Life, 1918-09-26 · page 33 of 33
Life — September 26, 1918 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains WWI-era American propaganda satirizing Germany. The left section, "The German Soldier's Phrase Book," mocks German military terminology through bitter wordplay: "Moral Victory" means bombing unfortified targets; "Cannon Fodder" labels soldiers cheap; "Kulture" represents claimed superiority masking imperialism. These entries ridicule German justifications for aggressive warfare. The bottom cartoon shows two men—one dressed as an ex-convict in striped clothing, the other civilian. It satirizes American patriotism during fabric rationing, with the convict claiming he's merely reusing last year's wool suit for patriotic sacrifice. The joke mocks both performative patriotism and the absurdity of asking civilians (even criminals) to contribute to war efforts through rationing. The right side features a patriotic war song promoting American peace efforts against German aggression, reinforcing the page's anti-German messaging typical of American WWI propaganda.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The German Soldier’s* Phrase Book THE KAISER: The Hohenzollern family's candidate for ruler of Germany, on the platform, “He kept us The Battle Hymn Of Democracy out of war.” Words by Movie vy MRADPORD WEBSTER The General Staff; A very stiff support for the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince: Son of the Kaiser and founder of Ketreat for Young Generals. Noted for his interest in Le Chemin des Dames from boyhood. Straightening Our Line: Outrunning the enemy's heavy Hlery ws tm wo diab ‘tae begs ioulash Canaon: The German soldier's most popular F eee ce of 2 rt Now very short of ammunitic = « artillery. Now very short of ammunition. bm Gin ot te le ‘As they teat the Gra geo tak He Moral Victory: Bombarding any unfortified place or om & liypocrisy: Any respect paid by the enemy to the rules civilized warfare. Goose-step: Symbolic expression of the soul of the Ger- my. Sultur: Germany's divine right to superiority over scraps of paper. Cannon Fodder: The only cheap article in Germany Class in Germany who regard the rest of the junk ssen: Trans. verb, to eat: used as name of town which has devoured the wealth and manhood of Germany. Seprisal: Doing something to the enemy which he wouldn't think of doing to you before he can think of sives. Use it to heal the spi domg it and the American Pacifists, Use it to support Woodrow Wilson and the “peace dictated on Gi Putone in your home. Sen: to every man in the service, Send 2 Major Tactics $1.00 for six, with piano a ment, CROWN PRINCE: Have you caused my proclamation, THEARMAGEDDON FUBLISHING(CO., Sf 141 'BrosdwayiiNow York announcing that this offensive will bring our victorious rns to Paris and the Channel ports, to be read to all regi- rents? Nine: Yes, Excellenz. ie it Hepner, Ay LORREE TSB Bake LIFE’S Aeroplane Picture Contest Full report of this Contest, with winning titles, and names and addresses of winners, appeared in the July 18th issue of LIFE. Copy of that number will be sent to any address on receipt of ten cents. (Canadian, | I cents; Foreign, | 2cents) After October 18th this number will be twenty-five cents. (Canadian, 26 cents; Foreign, 27 cents) LIFE 17 West 31st St, New York BACK NUMBERS ON SALE AT THIS OFFICE “WELL, WHO YER LOOKIN’ AT? CAN'T AN EX-CONVICT BE PATRI- OTIC? I'M ONLY WEARIN’ LAST YEAR'S SUIT TO SAVE WOOL.” comicbooks.com