Poster, 'The Prussian Octopus'

item details

NamePoster, 'The Prussian Octopus'

ProductionH. & C. Graham Ltd.; publisher; circa 1915; United Kingdom

Classificationpolitical posters, maps

Materialsink, paper

Materials SummaryLithograph on paper

Techniquescolour lithography

DimensionsOverall: 534mm (width), 382mm (height)

Registration NumberGH016570

Credit lineGift of Department of Defence, 1919

Overview

This First World War poster details the results of Prussian militarism: 'We do not threaten small nations,' declared the German Chancellor on December 10th, 1915; 'we do not wage war which has been forced upon us in order to subjugate foreign peoples, but for the protection of our life and freedom.' This pictorial map is a commentary on his words. It shows how Prussia has stolen one province after another from her neighbours and, like a baleful octopus, is still stretching out her tentacles to grasp further acquisitions. The territories included in the original Kingdom of Prussia are marked thus [hatched lines]. The territories since absorbed by negotiation, force, or fraud are marked thus [diagonal lines].

SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN AND LAUENBURG Wrested from Denmark in 1864 / ANNEXED BY PRUSSIA IN 1866 / POLISH TERRITORY STOLEN BY PRUSSIA IN 1772, 1793 and 1795

BELGIUM invaded and occupied by Germany in defiance of her treaty obligations, in 1914

ACQUIRED by PRUSSIA in 1813 / ANNEXED BY PRUSSIA IN 1866 / Silesia seized by Prussia from Austria in 1740

ALSACE LORRAINE torn from France in 1871 / FEDERATED WITH PRUSSIA SINCE 1870

AUSTRIA HUNGARY SUBJUGATED BY PRUSSIA IN 1866 / ALLIED WITH PRUSSIA SINCE 1879

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA annexed by Austria-Hungary in defiance of her treaty obligations in 1908

SERBIA invaded and devastated by Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1915 / MONTENEGRO invaded and devastated in 1915'.