10 cartoons published in the aftermath of the 9 May declaration to celebrate Europe Day.
The ones who liked it
1. Sew-man
Schuman sewing France and Germany together. The safety pins (the Maginot Line, built in 1930 to protect France from Germany) was not enough to make the reconciliation a reality. “I hope this seam will work better than the safety pins”.
By Klaus Pielert, 1950
(1950)
2. Thinking Europe
An ironic look at Schuman’s Plan. Vincent Auriol, President of France (in the background) says “Shh! Schuman is thinking Europe”.
By Pinatel
Georges Burnier, 1957.
3. “Love and Coal”
For German cartoonist Mirko Szewczuk, it was all about “Love and Coal”. Or not…
While Schuman and Adenauer seems to be flirting in a pile of coal, someone in the back is stealing it…
Unabhängige Tageszeitung. Hamburg: Die Welt, 1950
4. Put it in motion
Adenauer and Schuman trying to put Europe in motion. In the car: De Gaulle, Alcide de Gasperi, Paul-Henri Spaak, Joseph Bech…. In the background, an excited crowd cheers them.
By Roland Stigulinszky
Saarbrücken: Presse-Verlag GmbH, 1950
5. Hug me “to the coal”
German cartoonist Koob, Schuman, Adenauer, two chimneys and a hug.
Illustrierte Zeitung für Sport-Verkehr-Politik-Kunst. Düsseldorf.
The ones who did not like it
6. Stalin and French Communists
Some are made for building, some for destruction.
Woop illustrated the ‘opposition’ from Stalin and French Communists to the building of Europe.
L’Aurore. 1950, n° 1761.
7. Brits will be Brits
“Well, we will continue the journey without them”.
There was a UK before BrexitBrexit, a portmanteau of "British" and "exit", is the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. Following a UK-wide referendum in June 2016, in which 48% voted to remain in the EU and 52% had no idea what they were voting for, the British government formally announced the...; and they behaved exactly like after BrexitBrexit, a portmanteau of "British" and "exit", is the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. Following a UK-wide referendum in June 2016, in which 48% voted to remain in the EU and 52% had no idea what they were voting for, the British government formally announced the....
Copyright: L’Aurore. 1950. n° 1.789
8. A strong united Europe (but not stronger than us)
Europe under the magnifying glass with the US and the Soviet Union taking a close look.
Herausgeber Korspeter, Wilhelm. 22 February 1950, Nr. 45; 5. Jg.
9. The German re-militarisation and the Nazi ghosts
Russia, East Germany and French Communists had a common narrative against the Schuman Plan. The Soviet satirical magazine Krokodil presented the new French and German friendship as a ‘a marriage of convenience’ to serve US interests.
Pravda
Louis Mitelberg, in the satirical East German magazine Frischer Wind mentions the “recreation of West German militarism”.
Allgemeiner Deutscher Verlag
And the “subtle” hand of Henri-Paul Gassier in the French Communist newspaper L’Humanité – comparing Robert Schuman and Konrad Adenauer agreements with the Pétain and Hitler ones in Montoire on October 1940.
Organe Central du Parti Communiste Français.
June 1950, n° 1805.
The ones who nailed it
10. ‘Let’s help Europa to the saddle. She’ll know how to ride!’
Spot on by German cartoonist Fritz Meinhard. The Greek mythology and the nature of EU politics: no matter what, Europe will always move forward. It just need a helping (political) hand.
Turmhaus Druckerei GmbH, 1950
Bonus track
“I’m putting coal next to steel, coffee next to milk, wine next to cheese …”
The cartoonist Sennep illustrated for Le Figaro the European economic integration in a brilliant way.
Happy Europe Day!