|
Date: |
|
Description: | piece : obverse design : Georges Clemenceau, half-length caricature figure, leaning to right, his left elbow resting on a
short pillar which is marked "ELSASS LOTHRI RHEIN"
piece : obverse text : "WIE CLEMENCEAU'S EROBERUNGSGELÜST BEANT WORTET WIRD"
piece : reverse design : tiger, having the caricatured head of Clemenceau, recoiling from an explosion which breaches a low wall at the
base of the design. The tiger licks its right forepaw, injured in the explosion. In the background, viewed beneath the tiger's body, the
Eiffel Tower
piece : reverse text : "FERNBESCHIESSUNG PARIS" & "23.MÄRZ 1918"
In this 1918 medal Goetz mocks the aggressive French Prime Minister, Georges Clemenceau and commemorates the beginning
of the bombardment of Paris by German long-range artillery, Lange 21cm Kanone (called variously 'Wilhelm's Gun', the 'Paris Gun' and, by
Parisians, 'Big Bertha'). German sources state that 367 shells fell on Paris in four separate bombardments between 23 March and 9 August
1918. The text on pillar on the obverse design is translated as 'Alsace, Lorraine, Rhine' and the principal text as 'Reply to Clemenceau's
policy of conquering'. The tiger on the reverse design is a visual pun on Clemenceau's nickname 'The Tiger', earned by his ruthless and
caustic tongue whilst a Radical deputy between 1876 and 1893. The reverse text is translated as 'Long-distance bombardment of
Paris'. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Subjects: | Georges E B satirical Western Front & Kaiserschlacht Offensive & 21/3/1918 = 10/7/1918 Clemenceau Long-Range Bombardment of & 23/3/1918 commemorative Artillery French Home Front & Paris | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Goetz, Karl | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
|
|