World war 1 Source worksheet

Source Analysis

What is involved...  
When you teacher looks at a cartoon and interprets it, he’s really using three historians tools at once:   
 
  Knowledge about the    
events in that period   
  
     

  
Seeing & understanding   Thinking about the
different things in the cartoonist, and his
cartoon motives
 
Once you understand the cartoon, you can go on to answer the question set by the examiner

To interpret a cartoon, you have to integrate the three skills – using them to inform the others.   So, for
instance, what you know about the period in which the cartoon was drawn will help you understand what’s in
the cartoon – but, very often, what’s in the cartoon adds to your understanding of what was going on at the
time.

So your brain has to to-and-fro and go round the different skills, and all the time your understanding of the
cartoon is growing.

This page will give you a routine to help you interpret a cartoon:
    
Theory...
          
Do things in this order:
● First: Think about the events in that period
Look at the date.   Think what was happening at that time.   Who was involved?
● Second: See the different things in the cartoon
At first, just make a list of things you see.   List the things that are in the cartoon, what they are doing, and how
they are presented.   When I do this with pupils, they always choose one or two things – and MISS lots, even
big things!  Often, in a cartoon, everything (even little things) has a meaning.   So study the details and jot them
down (but don’t start to try yet to say what they mean).
● Third: Think about the cartoonist, and his motives
Look at WHO drew the cartoon, and where he came from.   What would he have thought about the topic he
 was drawing about?   What would he have been wanting to say?
● Fourth: Go back to the cartoon
Look at your list of things you saw.  Can you see what/who they stand for – what they are ‘saying’ – what
they mean?   When you have thought about all the elements, think: ‘What is the overall message of the
cartoon?’
● Last: Go back to the events
Now you have thought about the cartoon and its meaning, think: ‘What does all this help you to understand
about the time, and how people thought and felt?’

Chapter -World War 1

1)

The overall message of the source talks about Serbia, having captured a port on the Adriatic Sea, is
threatened by Austria, who sees in the capture a gain for Russia. Russia promptly comes to the
protection of Serbia and threatens Austria, whereupon Germany rushes to Austria’s protection and
threatens Russia, and so on down the line." In the WW1 it is often found under the title of "The Chain of
Friendship" and interpreted as depicting the web of alliances of WWI where Austria and Germany are
the two countries that are in an alliance known as the central powers. Britain , Russia and France formed
the Triple Entente. It also depicts the diplomatic situation of Europe in July 1914.The original cartoon
was published in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, in 1912 (4th December) and by the title "A threatening
situation". It was drawn by Nelson Harding 

The perspective of the cartoon is one the countries from the ‘triple entente’ because they portray
themselves as the saviors of Serbia. The German person is drawn in a soldier’s attire showing that
Germany wanted war and was prepared. Also the Austrian’s dialogue ‘if you make a move i’ll’ portrays
the Austrian as a bully/ controlling power. The Triple Entente member nations are portrayed as saviors
whilst the other’s are portrayed as too weak (Serbia), controlling (Austria-Hungary), violent (Germany).

Serbia is shown as a small child to show that the country was helpless and weak, whilst the rest are
pretty stable. Also Serbia wasn’t really a ‘country of power’ and insignificant compared to the rest.

The title ‘chain of friendship’ sounds sarcastic because although the countries were helping out their
‘friends’ they all had their own purpose for it. Russia wanted to promote Pan-Slavism. Germany wanted
to build its empire and prove its army. France and Britain have their own grudges against Germany and
aren’t really that concerned for Serbia. They weren’t helping out for the sake of friendship; they all had
their own hidden purposes. The British Empire had a lot of power and Germany wanted to be the best,
so they had an ongoing competition on which empire is the best with regards to navy, territory and
army. This dragged in France because Germany increased the size of its army, and because of France’s
grudge against Germany, France also armed itself for protection and to keep its power.

2)
 Overall Message with explanation: The cartoon is talking about the time when the Treaty of
Versailles was being formulated in the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 where the Germans
tried in vain to insist that responsibility for war guilt should be shared equally between the allies
and Central powers as both were equally responsible for the death, destruction and devastation
of Europe during World War 1.

 Cartoon shows a Germanic-looking man, labeled 'Herr Hun, Hypnotist' (it is on the hat) trying to
hypnotize a man with closed eyes (labeled 'Allies') seated in a chair. The hypnotist says, 'Now
can't you see yourself equally guilty?' The man replies, 'Nope!' A sign on the wall reads
'Versailles Peace Quarters.' By the time the Paris Peace Conference convened, the Allies had
all adopted the idea that Germany bore sole guilt for the first World War.

3)
Overall message- The source is talking about the time when the covenant ( membership) of the League
of Nations was being formed, however, despite being Woodrow Wilson’s brain child in the 14 points,
Woodrow Wilson failed to convince the US. Senate under the membership of Henry Lodge, who was the
chairperson of foreign relations. The tree represents the membership of the League of Nations.
Woodrow Wilson wants to protect USA’s membership in the League of Nations, however, the senate,
represented by the axe, and Henry Lodge, represented by the axe man, disagree since it meant that the
League of Nations would be able to exhibit control over USA’s economic , military and trade policies and
this kind of involvement in European politics, would not be beneficial for USA in the long run.
4)

Overall message- “Clemenceau the Vampire,” is cartoon published in a German newspaper in July 1919,
represents Germany as a striking country. This cartoon mainly shows the readers that the Beautiful
Germany were attacked and damaged through the French leader Clemenceau’s harsh punishments
enforced into the peace terms. The opportunistic France is represented by the monstrous vampire
sucking the life out of the Germany, depicted as the sleeping wondrous, young woman weak from war.
The blood sucking is a representation of the French sucking Germany dry of resources through gains in
the treaty such as the iron-ore rich Alsace-Lorraine.  Also the bats outside the open window portray the
two other nations Britain and America who are also ready to pounce onto Germany to gain there share
of their “life blood.” This is enforced by the open window suggesting the vulnerable sleeping woman is
defenceless encouraging the other allies to attack onto them.  The helmet sitting by her side also imply
that Germany has given up the fighting, either as a result of the treaty or on their own.  It also
represents that the Treaty of Versailles had made Germany give up her submarines and planes, and
most of the army and navy. The message states that the treaty was forced upon and was harsh towards Germany. 
5)

Overall Message- The terms on the Treaty of Versailles are much too harsh for Germany to handle
though it conveys a feel of sympathy towards her and extreme harshness from France.  In this cartoon, a
horse is shown to be strapped to a cart with a load of ‘Unlimited Indemnity’ on it. Indemnity is the
money paid as compensation. The load is drawn to be extremely heavy that the horse is lifted up and is
unable to touch the ground. The horse represents Germany, as the name of the country is written across
the neck of the animal. The large load represents the reparation settlement the countries had decided
for Germany. £6.6 billion is an extremely large settlement to pay and this was the reason for the load on
the cart. The horse being lifted up represents Germanys inability to move, as there are too many
repayments on their shoulders. Under the illustration, the words “Perhaps it would gee-up better if we
let it touch earth” are written. Gee-up is commonly directed at horses to move faster. This comment
suggests that Germany should be carrying less of a burden in order for them to payback the reparation.
There are two men in front of the horse; one is shown to be holding a whip, while the other is holding a
shovel. The man with the whip is France, as in reality France wanted Germany to pay back for all the
French land and lives destroyed. The man with the shovel is British. He is the one who says “Perhaps it
would gee-up better if we let it touch earth.” This is true, as the British leader did not want Germany to
be treated as harshly as the France wanted. The French man’s face expression shows disagreement
towards Britain and hatred towards Germany. On the other hand, the British man’s face expression
indicates worry and sympathy. The shovel in his hand tells us that he has been loading the ‘indemnity’
onto the cart for Germany to take as their responsibility. By holding onto the reigns of the horse, the
audience can tell that France is in charge and has power over Germany.
6)

Overall Message- “Der Tag!” a carton published in the Daily Express in London on May 7 1919 ,
represents Germany being forced to take and accept a peace term of The Treaty of Versailles. 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 message states that the treaty was
forced upon and was harsh towards Germany.