Life, 1918-01-03 · page 13 of 40
Life — January 3, 1918 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This *Life* magazine page satirizes Bolshevik betrayal during the Russian Revolution. The top cartoon shows military officers interrogating prisoners, with the caption mocking an officer's claim he wouldn't "run out of ammunition"—dark humor about executions. Below is "Bolsheviki Primer, Lesson LXVI," a cynical "lesson" listing ten rules for betrayal, culminating in the joke that if one had betrayed everyone, one could "lay myself an ocean of vodka." The cartoon "So Man's Land" (bottom) depicts a figure hurling something, likely referencing violence or betrayal. The satire targets Bolshevik ideology and practices—portraying the revolution as defined by systematic betrayal, paranoia, and casual brutality rather than noble ideals. It reflects American Cold War-era anti-Soviet sentiment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| | | | } “VPs. stk “NU MAN'S r> The Officer nano” DID YOU TAKE ALL THESE PRISONERS YOURSELP? T WOULDN'T 7A" DONE IT, Stk, ONLY 1’ RUN OUT Of AMMUNITION.” Bolsheviki Primer Lesson LXVI ] GOOD MORNING. Whom did you betray to-day? * 2. Good morning. I betrayed the chief-of-staff of the General of the Nineteenth Army Division. 3. Excellent! I betrayed the brother of the secretary of the Minister of Munitions, 4. Borus Lushky has betrayed the secrets of the Army Transportation vice. 5. It is impossible to throw a stone into a crowd without hitting someone who has betrayed somebody. 6, If Thad more time I could betray more people rapidly as poss himself be betrayed before supper-time & If you will not betray me, 1 will not betray you as one may 7. One should betray maybe, vy. When in doubt concerning whom to betray, betray everyone. to. If Thad a ruble for everyone whom T have be- trayed, [ contd buy myseli an ocean of vodka comicbooks.com