Souvenez-vous! 1914. Rien d’Allemand!!! Des Allemands

Souvenez-vous! 1914. Rien d’Allemand!!! Des Allemands is a French propaganda poster created by E. Lemielle and printed by Imprimerie Chaix in Paris during World War I. The title translates to “Remember! 1914. Nothing German! Nothing from the Germans.” The poster shows Marianne, a well-known symbol of the French Republic, pointing toward a Cathedral as it burns in the background. It was designed to encourage French civilians to boycott German products by reminding them of the destruction caused by the war. The destruction of the cathedral became an important part of French wartime propaganda, with the French using it to portray Germany as a threat to French culture.

This poster shows how designers participate in the public sphere by creating shared messages and encouraging public discussion. The public sphere is a space where people exchange information, discuss public issues, and form opinions about society. Printing helps create these connections by allowing ideas to circulate among wider audiences. Propaganda uses this same process to influence public opinion by framing events from a particular perspective. In this case, the designer uses Marianne, a recognizable symbol of France, alongside a direct political message to connect viewers through a shared sense of French identity.