Life, 1919-04-03 · page 43 of 60
Life — April 3, 1919 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes post-World War I discussions about punishing German military leadership. The dialogue between Withers and Smithers debates what to do with Prussian "Junkers"—the German military aristocracy, particularly figures like Ludendorff and von Hindenburg (explicitly named). The satire progresses through increasingly harsh proposals: using them for reconstruction labor in devastated Belgium, putting them on display as tourist attractions, drowning them at sea. Each suggestion is darkly comic, culminating in Smithers's resigned acceptance that they'll simply "stay home to face the mob"—implying public justice or lynching. The cartoon criticizes both the vindictive peace sentiment and the difficulty of actually implementing punishment against defeated enemies. The top illustration depicts a skeleton (representing a "moratorium"—likely referencing post-war economic discussions) being shown to tourists, reinforcing themes of German humiliation as spectacle. The satire reflects 1918-1920s debates about war crimes tribunals and reparations that ultimately shaped the controversial Treaty of Versailles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Junker-Doom “A ND what shall we do with the Prussian Junker: asked Withers, who was helping his friend Smithers stablish Europe upon a permanent peace foundation. think they should be set to work rebuilding devastated n wt there wouldn't be enough of them.” ‘here would be enough to hearten the Belgians a whole \nd think of the tourist trade they would attrac people would travel all the way from California and and New Zealand just to see Ludendorff carrying and old von Hindenburg mixing mortar!” * acquiesced Withers, “the show would be a gold while it lasted. Nevertheless, I wouldn't give it two dare say you are right. It would probably be better rd them all to sea in charge of the Allied fleet. Of ce, there would be an occasional accident, but—” fore than occasional,” observed Withers, drily. “No, n't think your second scheme is any better than the Then I guess we'll just have to leave ‘em at home to the mob,” retorted Smithers. agreed Withers: “but itdoes Husband: v0 YOU KEMEMBFR ASKING ME WHATS MoKA- TORIUM LOOKED LIKE, EMILY? WELL, THERE'S THE SKELETON that's about the size of it or ONE Now d—d heartless not to give ‘em a sporting chance. “THE LASS THAT LOVED A SAILOK comicbooks.com