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Description: | obverse design : scales, pair of, on the right balance pan a bag marked "00 000" and on the left a rolled document marked
"BVNDNIS VERTRAG". Beneath the left pan three dice and on either side of the central support components of the date "27.AVG
1916"
obverse text : "RVMAENIEN'S SCHAVKELSPIEL"
reverse design : Premier Bratiano of Rumania, caricature, kneeling, facing, beside the central support of a pair of scales, his head
inclined to right. He is wearing a cocked hat and tail coat with epaulettes and holds a crown above the raised left balance pan of the
scales which is loaded with and being pulled down by small figures representing the Entente powers. In the lower right balance pan a sword.
Above the scales the name "BRATIANV"
reverse text : "DER TREVBVNDLER"
This First World War medal by Goetz represents a satirical comment on Rumania's declaration of war, under Premier
Bratianu, against Austria-Hungary (and by association all allies of Austria) on 27 August 1916. The artist imputes territorial greed and
calculated self-interest as the motivation for adherence to the allied cause, though the Entente powers were divided as to the actual value
of the Rumanian contribution. The 'alliance' was in fact based on the secret treaty of Bucharest (17 August 1916) between Rumania and the
Allies, wherby it was agreed that Rumania should receive territory in exchange for attacking Austria-Hungary. Rumania's decision, long
considered was in fact ill-timed as was her headlong dash into Transylvania in late August 1916. The advance of German, Turkish and
Bulgarian forces (under Mackensen) from the south and Austro-German forces from the north rapidly resulted in the disintegration of
Rumanian resistance, which ceased effectively on 7 January 1917. The text on document on the obverse design is translated as 'Allied
treaty' and the principal obverse text as 'Rumania's balancing act'. The reverse text is translated as 'The faithful
ally'. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Subjects: | Rumania on Austria-Hungary & 27/8/1916 satirical First World War & Declaration of War Bratiano (Premier) propaganda | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Goetz, Karl | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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