Caricatures of Turkish and German generals read a poster announcing an offering by the German Bank of 5 Billion guaranteed by organized looting of museums, cathedrals, and castles in Belgium and France, the looting conducted by Kaiser Wilhelm's 'army of thieves.' Looting by armies on both sides was common, but a charge more readily leveled at Germany, in part because it occupied large swaths of land on both fronts. Turkey entered the war at the end of October, 1914, the date of the card, the artist implying the opportunity to loot was instrumental in its decision. Postcard by O'Gèug(?).

Deutsch Banque

Emprunt 5 Milliards

Garantis par les pillages organisés en Belgique et en France dans les musees, cathédrales et châteaux par m[on] armee de brigands

Guillaume II

A ton emprunt - c'est moi qui te le dis, il n'y viendra pas un chat!. .

Oct. 1914

O'Gèug

Logo: ELD



The German Bank

Loan of 5 Billion

Guaranteed by looting organized in Belgium and France in museums, cathedrals, and castles by my army of thieves

William II

As to your loan - it is I who say it to you, there will not even be a cat left!. .

October 1914

O'Gèug



Reverse:

Postcard to M. Ch. Dorléans, a bicyclist with the 23rd Dragoons at the Babylon Barracks, Paris, from his brother who did not attend their uncle's funeral because he had missed his train.

Other views: Larger, Back

Friday, December 11, 1914

"Brussels, December 11, 1914. — This afternoon late B——— brought an uncle to see me, to talk about conditions in France between the Belgian frontier and the German lines. Those poor people cannot, of course, get anything from the heart of France, and as the Belgian frontier is closed tight by the Germans, they are already starving. It looks very much as though we should have to extend the scope of our work, so as to look after them, too. We hear very little news from that part of the country, but from what we do hear, conditions must be frightful. In one little town Mr. K——— came through, only twenty out of five hundred houses are said to be standing. He says that the people are not permitted to leave the place and are living in the cellars and ruins in great misery and practically without food.

Out of a clear sky comes a new trouble for the country. The German Government has come down with a demand for money on a scale that leaves them speechless. The Belgians are ordered to make a forced payment each month of forty millions of francs, for twelve months."

Quotation Context

Beginning of the entry for December 11, 1914 from the journal of Hugh Gibson, Secretary to the American Legation in Brussels, Belgium. By September, 1914, serious food shortages had developed in Belgium. Gibson worked with the Spanish ambassador, the German authorities in Belgium, the British Government, and the American Relief Committee to deliver food for Belgium's civilian population. Gibson has just been made aware of the situation facing the civilian population in occupied France, and a new demand of the German authorities in Belgium.

Source

A Journal from our Legation in Belgium by Hugh Gibson, pp. 335, 336, copyright © Copyright, 1917, by Doubleday, Page & Company, publisher: Doubleday, Page & Company, publication date: 1917

Tags

1914-12-11, 1914, December, Belgium fined