Wilson or the Kaiser -- February 17, 2020

Moving Picture World, 07-December-1918

Happy Presidents' Day everyone.

The Great Victory, Wilson or the Kaiser? The Fall of the Hohenzollerns was the ungainly of a movie about World War One. It was anti-German propaganda produced during the war, but released after the Armistice.

In the Wake of the Huns -- September 7, 2017

Moving Picture World, 29-September-1917

America had declared war on Germany in April, 1917.  American soldiers began landing in France in August.  The war was a hot topic.

The insulting use of the nickname "Hun" for Germans came from a speech by Kaiser Wilhelm II, who told German troops sailing to put down the Boxer Rebellion in China to mercilessly make a name for themselves in China. 

Moving Picture World, 01-September-1917

People like to make fun of the Italian army in the two world wars, but they forget that the Italians put up a desperate struggle against the Austrians and the Germans in terrible conditions in the Alps.  They completely forget the twelve Battles of the Isonzo.  My grandfather's uncle was captured there and could still imitate the way the guards spoke sixty years later. 

Moving Picture World, 15-September-1917

Moving Picture World, 22-September-1917

"The Summit of Box Office Success." 

The Kaiser Film Company -- August 10, 2014

Many people still blame Kaiser Wilhelm II and his ham-handed foreign policies for World War One.  It wasn't that simple, but he deserved a share of the blame. 

Before the United States entered the war, some people admired Kaiser Bill.  The Kaiser Film Company released this movie.  "The Man of the Hour."  "...by special permission of the Kaiser himself." 

From the 15-August-1914 Moving Picture World. 

The German Kaiser -- March 13, 2014

With the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One coming up in a few months, I thought it might be interesting to look at the state of relations between the United States and the German Empire.  In this ad from the 05-April-1913 Moving Picture World, Uncle Sam shakes hands with German Emperor Wilhelm II.  This was described as an entry in the "Crowned Heads of Europe" series from the True Feature Company.  "A Short Reel (500 feet) but a BIG Subject."  Many German-Americans were proud of the economic and scientific achievements of Germany since unification in 1871 under the Kaiser's grandfather, Wilhelm I. 

"These pictures were shown to the Kaiser and officially approved by him." 

Many people still blame the Kaiser and his ham-handed foreign policies for the war.  It wasn't that simple, but he deserved a share of the blame.