1916 German Propaganda Map of the WWI Central Powers Conquest of Serbia
EroberungSerbiens-zimmermann-1918$750.00
Title
Merkblätter zu Weltkrieg Die Erobergun Serbiens. 7. Oktober - Dezember 1915.
1918 (undated) 20.5 x 14.75 in (52.07 x 37.465 cm) 1 : 1716480
1918 (undated) 20.5 x 14.75 in (52.07 x 37.465 cm) 1 : 1716480
Description
This is a 1918 Bodo Zimmermann propaganda broadside map of the Central Powers' Serbia Campaign and victory during World War I (1914 - 1918). The map is part of a rare series of broadsides issued to reinforce German nationalism as the war began to turn against the Central Powers.
The map focuses on Serbia and Montenegro, with cities and towns labeled throughout. Belgrade appears on the Hungarian border. Blue arrows illustrate the Central Powers' movements through Serbia and Montenegro, with some commanding officers named. Red arrows represent the Entente Powers' 1915 advance from Salonika (Thessaloniki). Text below the map narrates the battle from August 1914 through January 1916, and bold text highlights names, places, and actions. The last sentence is the only truly propaganda-like statement in the whole text and states, 'Serbia and Montenegro were exterminated - as victims of the Entente's selfish war aims.'
A Closer Look
The Serbia Campaign lasted for 15 months and resulted in Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria occupying Serbia. The Montenegrins did not follow the Serbs into exile but chose to continue defending their country. They were defeated in less than two weeks. This broadside was part of a series of broadsides produced by the German High Command near the end of World War I that focused on German victories and tried to arouse German national pride.The map focuses on Serbia and Montenegro, with cities and towns labeled throughout. Belgrade appears on the Hungarian border. Blue arrows illustrate the Central Powers' movements through Serbia and Montenegro, with some commanding officers named. Red arrows represent the Entente Powers' 1915 advance from Salonika (Thessaloniki). Text below the map narrates the battle from August 1914 through January 1916, and bold text highlights names, places, and actions. The last sentence is the only truly propaganda-like statement in the whole text and states, 'Serbia and Montenegro were exterminated - as victims of the Entente's selfish war aims.'
Merkblätter zum Weltkrieg Series
The Merkblätter zum Weltkrieg series consisted of 35 broadsides focusing on the victories of the Central Powers. They were intended to reinforce German nationalism as the war was turning against them. The series provided factual accounts of these victories, but noted none of Germany's mounting losses.Publication History and Census
This map was edited by Bodo Zimmermann, published by Karl Siegismund (Kaiser Wilhelm II's official book dealer), and printed by H. S. Hermann in 1918 as Serbia Sheet 1 as part of the Merkblätter zum Weltkrieg series. Every sheet in the series is rare, with only a handful of the 35 broadsides cataloged in institutional collections. We note 1 cataloged example of the present broadside, which is part of the collection at the Hoover Institution. We know of only a handful of instances when any of the Merkblätter zum Weltkrieg series has entered the private market.Cartographer
Bodo Zimmermann (November 26, 1886 - April 16, 1963) was a German army officer and general during World War II. Born in Metz, Germany (at the time Metz was in Germany because Alsace and Lorraine were ceded to Germany after the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War), he left the cadet corps and joined the 145th Royal Infantry Regiment (6th Lorraine) in March 1906 as an ensign. He was promoted to first lieutenant (Oberleutnant) in January 1907 and served in this regiment from 1907 until 1914, when he was assigned to the War Academy. World War I interrupted his studies, and he was promoted to captain (Hauptmann) early in 1915. He served on the General Staff at the General Command of the III Army Corps until 1917 or 1918, when he was transferred to the War Press Office of the Supreme Army Command (OHL - Oberste Heeresleitung). He became a head of department at the War Press Office and in 1918 published 35 different broadsides on the World War (Merkblätter zum Weltkrieg). After the war, the Siegismund publishing house published nine texts written by Zimmermann, eight of which would more appropriately be qualified as propaganda brochures. Zimmermann retired from the army in 1920 and received the rank of major. He continued writing and publishing after the war and founded the military publishing house Offene Worte in 1920 in Berlin. Between 1931 and 1941, Zimmermann published five books through this publishing house. Zimmermann was reactivated into the German Army in December 1938 and was assigned to the 1st Army as First General Staff Officer. He was appointed First General Staff Officer of Army Group D in occupied France in October 1940. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on August 1, 1941, and colonel on December 1, 1942, and was made General von Rundstedt's chief of operations. In June 1944, Zimmermann remained the Operations Officer at OB West (the command of German forces on the Western Front). On June 5, 1944, he received a message from Hans Speidel at Rommel's headquarters that the Fifteenth Army had been put on alert. Zimmermann declined to put the Seventh Army (which was defending Normandy) on alert 'because of the weather'. The next day, June 6, 1944, became etched into history when Allied forces stormed the beaches in Normandy on D-Day. He was promoted to Chief of the Command Department of OB West in the fall of 1944 and remained in that job until the end of the war. He was promoted to major general on December 1, 1944, and to lieutenant general on May 1, 1945 (eight days before the surrender). After the war, he was captured and remained a prisoner until 1947. After his release, he published a handful of books about World War II. He died in Bonn in 1963. More by this mapmaker...
Condition
Very good. Light wear along original fold lines. Verso repairs to fold separations.
References
Hoover Institution Poster GE 141.