Life, 1914-12-17 · page 27 of 40
Life — December 17, 1914 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine satirizes German conduct during World War I, specifically the starvation of Belgium under German occupation. **"Your Name a Terror"** is biting sarcasm. It mocks German military philosophy by suggesting that since German leaders (like philosopher Treitschke and military theorist Bernhardi, listed in "The Iron Cross" diagram) proclaimed making Germany's name "a terror," they should logically follow through by starving occupied populations. The piece sarcastically argues: if you've promised brutality, at least be consistent about it. **"The Pure Food Question"** cartoon compares two figures raised on identical denatured, chemically-treated foods—a contemporary American concern about food safety, but likely implying Germans and Belgians were subjected to similar poor conditions under occupation. **"Where to, Lady?"** depicts a well-dressed woman in a luxurious carriage, contrasting sharply with Belgian suffering. "The Iron Cross" genealogy charts German military and political leaders responsible for the occupation policy. The overall message: American readers should recognize German militarism as inherently brutal and consistent with its stated philosophy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: Your Name a Terror L's give the Germans credit for being consistent. . It is hardly fair to blame them for withholding food from the starving Belgians. You cannot go on being sweet and lovely with persons to whom you have promised to make your name “a terror”. There is but one course open to you if Kultur and the Higher Patriotism lead you to kick a small boy in the face, mutilate his sister, kill his father and burn his house and village. The least you can do, after that, is to starve his mother. News of the Day (4s It Ought To Be.) GT HELENA has been completely refitted and it is thought will be ready again for occunancy in about three months, THE PURE FOOD QUESTION They were both raised on the same kind of denatured cereals, predigested breakfast foods, chemically preserved canned goods, doped meat, ete. “ WHERE TO, LADY?" The Iron Cross Treitschke Nietzsche Bernhardi Tirpitz Bethmann-Hollweg — Gwinner Bismarck Krupp William IT. Rathenau Jagow | Moltke | Fiirstenberg | B. Dernburg Zeppelin yon Bohlen