1914 Delaye Serio-Comic Map of Europe at the Outbreak of World War I

This is a 1914 A. Delaye serio-comic map of Europe shortly after the outbreak of World War I. Depicting continental Europe with a blood-red Germany at its center, a portrait of Kaiser Wilhelm II stares greedily at western Europe. A grisly scene, blood drips from Germany into Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Serbia, while Kaiser Wilhelm claws with blood-soaked hands at France, Belgium, and England. An overt political statement, Delaye obviously blames Germany and Kaiser Wilhelm for the gruesome brutality of what has become known as The Great War. From the title, one can infer that Delaye also believes that Wilhelm and Germany desire the complete conquest of Europe, which he deems 'the madman's dream'. The Kaiser's boot is reaching toward Algeria because in 1914 the French believed Algeria to be a part of France and it was even a French department. Therefore, if Germany were to conquer France, they would also gain possession of Algeria, and possibly France's overseas empire as well. Empire was a touchy subject in Germany in the early 20th century, as both France and Great Britain, along with Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, had long since established (and some of which had already lost) an overseas empire before Germany had even become a unified country. Most likely Delaye sees this wanton desire for international power and prestige as part of 'the madman's dream', and, unfortunately, with a desire for empire comes the reality of spilt blood. This, however, feels slightly ironic, considering the horrifying history of France's quest for empire.

This map was drawn by A. Delaye and published Ch. Delaye in Paris in 1914.