Life — July 4, 1918 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This July 4, 1918 Life magazine cover depicts America's dramatic shift regarding Germany during World War I. A young American boy, representing the United States, points a pistol at a dachshund wearing a spiked Prussian helmet—a standard caricature for Germany. Behind him stands a shadowy military figure wielding a sword, likely representing American military authority or resolve. The American flag sits in the lower left. The title "No Longer Friends" references the severing of diplomatic relations and America's entry into the war against Germany (April 1917). The dachshund, a German breed, was frequently used in American propaganda to mock the enemy during this period. The image celebrates America's military commitment to defeating Germany.