Crime of the ages who did it

This World War I era political cartoon portrays the major European countries involved in the foreground. Each of them, represented by people, are pointing towards whomever they believe is the most responsible for causing the war. Most countries are pointing at Germany as it was thought to be the main aggressor in the war when it invaded neutral Belgium. The Allied powers showed this clearly when they forced Germany to give up land and pay reparations when the war came to an end with the Treaty of Versailles. However, what is in the background is a large hand that represents other countries’ views on the situation, is pointing towards an impaled body labeled “The Peace of Europe.” This shows how others think the main problem of this war is that it has killed off the peacefulness of Europe. The author’s choice to have that in the background could represent how the finger pointing and naming of names being done by the Allied and Central powers has overshadowed the real problem of peace, which is why the countries are in the foreground. The crime of the ages is that the peace in Europe died all on account of one assassination. The soon to be Austria- Hungarian leader and his wife were killed by Serbians, which triggered Austria- Hungary to take action, as well as Germany, Serbia, Russia, and eventually many more. The tangling alliances and militarism brought the rest into the war. The spider web of connections is shown in the pointing of hands. Blame cannot be placed on only one country.

This political cartoon from John McCutcheon, The Chicago Tribune; H. H. Windsor, Cartoons Magazine was published by The Chicago Tribune on August 1914.
This propaganda poster was done a little after the outbreak of the war to demonstrate how no one would agree on who was the blame of the destruction of Europe because they all had allies. Therefore having to agree with one side only and point fingers at their enemies for the blame.  It is called "The Crime of the Ages- Who did it?" to reveal to society that every country involved at war is represented as a soldier and all of them are pointing with their swords at the ones they consider to have been responsible for the outburst. The techniques used here are symbolism to help represent each country involved in the war. Each soldier is dressed in its army uniform which reveals that each nation had taken military action. The Peace of Europe was hurt because of another one's sword, with the sword representing the violence that each country used against the other. The swords can also represent defense just in case another country is coming at them. The allies of soldiers are seen to reveal how all country's allied blamed the same country and no one agreed with one response, leaving society unknown of who actually was the cause for the started of war. Germany in this case wanted to receive help from others outside that know they wouldn't dare to do such a thing, this cartoon was intended to help them do so.
This propaganda is effective because it gets the public thinking of who is the real blame for the broken peace of Europe.

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