Prise de Jerusalem: La Ville Sainte est Arrachee aux Turcs – Jerusalem has been captured, the Holy City snatched from the Turks, [C. 1917]. French. Large poster issued to mark the capture of Jerusalem by the British on 9 December 1917. At its top, a panoramic photograph of Jerusalem and additional photographs of Jerusalem and of General Allenby, and beneath it, text about the capture of the city from the Ottoman army (see below). (This poster was printed simultaneously in several languages, including English, Spanish, and German).
The French text in the center of the poster (English translation):
“Jerusalem, by the British forces, is one of the decisive events of the war. For centuries, the Holy City groaned under the oppression of the Turks, who tyrannized over Christians and Jews, and wronged Muslims through the cruel persecution of the Arabs. From the moment the Sultan became, in effect, a vassal of the German Emperor, the situation worsened, and the interests of the people in the Land of Israel were mercilessly sacrificed to the demands of German military and economic policy. The British forces entered Jerusalem not as conquerors, but as liberators, and their arrival was welcomed with joy by Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike. In this historic event, Jerusalem was delivered from centuries-old tyranny, and a new era of prosperity was opened for the intelligent and manly races inhabiting the country. The capture of Jerusalem is the culmination of a rapid and brilliant campaign, preceded by the capture of Beersheba, Gaza, and Jaffa. The operations were carried out under the most difficult conditions, and the oppressive heat, the choking dust, combined with rain that turned the roads, fields, and paths into a sea of slippery mud, caused great suffering to soldiers accustomed to a wholly different climate. Nevertheless, all difficulties were overcome with unwavering perseverance, and the Turks suffered the most crushing defeat yet inflicted upon their forces.
Our photographs represent: (1) panoramic view of Jerusalem; (2) General Sir Edmund Allenby, commander of the British forces in the Land of Israel; (3) view of the southern walls of Jerusalem, taken from the lower part of the Valley of Jehoshaphat, showing on the right the south-eastern corner of the walls and the Mosque of Omar; (4) view of the northern wall, with the dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on the right and the dome of the Mosque of Omar on the left; (5) part of the Citadel and the western wall of Jerusalem, with the road leading from Jaffa Gate through Mount Zion and the Valley of Ephraim.”
Size: 82×57 cm. Mounted on linen for display and preservation. Very good condition.
