French do not forget Anti-British propaganda poster reminding people of previous British conquests of French territory
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 46.875 inches (119.063 cm) | Width: 31.500 inches (80.01 cm)
Archival History
The poster was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1998.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Scope and Content
Propaganda poster in French stating how Britain created its Empire by taking French territories. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. In response Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later. On June 22, 1940, France signed an armistice agreement by which the Germans would occupy the northern half of France. After the armistice and occupation, German authorities began releasing propaganda to fuel the resentment many French people held towards the British. The poster lists, in chronological order, French colonial losses to Britain by year. In 1704, as part of the war of the Spanish Succession Britain captured Gibraltar from Spain, France’s ally. At the subsequent treaty of Utrecht, Britain’s possession of Gibraltar was formalized and France ceded Newfoundland. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris concluded the Seven Years War between France and Britain. As part of the terms of the treaty, France relinquished Canada and all conquests in India since 1749. In 1801, the British foiled Napoleon’s military campaign in Egypt. In the Entente Cordiale, signed in 1904, France recognized Britain’s sphere of influence over Egypt. The poster implies that the British Empire was formed from these victories, however, the poster fails to inform the reader of the concessions that Britain made to France over the same period.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
French propaganda poster on faded medium weight, white paper with a historical timeline outlining territorial disputes between France and Great Britain surrounded by a triple line border with a blue exterior, white center, and red interior. The title is at the top in oversized blue text, followed by a paragraph of slightly smaller blue text. In the center is the timeline, the years are in red on the left followed by a 1 to 3 line description in blue text with names and places capitalized in red. At the bottom there is a line of larger blue text followed by another line of oversized blue text.
Subjects
- Propaganda, French--History--20th century.
- France--History--German occupation, 1940-1945.--Posters.
- World War, 1939-1945--Propaganda.--Pictorial works.
- Nazi propaganda--posters.
- Propaganda--Germany--History--20th century.
- World War, 1939-1945--Posters.
- Propaganda, Anti-British--Posters.
Genre
- Object
- Posters