GOETZ: Opus 274 new arrival

cacheman

This arrived today with several others from Germany.

CODE NAPOLEON (Wustlinge am Rhein) 1920, Cast AE, 58mm,

Criticizes the French justice on the Rhine for their occupation troops. This medal implies that the German women are free objects to be hunted by colonial troops of the French. German residences are converted into brothels by French military authorities. Inscription on the obverse, “French Court ruling. Code Napoleon, 1920.” Inscription on the reverse “Leechers at the Rhine.” Inscription on roof of house on right “Brothel for Negros.” Inscription on second house from left, above “Brothel”, below “City Hall.”

historygeek

The image of the black French Colonial trooper raping the German woman was a common German propaganda theme. In fact I once read that a German officer on the western front wrote home saying that Turkish troops were doing the same, but this officer is confusing the Turks, German allies, for blacks. Confusing races and names of colonies were just the European mentality at the time, after all their JUST brown, inferior people. Most colonial troops were not used for combat, but in the labour corps as they freed up European men for the front. But, as the medal implies the Allies did use more brothels than the Germans and a historian wrote, "the soldiers queued in line for brothels, as if they were queuing for the latrine”.




By the way, there are two types of history: diplomatic and social. Social history is somewhat new and is simular to the stuff I wrote above. Diplomatic history is the traditional way of teaching it, you know the famous "War of Arrows".

1jester

Excellent medal, Cacheman!

I see the soldiers depicted are not above taking little girls too.

cosmicdebris

Anoter great addition to the herd.

SYRACUSIAN

Truly an exceptional medal, that for some reason appealed to me. There's no doubt that historygeek is right in his post regarding the excessive use of German propaganda, but noone can tell what really happened unless he was there (Jester, don't be so naive ). I see a third brothel on the reverse (first house from the left) for Moroccans only, as well as a guy getting kicked out from the "negro's brothel" for not having enough money to satisfy his needs I guess Nice !

1jester

Yeah, you've gotta watch out for all that propoganda everywhere.

I find the imagery of the knife "sticking it" to the Germans quite striking!

theboz11

Awesome Piece

oldshep

Pretty powerful piece - thanks to historygeek for the history perspective, It seems obvious that this was something Goetz really felt strongly about. Loaded with symbolism.
Good addition to your artist collection.
Shep

elverno

<< <i>Yeah, you've gotta watch out for all that propoganda everywhere >>



Of course you can argue that medals are first and foremost, propoganda. They're great advertising; durable, portable, relatively cheap and in times before television one of the most effective ways to make your point.

Another great medal in a world-class Goetz collection!

Askari

It was considered unseemly by all the European nations to use "third world" troops to fight Europeans. The British, for instance, were upset at the German East African commander for arming and training his askari to fight against them; it was much later in the war that they decided to do the same. The French specifically assigned African troops to occupy the Saar as an insult to the Germans. These troopers had European officers and, usually, NCOs and the troops learned very quickly that the French authorities would turn a blind eye to their misdeeds against the German populace.

0john0

Man that Goetz has a thing for phallic symbols, huh.
Another great medal Cacheman.

historygeek

I should have noted the year... But 11:44 PM is late for me.