Map of Europe in 1914

The memory of World War I, its events and consequences, its victims and victors, remain very much alive today.

It has become part of the individual and collective memory of Europe and of countries across the world. In this blog, the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin highlight a remarkable piece from its World War I collection: a satirical map of the nations of Europe as seen in 1914.

While buck-toothed England looks grumpy - with Ireland growling at its back - she still hesitates to mobilise its fleet. France is being put to flight by a single swift kick, while Italy watches the scene rejoicing, its hands in its pockets; whereas a giant Russian soldier is trying to swallow the European antagonists whole. The Germans and Austrians, however, are firing in all directions, their bayonet getting up the Russian’s nose, or aimed his throat.

All this and more can be seen on the satirical map of Europe in 1914 drawn by the German graphic artist Walter Trier (1890-1951), mainly known for his illustrations of Erich Kästner’s famous story Emil and the Detectives (1929).

Trier was Jewish, and a collaborator on left-wing satirical journals. He had to flee Berlin for London in 1936. During World War II, he provided the British Ministry of Information with anti-Nazi drawings for political propaganda leaflets.