Dessins d’un Neutre by Louis Raemaekers – Album containing 21 Postcards Depicting the German Attack on Belgium During World War I. Series No. 2. The cover bears the inscription “Se vend au profit des orphelins de la guerre” (“Sold for the benefit of war orphans”) along with the French flag.
An illustrated postcard album featuring scenes of intense suppression, killing, and sorrow during World War I. Some postcards depict the defeat of Belgium. The album was published in Amsterdam, and the reverse side of each postcard features the French flag. At the beginning of the album, it is noted: “The accounts and proceeds for the war orphans are under the control of the French Consul in Amsterdam.” All postcards are captioned in both English and French.
Background of the Illustrations: Belgium was the first country to be invaded by the German Empire during World War I, becoming a bloody battleground on the Western Front – a fact well depicted in the postcards. Before the war, Belgium was a neutral country, but it lay in the path of Germany’s advance towards France and was therefore invaded with force. Belgium’s steadfast resistance managed to slow the German offensive, buying time for France and Britain to organize and prevent the capture of France. This album expresses France’s solidarity with its neighbor Belgium, which was the first to bear the brunt of the German blow in defending France.
Complete folder size: 16×9 cm. Three postcards are detached. A stain is visible on the upper right part of the cover. The album and postcards are in good condition.
