Toysoldiers and propaganda in the 1st world war
Toy soldiers belong to our cultural heritage. A good example of these are the propaganda post cards from the 1st World War. In the years 14-18 many thousands of different propaganda postcards were made by the fighting countries. These could be sent home by the soldiers at the front, and vice versa. They were also focused on keeping the morale at home. They usually depict their own country, their own troops as the best. The enemy as evil or as ridiculous.
On quite a few postcards we also encounter miniatures, toy soldiers. We have collected a number of them for this website and grouped per country below. Many of the poscards shown here were indeed sent to soldiers. Some by soldiers to their families. The stories on the cards are sometimes more interesting than the picture on the front ....
France
Probably the country that issued the most cards. Especially with pictures of toy soldiers. They mostly refers to toy soldiers and children playing with them. The flag of France, or one of the allied countries, hardly ever fails. There are whole series made with a playing boy, sometimes a girl, with a soldier in the background.
Also quite a few cards that shows the cooperation with the allies.
Also quite a few cards that shows the cooperation with the allies.
United Kingdom
After searching you will also find a card with a toy soldier on it. They are often not very serious, some English humor is there to discover.
After searching you will also find a card with a toy soldier on it. They are often not very serious, some English humor is there to discover.
Germany and Austria
The propaganda postcards of these countries were often not much different from those of the opponents. However, this does not apply to the cards on which toy soldiers were used. This cards usually show very homely scenes. Playing children at home, with or without father and mother. It is also striking that it were usually not real toy soldiers but mostly larger doll-like miniatures. This while in Germany at that time had enormous quantities of flat and half-round lead miniatures (Blei-sodaten).
The propaganda postcards of these countries were often not much different from those of the opponents. However, this does not apply to the cards on which toy soldiers were used. This cards usually show very homely scenes. Playing children at home, with or without father and mother. It is also striking that it were usually not real toy soldiers but mostly larger doll-like miniatures. This while in Germany at that time had enormous quantities of flat and half-round lead miniatures (Blei-sodaten).
Other countries
Of course, the war did not play a large role in propaganda cards in the neutral countries. We found one map from the Netherlands, written by a soldier who had been mobilized for years. The card was provided by the Dutch army and the boredom seems to radiate from it. Italy, on the side of the Allies, had also it’s own line of propaganda cards. Sometimes with an actual event like the one pictured here.
Of course, the war did not play a large role in propaganda cards in the neutral countries. We found one map from the Netherlands, written by a soldier who had been mobilized for years. The card was provided by the Dutch army and the boredom seems to radiate from it. Italy, on the side of the Allies, had also it’s own line of propaganda cards. Sometimes with an actual event like the one pictured here.
