Life, 1918-03-14 · page 11 of 40
Life — March 14, 1918 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany** during World War I. The main cartoon depicts the Kaiser (center, in distinctive spiked helmet) being interrogated by Allied soldiers, likely as a prisoner of war. The caption reveals his claimed identity: "Herr Ober-Lieutenant Count Heinrich Johann Ernest Friederich von Detwuller und Sigmaring-Schwartzwold"—a humorous, made-up name suggesting the Kaiser is attempting to hide his identity or evade responsibility. The accompanying text "The Kaiser Takes the Cure" jokes darkly about the Kaiser needing moral and spiritual cleansing, implying his guilt. The brief "Bad News" and "Powerful" items are unrelated satirical quips typical of *Life* magazine's humor section. The satire mocks the Kaiser's potential capture and his reputation as a war criminal requiring accountability.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sergeant (taking tally of prisoners): Ax Prisoner: PIG OF A BRITISHER, I AM HERR OBER-LIEUTENA \-SCHWARTZWOLD, FRIEDERICH VON DETWULLER UND SIGMARINGE " WHAT'S YOUR NAME? T COUNT HEINRICH JOHANN ERNEST Sergeant: WEtL, I'LL JUST PUT YE DOWN AS HEINIE MACFRITZ—YE'LL ANSWER TAE THAT FOR THE PRESENT, The Kaiser Takes the Cure HE Kaiser, it is reported, has transferred his head- quarters to Spa, the Belgian watering place, so that he may take the cure there for a short time. Taking the cure at Spa, as we understand it, consists of bathing a couple of times a day and drinking several quarts of funny- smelling water. This sort of treatment will not cure the Kaiser of his chief sickness; for it only cleanses the body. The Kaiser needs to cleanse his soul, which is very foul indeed, and his reputation, which is as soiled and diseased as any reputation of which we have any knowledge. A few jon years of bathing in hell-fire may cleanse the former ; but his reputation will remain incurable until history ceases to be written, read and taught. Bad News IRST GUARD (in British prison camp) : the Boches so beastly glum to-day? Srconp Guarp: Some bloomin’ joker told them they was to be exchange I an’ sent ‘ome. Powerful “LJERE'S an inventor who says that five grains of his explosive will blow up the Woolworth Building.” “That must be the kind my wife uses.” What makes comicbooks.com