1914 Varga / Khaireya Ottoman Propaganda Map of Europe during World War I

The only known example of the Ottoman Turkish edition of Varga Imre's important 1914 serio-propaganda map of Europe at the outset of World War I (1814 - 1918), A Háborús Európa Térkép-Karikatúrája. The map is essentially propaganda for the Central Powers wherein Russia appears as an obnoxious drunk and Hungary is illustrated charging fiercely into battle - note, this is the only WWI Era serio-comic map to illustrate Hungary independently. In this Ottoman edition, released in Istanbul by Khaireya and Co. Press, all the text has been translated into Ottoman Turkish.

Understanding the Map

Having been derived from Varga's work, the map is very Hungaro-centric, nonetheless, the same values must have appealed to the Ottomans, for whom this was intended. Certainty they could sympathize with the idea of Russia as a ponderous uncivilized drunk (with legions of soldiers illustrated as toys arranged in boxes), as Turkey, in the previous decades, suffered continuously from Russian ambitions to control the Bosporus. All of Central Europe seems rallied to oppose Russia, including Turkish, Hungarian, and Austrian soldiers. The German Empire is divided into two characters, an angry crocodile chomping on Russia's fist, and a soldier fighting France, who seems ready to give up. England and Wales posture arrogantly and are represented by the Prime Minister at the time, Herbert Henry Asquith (1852 - 1927). He seems not to notice the German canon aimed in his direction. Ireland, it seems, has decided to hightail it out to sea. In Sweden, neutral throughout the war, King Gustav V (Oscar Gustaf Adolf; 1858 - 1950), watching the events with interest. The Baltic Sea, separating neutral Sweden from drunken Russia, appears as Death and faces Russia. Italy, a beautiful young woman, seems oblivious.

Publication History and Census

This map was printed and published in 1914 in Istanbul by Khaireya and Co. Press for the Military Library. The design is based upon the work of Imre Varga, a Hungarian graphic artist who issued a similar map in Hungarian. We have identified no other examples.