Business As Usual at the Old Stand
9/4/1939
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The Athenia became the first ship sunk in the war between Britain and Germany. It was attacked by a German submarine off the coast of Scotland while carrying over a thousand passengers and crew members. Most of the passengers were Canadian or American citizens, along with European Jewish refugees. Because the Athenia carried no weapons or ammunition, its sinking was a violation of international agreements.
By showing Hitler saluting in the foreground, this cartoon assigns guilt to the Germans and recalls the World War I German U-boat campaign. At the time of the sinking of the Athenia, many Americans remained isolationist in outlook. By drawing parallels between the current conflict and World War I, Berryman urged Americans to recognize the growing danger of the Nazis.
This cartoon was drawn by Clifford Berryman, one of Washington, DC's best-known cartoonists in the early to mid-1900s. Berryman drew for the Washington Post and Evening Star newspapers. His cartoons touched on a variety of subjects including politics, elections, and both World Wars.
This cartoon is featured in America and the World: Foreign Affairs in Political Cartoons, 1898–1940, a free PDF book from the Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives.
By showing Hitler saluting in the foreground, this cartoon assigns guilt to the Germans and recalls the World War I German U-boat campaign. At the time of the sinking of the Athenia, many Americans remained isolationist in outlook. By drawing parallels between the current conflict and World War I, Berryman urged Americans to recognize the growing danger of the Nazis.
This cartoon was drawn by Clifford Berryman, one of Washington, DC's best-known cartoonists in the early to mid-1900s. Berryman drew for the Washington Post and Evening Star newspapers. His cartoons touched on a variety of subjects including politics, elections, and both World Wars.
This cartoon is featured in America and the World: Foreign Affairs in Political Cartoons, 1898–1940, a free PDF book from the Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Senate .
National Archives Identifier: 6012201
Full Citation: Cartoon Y-034; Business As Usual at the Old Stand; 9/4/1939; Berryman Political Cartoon Collection, 1896-1949; Records of the U.S. Senate , Record Group 46 ; National Archives Building, Washington DC, 20408. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/business-usual-old-stand, April 28, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.