From:Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Name/TitlePoster, 'The Prussian Octopus'
About this objectLandscape oriented paper poster / pictorial map featuring two sepia coloured cartoon images of octopuses over a map of Europe during the First World War. Titled, 'The Prussian Octopus'.
'We do not threaten small nations,' declared the German Chancellor on December 10th, 1915; 'we do not wage war which has been forced upon us in order to subjugate foreign peoples, but for the protection of our life and freedom.' This pictorial map is a commentary on his words. It shows how Prussia has stolen one province after another from her neighbours and, like a baleful octopus, is still stretching out her tentacles to grasp further acquisitions. The territories included in the original Kingdom of Prussia are marked thus [hatched lines]. The territories since absorbed by negotiation, force, or fraud are marked thus [diagonal lines].
SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN AND LAUENBURG Wrested from Denmark in 1864 / ANNEXED BY PRUSSIA IN 1866 / POLISH TERRITORY STOLEN BY PRUSSIA IN 1772, 1793 and 1795
BELGIUM invaded and occupied by Germany in defiance of her treaty obligations, in 1914
ACQUIRED by PRUSSIA in 1813 / ANNEXED BY PRUSSIA IN 1866 / Silesia seized by Prussia from Austria in 1740
ALSACE LORRAINE torn from France in 1871 / FEDERATED WITH PRUSSIA SINCE 1870
AUSTRIA HUNGARY SUBJUGATED BY PRUSSIA IN 1866 / ALLIED WITH PRUSSIA SINCE 1879
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA annexed by Austria-Hungary in defiance of her treaty obligations in 1908
SERBIA invaded and devastated by Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1915 / MONTENEGRO invaded and devastated in 1915
Purple ink stamp top right corner, 'Dominion Museum / Wellington, New Zealand.' Text bottom left: '1823'. Text bottom right: 'H. & C. Graham Ltd. Lithrs. London, S.E.' '3' top left corner.
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MakerH. & C. Graham Ltd. Lithrs.
Maker Rolepublisher
Date Madecirca 1915
Place MadeUnited Kingdom
MeasurementsH:382mm x W:534mm
Credit LineGift of Department of Defence, 1919
Object TypePolitical Posters
Object numberGH016570
