One for me, One for you.....
This week's Sepia Saturday themes the Potsdam Treaty between the Allies in World War 2. In common with most treaties, it was an agreement for carve-up to suit the political and economic policies of the victorious and most powerful. And like many earlier agreement set the ground for problems for the next 50 years or more.
Carve-up
Carve-up
Carve-up
**********
Government policy seldom change - the poor are still expected to pick up the tab for the fat cats on the top table.
I like to consider these carve up images. Last year I spent some time in West Poland, Gdansk, Szczecin and Wroclaw in particular, and trying to understand, with reading, how things worked out on the ground after the carve up, especially the movement of populations as the Germans were expelled west in 1945-7 and then cities filled from the east. I stayed with a priest in a small village south of Szczecin and when he showed me round the outside of his church I spotted that in the grass there were path edging stones where paths had once been but no graves. There was another small well tended cemetery over the old churchyard wall. The answer to the puzzle, on enquiry, was that the graves went with the Germans...west. I am not sure about the remains themselves, my Polish is pretty well limited to ordering a beer.
ReplyDeleteGreat take on the photo prompt Mike. Perhaps the next post-war treaty/conference should focus on which of the "victors" will pay for it all and take responsibility for the fall-out. The trouble will still be that the poor will be the ones who pay.
ReplyDeleteA very interesting way to look at things. Pleased to see Vicky and Marianne.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's how it is. Power is a funny thing, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteGreat images. Here the politicians like to realign the voting districts.
ReplyDeleteOh I like how your mind traveled on this one! Wonderful story of images just by sight alone!
ReplyDeletelove it
ReplyDeleteI have always enjoyed these old political cartoons which enlivened my history text books at school. Thank you for showing them to me again. A great "take" on the theme.
ReplyDeleteThis is great! My husband was trying to remember the name of the conference where the victors carved up the world.
ReplyDeleteAnd the poor becomes poorer; the richer becomes richer... *sigh* I share Brett Payne's thoughts.
ReplyDeleteWise words indeed. Just on my way to Sunday Lunch at the Cricket Club where, I believe, a joint is being carved. Hope it does not lead to so many problems ... (I want the bit without too much fat, that Yorkshire Pudding is burnt, a don't want a soggy roast potato ...)
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for cartoonists! Cartoons about political situations have been going on for years and years! Good way of expressing what went on in regions at the time.
ReplyDeleteLet Them Eat Cake.........(& we pick up the crumbs)
ReplyDeleteA terrific spin on the theme, Mike. I find it interesting how the different artists use caricature to portray nations in a recognizable way. France is a short Napoleon, but why the tall thin English redcoat? In the 2nd image, Bismark is still understood even today as German by the iron cross. In the 3rd, Russia and France are attractive figures and not exaggerated as the others, why? And in the last, there are military bandsmen to add color to the joke - hautboys and French horns.
ReplyDeleteWhat brilliant cartoons. And an interesting way to interpret the theme
ReplyDeleteWith the latest Cyprus raid on savings that last cartoon could not be more apt.
ReplyDeleteCarving up countries is never a good idea. Look what's happened to the middle east. Great post.
ReplyDeleteNancy
Food for thoughts, and a nice selection to make your point here.
ReplyDeleteIf we look at what is going on right now,
seems like the lesson was never learned.
Let's see if the 21rst century will bring peace
between Israel and Palestine,
various African countries still bleeding in the name
of pseudo-democracy and what-not...
The only good news lately was some kind of understanding
between Turks and Kurds, after all of this time...
Here's hoping!!
:)~
HUGZ
So, the Germans were wanting to carve up a non-existent continent? (LOL?)
ReplyDelete