Mr. Stalin revolutionizes the drama
In 1939, Hitler's invasion of Poland precipitated World War II,
and Russia joined in the dismemberment of that country. Emboldened
by the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939 and wary of his new ally Germany,
Stalin moved to extend his Eastern borders, annexing Latvia, Lithuania,
Estonia, and part of Romania. When he made demands on Finland, however,
the Finns resisted. On November 30, 1939, the Russians invaded,
claiming Finnish forces had fired on Soviet troops. Finland put
up a gallant and surprising defense, gaining the respect and admiration
of the outside world, but was forced to agree to Russian terms in
the spring of 1940.
Mr. Stalin
revolutionizes the drama, 1939
Ink, crayon, and opaque white over blue pencil underdrawing on layered
paper
Published by NEA Service, Inc. (10)
LC-USZ62-127209
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Story of the last seven years
In the 1930s, the American public, recalling the losses of World
War I, was loath to take seriously the menace posed by Hitler and
his aggressive moves. Many Americans did not face up to the German
threat even after the start of World War II when German troops overran
much of Europe. Strong voices, including that of Charles Lindbergh,
joined with "America First" organizations in asserting that the
war was none of America's business; that England would fall anyhow;
and that Hitler was not a menace. Through "lend-lease" and other
measures Roosevelt aided England and increased American preparedness.
Story of the
last seven years, May 1940
Ink, crayon, and opaque white over blue pencil underdrawing on layered
paper
Published by NEA Service, Inc. (11)
LC-USZ62-127213
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Travelogue
During the "war in Europe" one of Herblock's most effective cartoons
was this one, based on movie travelogues that ended with a farewell
to the visiting country. Here the goodbye is in the picturing of
countries that had fallen under Nazi rule.
Travelogue,
1940
Reproduction of original drawing
Published by NEA Service, Inc. (154)
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Herblock's own history of the
year--The worlds of 1940
Herblock's year-end review of 1940 encapsulates the first full
year of World War II. Events included the German invasion of much
of Europe; the return to power of Winston Churchill as British Prime
Minister; the beginnings of opposition to the Germans in Africa
and the Mediterranean; the re-election of Franklin D. Roosevelt
to a third term; and the first American draft calls.
Herblock's own
history of the
year--The worlds of 1940
Ink over graphite underdrawing with scraping out on layered paper
Published by NEA Service, Inc. (12 a, b)
LC-USZ62-127211 (12a) LC-USZ62-127197
(12b)
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Working on him
One of the principal problems faced by Roosevelt and Churchill
was the enormous toll of shipping sunk by German submarines.
Working on him,
1941
Ink, crayon, and opaque white over graphite underdrawing on layered
paper
Published by NEA Service, Inc. (13)
LC-USZ62-127210
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"Faster"
Increasing the German birthrate was a top Nazi priority, even as
Hitler sent more young men off to war. The Nazis instituted programs
glorifying motherhood, providing financial incentives for those
with large families, even encouraging "Aryan"-looking young
women to bear children out of wedlock.
"Faster",
April 17, 1941
Ink, crayon, and opaque white over graphite underdrawing on layered
paper
Published by NEA Service, Inc. (14)
LC-USZ62-127212
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"Fifty-Fifty again, Joe?"
Iran and Iraq were vital to both the Allies and the Axis during
World War II, because of their location and their oil reserves.
As part of the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939, Germany and the Soviet
Union had agreed on the division of Eastern Europe, and might have
contemplated a similar division in the Middle East. Hitler made
other plans and on June 22, 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union.
"Fifty-Fifty
again, Joe?" May 2, 1941
Ink, crayon, and opaque white over graphite underdrawing with scraping
out on layered paper
Published by NEA Service, Inc. (15)
LC-USZ62-127203
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Sending forth another dove
On April 29, 1941, more than seven months before its attack on
the United States, the Japanese government published an "exploratory"
peace proposal to the United States. In a blatant attempt to gain
American support for aggression by the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo-Axis, it
called for a new world order that would carve out spheres of power.
Germany and Italy would control Europe and Africa, Japan would control
Asia, and the United States would control the Western Hemisphere.
Sending forth
another dove, May 13, 1941
Reproduction of original cartoon drawing
Published by NEA Service, Inc. (16)
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Mussolini
When Italy's Fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini, came to power,
he began proclaiming Italy's military superiority and building up
his country's war machine. In 1935, in an uneven match, he invaded
Ethiopia and later sent troops and planes to support Franco in the
Spanish Civil War. With the advent of World War II, he hoped to
emulate the military successes of his ally, Hitler. But his ventures
in France, East Africa, North Africa, and particularly Greece met
with crushing failure, and he required rescue by Nazi forces. In
a speech on February 23, 1941, Mussolini blamed defeats in Libya
on the fact that the British attacked before he was ready to launch
his own offensive.
Mussolini,
1941
Ink, crayon, and opaque white over graphite underdrawing on layered
paper
Published by NEA Service, Inc. (17)
LC-USZ62-127200
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