Life — June 20, 1918 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Huns Rejoiced" This page combines propaganda and advertising from World War I (the text references July 11, 1918). The cartoon depicts caricatured German soldiers ("the Huns") celebrating the sinking of the RMS Lusitania—a British passenger ship torpedoed in 1915, killing nearly 1,200 people, including many Americans. The accompanying text argues that Germany miscalculated: this attack actually "aroused the sleeping sea power of America," eventually bringing U.S. naval forces to support Britain. The satire suggests German rejoicing was premature and foolish. The page uses this emotionally charged historical event to promote *Life* magazine subscriptions, appealing to American patriotic sentiment during WWI. The subscription box advertises rates for domestic and foreign subscribers.