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Figures: Albert, Glory to the Allies (1)
Albert 1st (1875-1934)
Albert was the King of Belgium during the war. In August 1914, he rejected German demands to attack France through his country, and attempted to remain neutral. Ultimately, he went to war with Germany and led the Belgian army. The German occupation of Belgium deeply impacted the country and its territories. Whole cities were destroyed. Albert personally led his armies as a military leader. For his actions and his bravery, Albert was proclaimed a hero at the end of the war and is still considered one of Belgium's greatest figures.
Representation of the allied heads of government: Nicholas II, George V, and Poincaré. The message is that allies need to be united, and that together, they will be stronger. « For the right » is very interesting because it means that their cause is the correct one, they are fighting on the right side.
Translation:
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Figures: Foch, French Victory (1)
Ferdinand Foch (1851-1929)
Foch was one of the most renowned figures in the French army. He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1898 and Colonel in 1903. By 1911, he was appointed General of Division. His role in the First World War was essential, especially in the Battle of the Marne at the beginning of the war. In October 1914, he was made Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Zone under Joseph Joffre and, by 1915, he commanded these troops. In December 1916, he was sent to the Italian front to command allied units. In 1917, he became Chief of the General Staff. He led the troops that made Germany surrender in November 1918 and was in charge of peace negotiations with Germany. At the end of the war, he argued that Germany should be punished for causing the war. According to Foch, the Treaty of Versailles was not harsh enough.
Picture of the carriage where the peace treaty was signed. It means a lot to French people because it ends a four and half year war with almost a million and a half casualties. This is the revenge for which France had been waiting for so long. It ends the humiliation of the Franco-Prussian war.
Translation: Marshal Foch's railway carriage, where peace was signed.
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Figures: Joffre, French Army Great Figures (1)
Joseph Joffre (1852-1931)
Joffre graduated from the prestigious Ecole Polytechnique before embracing a military career. During World War One, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of French forces from the start of the conflict to the end of 1916. He led the army in very important battles like the first Battle of the Marne and the Battle of Verdun. Throughout his command, he adopted an offensive strategy, the plan XVII. In December 1916, he was removed from command, but was promoted to Field Marshal. He had to endure many critics who regarded his offensive strategy as reckless, and the source of heavy casualties. He was replaced by Robert Nivelle.
Representation of Joffre, Castelnau and Pau, some of the most renowned military figures in France. They represent an idealization of France’s leaders. They are men of duty, men of honor, who will bring France to victory against Germany.
Translation:
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Figures: Joffre, Watching over his soldiers (1)
Representation of Joffre with his soldiers sleeping in the background. It depicts him as a paternal figure watching over his soldiers. They are under his command and he is taking care of them like a father watching over his children.
Translation:
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News: Letter to his parents (1)
Postcards were one of the most efficient ways to communicate between soldiers and civilians. Receiving a letter or postcard meant that the soldier was alive. Studying postcards thus brings new perspectives on the ongoing war. For example, they give us a window into the soldiers’ lives. While fighting was often paramount, they also played, read, and demonstrated a variety of emotions by expressing interest in their former civilian lives. Above all, they always sought news from their families. This absence of message is, in a way, a message. It shows that war was not their only preoccupation. We also have to keep in mind that censorship was taking place in the army, and that postcards were not the best format for expressing deep and private thoughts.
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News: Letter to his parents (2)
A soldier wrote a letter to his parents. He informed them of his schedule.
Translation: Dear parents, I am writing these few words to let you know that I am taking the Tuesday train, as usual. Roger, I'd be pleased if you could welcome me at the train station. I don't know what else I could say for today. I'm ending my card kissing you all strongly. See you Tuesday. Marius.
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News: Loving Husband (2)
A soldier writes a letter to his wife. He praises God for giving them what they've always wanted and had been eagerly expecting - a baby.
Translation: Dear wife, I am rushing to write you this letter to wish you a happy day and good luck. May God give us the good fortune to be together again and to be as happy as we were before. May he give you the chance to have a baby, it'd be our happiness. The one who kisses you from the bottom of his heart, your husband forever.
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News: Soldier anxiously awaiting news (2)
A soldier grows impatient to receive more news from his family.
Translation: "My dear Lucie, I am sending these few cards as I have promised. We are still very annoyed to have received nothing from you. What the hell can you do up there that you don't even have a minute to write us some words? Mom wrote to her countess twice. Of course, she did not have an answer but we heard from the janitor that she is doing fine. Read my last letter carefully and answer to everything I asked for. I will not be sending back the clothes that I had unintentionally taken, it is not worth it and I will keep them for myself. Send us a card, if you have one, of aunt's wedding announcement. "
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Propaganda: Honor and Patriotism (1)
Postcards from the First World War stand as an important, and often under-appreciated, form of propaganda. In France, they were produced by private companies such as Bergeret and Royet. Because of this, these private companies also participated in the spreading of propaganda. By showing support to troops and to the war effort, they were contributing to the notion that France was, in the right, fighting a ‘just war.’
Propaganda's main purpose was to unify the French people. As soon as the war began, the French government commenced its ‘Sacred Union’ campaign which sought to unite the entire nation behind its soldiers. Each upsurge of pacifism had to be crushed. The pacifist movement that existed on the eve of the war was practically erased. Appealing to nationalism and patriotism was also the path to keep soldiers motivated. In 1914, French society was mainly rural. Soldiers had little interest in the assassination of Franz Ferdinand or other long-term causes of the war. Their primary preoccupation was the next harvest. Propaganda distracted soldiers and prevented them from asking themselves questions about the nature of the conflict. Values of courage, bravery, and honor were praised while pacifism was synonymous with cowardliness. Without a doubt, it also helped to unite soldiers, and boosted morale. Propaganda was a cornerstone of the war effort because soldiers had to endure horrific conditions on the front. Therefore, they had to fight, and probably die, for a superior cause - the nation. This propaganda through postcards embraced the purpose of valorizing these values by appealing to military pride, naval pride, military personalities, and religion.
During the war, France was engaged in a ‘total war’ which meant that every means of production was devoted to the same objective: to win the war. In order to achieve that goal, the entire population needed to be mobilized. Propaganda encouraged enlistment and the raising of war loans. Indeed, civilians could buy war bonds to contribute to the war effort. Because of its length (more than four years), WWI had a tremendous impact on the French economy which already had debts before the conflict. Thus, mobilizing the entire economy and civilians was vital and propaganda appeared as a very efficient method. It also convinced people that the French army was the best and that the German army would soon collapse. When the war started, French people were certain that this war would be short and that France would win a quick victory. Over time, they started to realize that it was not true, but propaganda helped to maintain this sense by glorifying each victory and omitting defeats. Many of the postcards represent troops, tanks, military, and political figures with that purpose in mind.
We see a French soldier standing with his rifle. Behind him, we see a woman who represents all French wives, sisters, and daughters. The soldier is fighting for them, for the nation, and for honor. These values are highly praised.
Translation: I don't have time to listen to my heart which beats for honor
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Propaganda: Our victory artisans (1)
The army, with the people behind them, have their eyes on victory. The entire economy, the entire nation is supporting its soldiers, its sons.
Translation: Our victory artisans
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Propaganda: Victory for France (1)
A French soldier is next to a woman who represents France but also victory. He looks at a German soldier. The German soldier is depicted as violent.
Translation: French soldier : "You see this pretty girl, she is Miss Victory… And she does not belong to you dirty German."
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Propaganda: Virgin Mary watching over French soldiers (1)
Two French soldiers are sleeping while the Virgin Mary is watching over them. It emphasizes the idea that France is on the right side, the side of God.
Translation: For God, for the nation
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Revenge: Fighting for Alsace (1)
In 1914 France and Germany shared a very conflicted common history. Prussia won the war of 1870 against France and kept the border provinces of Alsace and Lorraine as a reparation. Peace was signed in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles where, in addition, Otto Von Bismarck pronounced the unification of Germany. It was seen as a tremendous humiliation for the French people. Future generations were raised to hate Germany. In some quarters, there was an expectation that, sooner or later, France would seek revenge and bring Alsace-Lorraine back in the nation. During the First World War, therefore, propaganda was used to demonize the enemy. German soldiers were thus depicted as brutal; raping French woman and destroying French cities. The goal was to build an image that France was on the ‘right side,’ fighting against the forces of evil. German soldiers were compared to Huns, who held barbaric values. The effort helped to rationalize the rejection of premature peace proposals, and ensured that severe terms would be imposed once the peace was signed. After the war, the French people had become convinced that the war was Germany's fault, and that severe reparations were therefore justified.
This is a typical card justifying the purpose of the war which is also to liberate their "French brothers" in Alsace from Germany. The territory had been taken after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.
Translation: Alsace to the flag. Our brothers have arrived to give us hope. Long live, to us, the French flag!
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Revenge: Saving Alsace (1)
Again, the image of Alsace, which needs to be saved. A French soldier is holding a woman who represents Alsace. In the background, we can see battles that are taking place.
Translation:
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Revenge: Take Alsace Back (1)
Two soldiers fighting in the Vosges which are French mountains. In the background we see what is probably the city of Strasbourg and its cathedral. It appeals to French patriotism and the idea that soldiers need to fight for Alsace to liberate French people from Germany.
Translation: On the Edge of the Vosges, on the way to Alsace
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Revenge: The Lorraine is French (1)
Portrait of a woman who embodies France and its wives, sisters, and daughters. It appeals to the spirit of revenge to take Alsace-Lorraine back. This poem written by Victor Hugo, who is probably the most important poet in French history, serves as a reminder of the great history of the country.
Translation: The Lorraine is French!
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Translated and curated by graduate student, Florent Delmas. The exhibit includes the following topics: figures, news, propaganda, and revenge.
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