Striking satirical Russian propaganda poster dating from the early months of World War One: The Kaiser’s Russian “nightmare”

Bred Vil’gel’ma [The Ravings of Wilhelm / Wilhelm’s Nightmare] 

Laid on linen backing with additional borders extending beyond poster sheet all round: 46 x 67.2 cms. Printed colours.

A scarce Russian poster dating from the first weeks of the war and approved by the Moscow military censors on 23^rd October 1914. It vividly caricatures the German Kaiser’s nightmarish dreams about the advance of the much-feared Cossack cavalry on Germany’s Eastern Front. The design is very much in the style & format of the traditional satirical Russian broadsheet print or lubok, featuring a large colourful image of the terrified Wilhelm waking up from his nightmare to observe a lance-bearing Cossack cavalryman galloping towards his gaping mouth across the map of the European Continent that decorates his bedspread.

The accompanying four stanza poem by R Mech roughly translates as follows:

Wilhelm decided to make war

Wilhelm did not expect humiliation

“I don’t care a fig for anyone at all (lit : I spit on everyone)

I will conquer them all quickly.

I alone will capture towns

I will turn the world into a trench”

But now instead of this

They’ve got him by the neck.

When the dark of night falls

He has a terrible dream

That a Don cossack is riding

Towards him with a terrible lance.

On his brow is cold sweat

His eyes are goggling in fear.

“The cossack’s going to jump into my mouth!”

Wilhelm is heard to cry…