also enforce that the treaty was harsh towards Germany. Conversely, the ways the messages are told about the treaty of Versailles are much more different than similar. “Clemenceau the Vampire,” (Source B) depicts Germany as a attractive but weakened and vulnerable lady in the cartoon who is attacked by the French, led by the monstrous Clemenceau, who is sucking Germany dry of resources through reparations and loss of land. France in this cartoon has nothing in their mind but to make Germany suffer. A very different perspective and message has been told in “Der Tag!” (Source A), as it depicts Germany in a secure position (through the eyes of the Allies) so as a country, they struggle to cope with the oversized and harsh conditions of the peace terms given by the Allies. This is different to each of the cartoons, though similar in that they depict the Treaty of Versailles as harsh, portrays very different perspectives and sends completely dissimilar messages.
Explain the purpose of Source A and Source B and comment on any bias in each.
The purpose “Clemenceau the Vampire,” (Source B) is to create further anger and animosity towards the harsh and unrealistic terms of dished out by the Treaty of Versailles, particularly from the French and their leader, Clemenceau. It is clear that this is the case as it was published in July, shortly after the treaty had been signed, which was time of shock and anger for the majority of Germans.
It is very evident that the cartoon shown is bias not only because it was shown in a German Newspaper but because it only shows Germany’s view towards the Treaty of Versailles. Germany displays themselves as a stunning, beautiful country weakened by France and the allies from the harsh peace terms left venerable. In the context of the war this illustration is prejudiced as it was, to an amount, German hostility and cruelty that contributed to war and it is therefore biased to represent a woman as Germany. The French are depicted as evil and opportunistic in the way they gained assets from Germany, with their supposed main aim to make the Germans suffer as much as possible. The depiction that America and Britain are just as bad, waiting there turn to destroy Germany (the bats outside the window in the cartoon) is also biased, as both Lloyd George (Britain) and President Wilson’s (America) aims in the big three were no where near as harsh as Clemenceau’s. This representation of Clemenceau and the French in “Clemenceau the Vampire” is biased, as the artist has failed to take into account that France was not solely trying to hurt Germany, but to rebuild France as a commanding and ingenious country and to create a shield between them and Germany (as seen in “The Big Three”).
Th purpose of “Der Tag,” (Source A) was to ensure that Germany was being dealt with severely, and to keep British faith in the treaty. The fact that the allies have Germany in a strangle hold suggests that the purpose of the cartoon is to reassure and confirm to the British people that they are safe from the once ruthless and powerful Germany. Its purpose could also be to show that they were not only safe from Germany but Germany was being hammered, ensuring the safety of all the Allies and their empires from them.
The cartoon is partial because of the fact that it was published in a London Newspaper over a month before the definite signing of the treaty and, through collection and oversight, has attempted to reassure and confirm to the British public that Germany is in a very difficult and vulnerable position. It may also be considered biased in terms of perspective as it makes light of a very distressing and damaging time for Germany, which, as displayed in the cartoon, does not worry the British at all. The cartoonist in Source B has also failed to take into account that, technically, Germany was not forced into signing the treaty; it was there call, however at there own peril, whether or not to accept it.
