World War I Propaganda Art

Vintage propaganda images from World War I showcasing military themes, including German troops, cartoons, and commemorative cards depicting daily life.

A crackpot invention dreamed up Heath Robinson, allowing a British machine to suspend a stethoscope wearing doctor over the ground, in an attempt to locate the snug dug outs of the German enemy. 1916
A crackpot invention dreamed up Heath Robinson, allowing a British machine to suspend a stethoscope wearing doctor over the ground, in an attempt to locate the snug dug outs of the German enemy. 1916
140 assets in this story
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Black Cat Cigarettes, World war One, propaganda card showing: German troops seizing spoils from the victory in Belgium 1914
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Cartoon - Labor Day-1942. John Collins (1917-2007)
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Le Général Joffre décore (General Joffre Decorates), from La Guerre de 1914, first series, no.12. Artist: Auguste Lepère, French, 1849-1918
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The Civil War, Life in Camp, The Guard House, souvenir card showing the daily life of Union soldiers on the front, in the camp and on furlough, chromolithograph by Winslow Homer, circa 1864.
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The Civil War, Life in Camp, Hard Tack, souvenir card showing the daily life of Union soldiers on the front, in the camp and on furlough, chromolithograph by Winslow Homer, circa 1864.
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Sailors serving a machine gun; 1890-1900 (1890-00-00-1900-00-00);
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When the Navy Department puts doctors in command of the hospital ships | Library of Congress
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Cartoon - The Silenced Service. John Collins (1917-2007)
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Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871: Siege of Paris 19 Sept 1870-28 Jan 1871.Officer of the Garde Mobile advancing and encouraging his men to follow. From Souvenirs du Siege de Paris by Jules Renard Draner. France Germany
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A crackpot invention dreamed up Heath Robinson, allowing a British machine to suspend a stethoscope wearing doctor over the ground, in an attempt to locate the snug dug outs of the German enemy. 1916
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Two soldiers in a trench during the First World War. The officer, new at his job, is asking whether the enemy are very close. The experienced soldier who has been mining below the German trenches says: Yessir. Hear 'em pickin The officer asks: Picking what The soldier replies: Pickin' their teeth, sir. circa 1916
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Cartoon, Giving him his place in the sun, showing British, French, Belgian, Russian and Japanese allies working together with a giant magnifying glass to set fire to Kaiser Wilhelm's jacket. Date: August 1914
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Mannerheim the Butcher (Soviet propaganda leaflet), Anonymous
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Cartoon, Another false rumour. A woman holding a plantpot says she is sending some soil to her soldier son on the Western Front, as she has heard that they are short of earth for building their trenches. Date: 1916
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Cartoon, Christmas preparations on the Western Front. French soldiers gather everything together for their Christmas feast, including a bird, some cheese, and some bottles of wine. Date: 1915
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Colour lithograph depicting two French soldiers going through care packets sent from home. There is also a letter signed by Léon Gambetta (1838-1882) founder of the Third Republic and hero of the Franco-Prussian War. Dated 1915
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British, World War I Poster, 1917, designed by Robert Baden-Powell, encouraging everyone to contribute to the war effort. Are you in this Factory worker, female munitions worker, Nurse, Boy Scout supporting the Army and Navy.
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Illustration depicting a French judge hearing evidence of tainted meat being sold to and causing the death of a soldier. 1908
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Cartoon, Your money or your life. The German army, short of money, threaten civilians from neutral countries which they have invaded. The two figures on the left are Kaiser Wilhelm and his son, the Crown Prince. Date: 1917
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'Let's Smite and Annihilate the Enemy Hip and Thigh!', 1941. Artist: Kukryniksy
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Fireman, Fire Fighters & Fire Equipment
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Cartoon - Retaliation Crossing Rostap (1866-1949)
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Donetsk coal must be ours! Victory over Denikin's gangs - victory over hunger. 1919. ( Russian Civil War, propaganda poster by the artist A. A. Radakov).
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Cartoon - Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill Rostap (1866-1949)
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Cartoon - "See, Reinforcements for the West !". John Collins (1917-2007)
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German Uniforms of the 19th century, Lines, Cavalry: Prussia, Officer of the Prussian Leib-Husaren-Regiment No. 1, Historical, digitally restored reproduction of a public domain collector's picture from the early 20th century
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Man salutes officer as he passes, then sweeps dirt onto his back , Military personnel, Saluting, Sweeping & dusting, Military facilities, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States
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Abdul Hamid II (Ottoman Turkish: عبد الحميد ثانی, `Abdül-Ḥamīd-i snî; Turkish: İkinci Abdülhamit; 22 September 1842 - 10 February 1918) was the 34th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and the last Sultan to exert effective autocratic control over the fracturing state. He oversaw a period of decline in the power and extent of the Empire, including widespread pogroms and government massacres against the minorities of the Empire (named the Hamidian massacres after him) as well as an assassination attempt, ruling from 31 August 1876 until he was deposed shortly after the 1908 Young Turk Revolution, on 27 April 1909. He was succeeded by his brother Mehmed V. Despite his conservatism and belief in absolute monarchy, Abdul Hamid was responsible for some modest modernization of the Ottoman Empire during his long reign, including reform of the bureaucracy, the ambitious Hijaz Railway project, the establishment of a system for population registration and control over the press, and the founding of t
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Adolf Hitler (* 20 April 1889 in Braunau am Inn) ( 30 April 1945 Berlin), Leader of the Nazi Party, Reich Chancellor from 1933, also self-appointed "Fuehrer" and head of state of Germany
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Cartoon - Double-Barrel Gun. John Collins (1917-2007)
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History repeats itself by Joseph Keppler, 1838-1894, artist 1885. illustration shows Julius Caeser or a Roman centurion, in the background, tumbling off a pillar of stones labeled 'Rome, Etruria, Britain, Asia, and Africa', and in the middle distance, on a bit of land labeled 'France', Napoleon I tumbling off a pillar of stones labeled 'Egypt, Italy, Spain, Holland, Austria, Prussia, and Russia' and falling toward a rocky island labeled 'St. Helena'. In the foreground, John Bull is standing atop a pillar of stones labeled 'Scotland, Ireland, Malta, Gibraltar, India, Australia, Cyprus, Egypt, Sudan ' on a bit of land labeled 'England';the stones are propped up by various types of weapons, with the top two stones supported by a steamship,
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WW1 caricature by illustrator Rata Langa showing German Prussian Crown Prince, Kronprinz Wilhelm von Preussen driving sheep to the slaughterhouse
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Front cover design for La Baionnette, an issue focusing on tobacco (nicknamed 'perlot'). Showing three French soldiers smoking their pipes. Date: 1917
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Cecil John Rhodes (1852-1902) English-born South African statesman, asking the German emperor for permission to run a telegraph line through German East Africa. Cape To Cairo, cartoon by John Tenniel from 'Punch', London, 22 March 1899. Engraving
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The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Duchess Sophia, by Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo, 28th June by Anonymous / Private Collection / 1914 / France / Colour lithograph / History / Book design
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Cartoon, two men working in a French munitions factory. One man comments to his colleague: Be careful with that shell, it could be the one that avenges your brother. Date: 1917
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The Civil War, Life in Camp, The Field Barber, with members of the Zouave Unit, souvenir card showing the daily life of Union soldiers on the front, in the camp and on furlough, chromolithograph by Winslow Homer, circa 1864.
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Cartoon, a French soldier returning from leave tells his colleague what it was like. At every point someone pointed to the 'Keep Quiet' notice, although what he had said was entirely innocent, so he has hurried back to the trenches where he doesn't need to worry so much about German ears. Date: 1916
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Illustration depicting a worker being offered a medal for his war service during World War One. Dated 20th Century
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A drought leads to a famine which leads to a plague, which claims over 50,000 lives.
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Red Legs, Pirates
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WORLD WAR I (1914-1918). One day before the signing of the armistice, the Emperor William II had fled to Holland. "The End." Th.Heine cartoon published in the magazine "Simplicissimus" (1918) on William II's flight to Holland. The caption reads: "Do not shed any tears for him, has left us too little.".
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On the outskirts of Paris my army is being beaten up. I'm just running around and can't do a thing. Malevich, Kazimir Severinovich, 1878-1935. Prints, Posters. 1914 - 1915. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection. World War, 1914-1918 , Posters, Prussia (Kingdom), William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941 , Caricatures and cartoons
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Cartoon, Methodical training. A French soldier on the Western Front has been given a dog as a mascot. He is gradually training him by giving him less meat each day, so that one day he will get used to having no meat at all. The soldier he is chatting to has a monkey as his mascot. Date: 1917
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Belgian WWI poster warning civilians for the danger of collecting First World War One unexploded ordnance like bombs, bullets, shells, grenades in Flanders fields, Belgium, Europe
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Rescuers searching for victims of a firedamp explosion, at Clarence mine, in the Nord Pas de Calais region of France. Illustration from French newspaper Le Petit Journal. September 22, 1912. Private Collection.
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Another attack in Marseille!, 1929. Creator: Unknown.
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English writer, Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) wearing asailors hat with the words SS Optimist, in a satire on a talk he gave to the Royal Geographical Society. Date: 1914
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While the ladies knit socks for those in the trenches, a hero from the front recounts his glorious exploits Date: 1915
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Cartoon - Some More Veterans Ready to Go into Action. John Collins (1917-2007)
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Black Cat Cigarettes, World war One, propaganda card showing: German submarine sinking a ship
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Humorous illustration depicting an extremely youthful soldier, a comment on the number of underage recruits joining up during World War I. Underage enlisters were fairly commonplace and if bigger than average, most recruiting officers would turn a blind eye. Date: 1916
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The bureaucracy facing a young officer simply wanting weekend leave while serving at the Front during World War I. Frustratingly, he manages to miss his train. Date: 1915
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Black Cat Cigarettes, World war One, propaganda card showing: l'avenir (the future), France destroys the German war eagle
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Patron in a Canteen. ca. 1899-1915, FORMATION D'UN GROS CONTINGENT POUR LE FRONT. ANOTHER BIG DRAUGHT GOING TO THE FRONT
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A Scottish soldier plays mournfully on his bagpipes, nose dripping and unconsoled by whisky or jam, at the first wartime Christmas. Date: December 1914
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Cartoon, The uses of tobacco. Two French soldiers on the Western Front discuss the uses of tobacco. One of them says it's especially useful for keeping cockroaches away. Date: 1917
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Cartoon, German prisoners in a French POW camp, with a sign which reads: Be Kind To Animals. Date: 1915
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Cartoon - Aux Armes, Citoyens !. John Collins (1917-2007)
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Bismarck. / N°17
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"While the businessmen rake in the cash, the soldiers are paying with their blood" Date: 1916
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Cartoon, Humour, showing two fashionable French women chatting with an English soldier. They say it must bother him to kill Germans. He replies no, they've been used to it for a long time. Date: 1916
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World War I (WWI or WW1 or World War One), also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. More than 9 million combatants and 7 million civilians died as a result of the war, a casualty rate exacerbated by the belligerents' technological and industrial sophistication, and tactical stalemate. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, paving the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved. The war drew in all the world's economic great powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (based on the Triple Entente of the United Kingdom, France and the Russian Empire) and the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Although Italy had also been a member of the Triple Alliance alongside Germany and Austria-Hungary, it did not join the Central Powers, as Austria-Hungary had taken the offensive against the terms of the a
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Charming illustration showing a line of little boys queuing up outside a recruiting office dressed up as soldiers with the imaginative use of a variety of boxes, flags, paper hats and borrowed items. Date: 1915
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WW1 - A cartoon big lady personifying the German gun known as 'Big Bertha', firing from Calais at Dover. Date: 1918
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To decieved brothers in White Army trenches (Poster) by Apsit, Alexander Petrovich (1880-1944)/ Russian State Library, Moscow/ 1918/ Russia/ Colour lithograph/ Soviet political agitation art/ 104,5x70/ History,Poster and Graphic design
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Doing His Bit, Police, Law Enforce, & Crime
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Army life has it's good and bad points! I'm learning how to shoot in the army , Military personnel, Gambling, Military life, Military facilities, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States
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Patriotic. Soldier. Drawing by L. Roca. Engraving by Sardurni. Artistic Illustration, published in Spanish, 1885.
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Warder inspects a prison cell, before locking up prisoner for the night. Wormwood scrubs prison, London. Prisoner in uniform with the Broad Arrow motif. London 1889
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'Mr Winston Churchill (Journalist) gives the Hun another shock' A cartoon by Leonard Raven Hill in Punch's Almanack for 1917, depicting Churchill in civilian dress in a trench, with notebook and pen in hand. Date: 1917
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Off Watch on a Coast Guard Transport. This image depicts artwork of a group of Coast Guardsmen singing and playing instruments, painted by Coast Guard Combat Artist Joseph di Gemma.
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World War I, American enlistment postcard, ca. 1917
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The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which dismantled the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Russian SFSR. The Tsar was forced to abdicate and the old regime was replaced by a provisional government during the first revolution of February 1917 (March in the Gregorian calendar; the older Julian calendar was in use in Russia at the time). In the second revolution, during October, the Provisional Government was removed and replaced with a Bolshevik (Communist) government.
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Bertrand du Guesclin or Gueselin (c1320-1380) 'Eagle of Brittany', Constable of France from 1370. Guesclin captured at Battle of Auroy and held to ransom by Duke of Brittany, 1364. Hundred Years' War Trade Card
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We are giving these yellow bellied Japs what's comin' to them - and how! , Military personnel, Bayonets, Emperors, Hirohito, Emperor of Japan, 1901-1989, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States
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Cartoon - AMMUNITION FOR THE BEAR HUNT. John Collins (1917-2007)
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Advertisement for Kenilworth Cigarettes with an illustration by Fred Pegram depicting a soldier saying goodbye to his wife or sweetheart before he departs for the Front by train. Other couples can be seen bidding similar farewells on the platform, creating an emotional scene. Most importantly, the soldier makes the lady promise to send him news of herself every day as well as some Kenilworth Cigarettes every week. Date: 1916
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Cartoon - Nazi Hydra Made in Germany Arthur George Racey (1870-1941)
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Lorry-Body Builders, World War I - 1914-1918. The men are over the age for active military service but are supporting their younger countrymen. At the bottom is a convoy of army lorries of the type the men are working on. Lithograph.
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The communities! ! British! Always betrayed !!
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How do I look , Military personnel, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States
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Cartoon - Our NATO Patrol. John Collins (1917-2007)
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Black Cat Cigarettes, World war One, propaganda card showing: From Liege to Aix-la-Chappelle. Satirical cartoon depicting a train carrying German dead back to Germany from Belgium. Illustration for The Great War A Neutral's Indictment. Dated 20th Century
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'The general's car, huh!' , Military personnel, Wheelbarrows, Military life, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States
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Merry Christmas. This image depicts artwork of a Christmas card, drawn by Coast Guard Combat Artist Jack B. Gildersleeve.
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This will give you a line on how I'm doin' here! This is the guy who always sent his laundry out! , Military personnel, Laundry, Clotheslines, Military facilities, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States
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The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War, refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in the Far East. The term Pacific War is used to encompass the Pacific Ocean theatre, the South West Pacific theatre, the South-East Asian theatre and the Second Sino-Japanese War, also including the 1945 Soviet-Japanese conflict. It is generally considered that the Pacific War began on 7/8 December 1941 with the Japanese invasion of Thailand for the invasion of British Malaya, and the attack on Pearl Harbor in the United States' Territory of Hawaii by the Empire of Japan. The Pacific War saw the Allied powers against the Empire of Japan, the latter briefly aided by Thailand and to lesser extent by its Axis allies Germany and Italy. The war culminated in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and other large aerial bombing attacks by the United States Army Air Forces, accompanied by the Soviet invasion of Manchuria on 8
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Imprimerie A. Call. New Howe, 22 avenue de la Grande Army, Paris. Poster. Color lithography. Paris, Carnavalet museum. 22 avenue de la Grande Army, poster, bicycle, cyclist, color lithography, New Howe, Velo
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Case printing depicting a woman protecting a boy and a cross with the emblem of Poland and text: we won't give land! Kresowa Guard Chełm 3/V 1918; W.B. (cartoonist, Fl. Ca 1919), Pietrzykowski, J. (Lublin), Kresowa guard; 1918 (1914-00-00-1939-00-00);
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Shod I thought you said have him shot! , Military personnel, Rifles, Horses, Dead animals, Military facilities, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States
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Brave Little Soldier, Storybook Kids
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19th century French soldiers from the 2nd regiment royal guard in uniform circa 1823
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'Sven Hedin - Geb. 1865', 1934. Artist: Unknown.
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Satirical illustration titled 'The Foreign Legion' by Neb of the Daily Mail
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THE CYNOSURE OF ALL EYES: A SCENE AT CHELSEA BARRACKS, UK, 1897: A SIKH OF THE MALAY STATES GUIDES FINDING HIMSELF AN OBJECT OF CURIOSITY
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Two of Spades - August von Mackensen, German Field Marshal, Paul von Hindenburg, German Field Marshal and General Erich Ludendorff. Tański, Czesław (1862-1942), draughtsman, cartoonist
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WWII - Mussolini slips up invading Greece - First Day Cover. A nice pun on 'Greece' and 'Grease'. Date: 1941
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Alfred Dreyfus in Prison, 1895. Artist: Unknown
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Illustration by Loys Petillot celebrating the struggle for liberty in Alsace & Lorraine at the end of world war Two. French children take a German officer captive at gun point as he escapes a burning building