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Description: | description (obverse and reverse designs): (see) MED 937
piece : exergue (obverse) : "DER GROSSDAMPFER = = LUSITANIA = DURCH EIN DEUTSCHES TAUCHBOOT VERSENKT 5.MAY 1915" (embossed in 5
lines)
Component parts: medal in original cardboard presentation box, the hinged lid of which has been detached. The outside of the box lid has an
illustration of the liner steaming from left to right, below which, within a panel are 6 lines of text - "R.M.S.LUSITANIA: CUNARD LINE.
32000 TONS: SUNK ON HER RETURN JOURNEY FROM THE UNITED STATES BY A GERMAN SUBMARINE MAY 7TH.1915". The inside of the lid bears 16 lines of
text - "The 'Lusitania' (German) Medal An exact replica of the medal which was designed in Germany and distributed to commemorate the
sinking of the 'Lusitania'. This indicates the true feeling the War Lords endeavour to stimulate, and is proof positive that such crimes
are not merely regarded favourably, but are given every encouragement in the land of Kultur. The 'Lusitania' was sunk by a German submarine
on May 7th, 1915. She had on board at the time 1,951 passengers and crew, of whom 1,198 perished." Accompanying the medallion and
presentation box is an explanatory leaflet, illustrated, bearing the following text - "A German Naval Victory 'With joyful pride we
contemplate this latest deed of our navy...' Kölnische Volkszeitung. 10th May, 1915. This medal has been struck in Germany with the object
of keeping alive in German hearts the recollection of the glorious achievement of the German Navy in deliberately destroying an unarmed
passenger ship, together with 1,198 non-combatants, men, women and children. On the obverse, under the legend 'No Contraband' (Keine
Bannware), there is a representation of the 'Lusitania' sinking. The designer has put in guns and aeroplanes, which (as was certified by
United States Government officials after inspection) the Lusitania did not carry; but has conveniently omitted to put in the women and
children, which the world knows she did carry. On the reverse, under the legend 'Business above all' (Geschäft über alles), the figure of
Death sits at the booking office of the Cunard Line and gives out tickets to passengers, who refuse to attend to the warnings against
submarines given by a German. The picture seeks apparently to propound the theory that if a murderer warns his victims of his intention,
the guilt of the crime will rest with the victim, not with the murderer"
First World War British copy of the German first issue 'Lusitania Medallion' by Karl Goetz. The confusing date error on
the original German work was seized upon by the British and exploited for propaganda purposes, the intention being to demonstrate that the
sinking was cynically pre-planned. Some 300,000 British copies were made on the instructions of Captain Reginald Hall RN, Director of Naval
Intelligence. The financial outlay for the production of many of these was covered by Mr Gordon Selfridge, the department store owner, at a
cost of several thousand pounds to himself. The British copy may be identified by its cruder finish, while the date in the obverse exergue
reads '5.MAY 1915' and not '5.MAI 1915'. The umlauts are also missing from the reverse text, see also notes to MED 937. Proceeds from the
sales of the British version were directed to St Dunstan's Blinded Soldiers and Sailors Hostel.
On-Line exhibition: http://www.iwm.org.uk/online/lusitan/lusi1.htm | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Subjects: | First World War & British anti-German Propaganda & (after) 8/1915 Atlantic & RMS Lusitania Sinking of by U20 & 7/5/1915 commemorative Propaganda RMS LUSITANIA | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Selfridge, Gordon (?) | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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