German Our Word, God Our Refuge
1915
Franz Wacik created this striking 1915 poster during the heat of World War I, blending medieval imagery with fierce nationalism. The scene depicts armored knights kneeling in devotion, holding banners bearing the black eagle—a powerful symbol of Germanic and Austrian heritage—while a dramatic fortress looms in the background. The slogan at the bottom, 'Deutsch unser Wort, Gott unser Hort' (German is our word, God is our refuge), was a popular patriotic motto meant to rally troops by connecting them to a glorious, chivalric past. It’s a fascinating piece of propaganda that uses the romance of the Middle Ages to bolster morale in the trenches.
- Technique
- Lithograph/Poster
- Material
- Paper