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Onion-whittling by Heath Robinson
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Onion-whittling by Heath Robinson
More underhand ideas from the Germans to defeat their British foe imagined by William Heath Robinson cartoon. The Germans utilise biological weapons; row of onions. The relentless scraping reduces the British line to tears. Thankfully, hankies are on hand to counter this devilish new tactic. Date: 1915
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Media ID 14141595
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Amusing Bayonets Biological Breaches Convention Crying Defeat Denied Germans Hague Heath Ideas Onion Onions Robinson Tactic Tears Trench Trenches Hankies Weapons Whittling
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In the chaotic and brutal landscape of the Western Front during World War I, the relentless battle between the British and German forces continued to escalate with unconventional tactics. In this humorous and satirical cartoon by renowned British illustrator, William Heath Robinson, titled "Onion-whittling," the Germans are depicted employing a new and underhand strategy to defeat their British foe. The scene is set in a trench, where a row of onions is being meticulously whittled down by unseen German hands. The onions, once reduced to tears, are being funneled towards the British line, causing a barrage of tears to rain down upon the unsuspecting soldiers. The British soldiers, caught off guard by this unexpected assault, are shown reaching for their hankies to wipe away the tears. The use of onions as a biological weapon is a clear violation of the Hague Convention, which had denied the use of such tactics in warfare. This cartoon, published in 1915, highlights the absurdity and underhanded nature of the war and the desperate measures taken by both sides to gain an advantage. Heath Robinson's whimsical and humorous style adds a layer of levity to the grim reality of the trenches, making this a poignant and thought-provoking reminder of the strange and surreal nature of war. The image of soldiers crying over onions, rather than the horrors of the battlefield, is a testament to the power of humor to help us cope with the unimaginable.
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