World War II Clifford Berryman Political Cartoons

World War II: Clifford Berryman Political Cartoons

390 original pen-and-ink illustrations and 410 pages of descriptions dealing with World War II drawn by Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist Clifford K. Berryman.

One of our best sets of material for following international and domestic events during the rise of fascism in Europe in 1930's, America's reaction to the prelude of war in the later 1930's, and America's entry into World War II, though its conclusion can be viewed in the Clifford Berryman Political Cartoons collection.

The images are not just copies of the cartoons as they appeared in the Washington Evening Star. They are copies of the original pen-and-ink illustrations which were used as mechanicals for the printed cartoons. Illustrations are preceded by a cover sheet, many explain in detail the context and content of the image.

Berryman's first flagging of trouble to come in Germany can be seen in his cartoon drawn in January 1923 titled, "Twixt the Devil and the Deep Sea," The German government faced the problems of its own citizens angry at what they thought were the unfair terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the threats of the French to invade the Ruhr on the grounds that the Germans were in default in paying reparations.

Illustrations Include:

"President-Chancellor Hitler Proposes to Get His Opponents into Line by Loving Methods"

Published: September 20, 1934

Commrade This War Makes Strange Bedfellows, Does n't It?

Published: September 24, 1939

The growing war in Europe and its threat to America brought politicians of both major parties closer together in support of greater American preparedness. Cartoonist Clifford Berryman uses the cynical new partnership of Hitler and Stalin to underscore how crisis creates strange bedfellows.

"Aid to Britain"

March 7, 1941

Shows Winston Churchill in a wrestling ring being mauled by "Japan" (Hirohito?), Mussolini, and Hitler. Clark, Wheeler, and Nye are behind the ropes, making various accusations against Churchill and Great Britain.

"I Didn't Say You Could Keep It"

Published: June 20, 1941

Stalin as a satisfied black bear sitting in front of a beehive labeled "Estonia, Latvia, Bessarabia, Lithuania, Ukraine." He is approached by Hitler, who carries a bucket and a large spoon. As a result of the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939, the Soviet Union was able to gain control of the eastern European countries on its western borders. By the spring of 1941, however, relations between Germany and the Soviet Union were beginning to fray. Two days after this cartoon was published, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union.

"And There'll Be Many Happy Returns of the Day"

Published: April 20, 1943

This cartoon published on the day Hitler celebrated his birthday, shows Hitler cowering under the onslaught of numerous bombs. One large bomb has a tag tied to it reading, "Birthday Greetings to Der Fuehrer -- R.A.F. [and] U.S.A.A.F." By April 1943, British and American bombers were pounding Germany on an almost daily basis. Berryman suggests that this constitutes an appropriate birthday present for the German leader.

"Atomic Bomb Report"

August 8, 1945

Secretary of War Henry Stimson showing President Truman the "Atomic Bomb Report" of "Greatest Achievement of the Combined Efforts of Science, Industry, Labor and the Military in All History"; the frightened caricature John Q. Public presents the problem "How to Make People Be Decent to Each Other" and asks Truman to "P-p-p-lease Make Those Scientists Solve This One Real Q-q-q-q-quick!"