Boche Collection

British Secret Weapons to Surprise the Boche
Military invention by William Heath Robinson to surprise the enemy. Jumping tanks, Boche-grabbers composed of expanding and retracting claws of great size and strength. Date: 1940

Tattoed Forearm of WW1 French Soldier (b / w photo)
473228 Tattoed Forearm of WW1 French Soldier (b/w photo); Private Collection; (add.info.: Martyrs des Boches; tattoo shows a French soldier bound to a pole by a German soldier wearing the spiked)

GERMANS RAVAGE FRANCE
ANTI-GERMAN Cover of a book describing some of the awful things the Boche have done in Belgium and France Date: circa 1915

All Germans love children, so even these tough soldiers, invading Belgium, find time to fraternise with the kiddies... and fortunately there is a photographer to record it... Date: 1914

Patent Applied For, Heath Robinson WW1 cartoon
The Kitchener Boche-Bayoneter - an airy invention by William Heath Robinson. An uncharacteristically brutal invention suggesting that a trench sized board covered with bayonets be lowered

Constantinople, or the final greed of the Huns, 1915. Creator: Unknown
Constantinople, or the final greed of the Huns, 1915. Constantinople, Ou La Derniere Convoitise Du Boche. Oui!...mais il y a des baionnettes sur le chemin!

WW1 era Comic Postcard - Where I beat the Boche - a young bandaged chap back from the front (or pretending to be thus...) shows his girl (on a hanging map of Northern France)

Cartoon, German officer (Boche Faces), WW1
Cartoon, Boche Faces. A group of German officers, looking rather stolid and described as the asphyxiating brutes of humanity. Date: 1915

Cartoon, Boche idealism, WW1
Cartoon, Boche idealism -- a fat German with food and drink on the table and portraits of two German philosophers (Leibniz and Kant) on the wall. Date: 1915

Bulldogs Soup - I cannot eat it it smells of Boche
La Soupe de chien - J peux pas manger. 硠 sent le Boche. Dogs Soup - I cannot eat. it smells of Boche !. A kilted Scottish soldier and a French sailor

Patent Applied For, Heath Robinson WW1 cartoon
The Kitchener Boche-Bayoneter - an airy invention by William Heath Robinson. An uncharacteristically brutal invention suggesting that a trench sized board covered with bayonets be lowered

Le Petit parisien. Tete de Boche, grand roman national par Aristide Bruant. Bust of a German soldier wearing a spiked helmet and iron cross around his neck. Date 1915. Le Petit parisien

Liberated Dog 1918
Captured at Courcelette - a British Tommy and a French dog liberated from the Boche... Date: 1918

Cartoon, Boche intellectuals, WW1
Cartoon, Boche intellectuals, showing a variety of German boffins doing their work. Date: 1916

WW1 - Mocking the Boche
WW1 - The enemy seen here captured by a British soldier. The soldier represented as a stereotyped Englishman, Cockney Tommy. The name Tommy was commonly ascribed to the British private soldier

Cartoon, Boche, Wild Mammal, WW1
Cartoon, Boche, Wild Mammal, on display in a zoo, an imaginary scene looking forward to 1956. Date: 1915

Germanys war aim - Peace & a Sword, David Wilson, WW1
Germany depicted as a gigantic, militaristic ogre, standing amidst the rubble of a devastated village brandishing a sword engraved with the words, Might is Right. Date: 1917

How the Last German got back across the Yser by Heath Robins
A lone German cavalry officer negotiates the River Yser with the use of his horse, rifle, boot and sword, only to terrify his comrade when he successfully gets to the other side. Date: 1915

Jean-Louis Forain, Quand le boche se retire... French, 1852-1931, probably 1917, black crayon and brush and black ink on wove paper

Jean-Louis Forain, -Un farman? -non, c est un boche. French, 1852-1931, c. 1914-1919, black crayon and brush and black ink on laid paper

French Guns down Boche
A French pilot uses his machine gun to destroy a German plane

The Boche at Reims
Germans set up a field camp in the Parois of the cathedral at Reims. However, they will be forced to retire by the allied counter-attack

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"Unveiling British Secret Weapons: Surprising the Boche in WW1" In the midst of World War I, the British devised a cunning plan to outsmart their German adversaries, affectionately referred to as "the Boche. " With an array of innovative strategies and inventions up their sleeves, they aimed to gain the upper hand on the battlefield. One such weapon was depicted in a clever cartoon featuring a stern-looking German officer with exaggerated features known as "Boche Faces. " This satirical portrayal highlighted the determination of British forces to undermine their enemy's morale. The mention of Bulldogs Soup added another layer of humor, showcasing how even food could be associated with disdain for the Boche. The patent applied for by Heath Robinson further emphasized Britain's commitment to developing unconventional devices that would catch their opponents off guard. General Charles Mangin and his underlings featured prominently on Le Rire Rouge's front cover illustration, where it was suggested that one Black soldier equaled two Boches. This representation challenged stereotypes while asserting France's strength against its invaders. A poignant black-and-white photograph captured a French soldier proudly displaying his tattooed forearm—a symbol of resilience amidst war-torn landscapes. It served as a reminder that individuals from all walks of life were united in fighting against those who ravaged France. An intriguing image titled "GERMANS RAVAGE FRANCE" showcased not only destruction but also shed light on unexpected aspects—German soldiers showing compassion towards children during Belgium's invasion. Such contradictions revealed complexities within wartime narratives. Heath Robinson made another appearance through yet another patent application cartoon, demonstrating his knack for whimsical contraptions designed specifically to confound and surprise the Boche. Lastly, an evocative piece titled "Constantinople or The Final Greed of Huns" depicted an unknown creator's interpretation of Germany's insatiable desire for power during 1915. This artwork encapsulated both fear and determination, as the British sought to thwart their enemy's ambitions.