The cartoon depicts fascist soldiers mocking discussions at the League of Nations about the situation in Spain while they relax after conquering territory. One soldier dismisses the idea that nations could unite for peace, despite the fascists having united for war. The cartoon, published in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, criticizes the League's failure to take action against fascist aggression in Spain through its inability to unite its members.

1. Fascist soldiers read a
newspaper with the headline:
‘SPAIN – League Discussions.‘
One says: ‘The League! Pah!
Fancy suggesting nations could
unite for PEACE.’
This cartoon by the British
cartoonist David Low, appeared
in the Evening Standard
newspaper, 14 December 1936.

2. What is the message of this cartoon?

3. Fascist soldiers read a
newspaper with the headline:
‘SPAIN – League Discussions.‘
One says: ‘The League! Pah!
Fancy suggesting nations could
unite for PEACE.’
To do this question, you
need first to borrow two
concepts from English:
Denotation
(what you see)
Connotation
(how it affects its audience)
This cartoon by the British
cartoonist David Low, appeared
in the Evening Standard
newspaper, 14 December 1936.

4. Denotation
Soldiers rest having captured a
town.
Fascist soldiers read a
newspaper with the headline:
‘SPAIN – League Discussions.‘
One says: ‘The League! Pah!
Fancy suggesting nations could
unite for PEACE.’
Connotation
They wear the uniforms of
German, Italian and Spanish
fascists.
Meaning
German, Italian and Spanish
fascists have united to
conquer Spain.
This cartoon by the British
cartoonist David Low, appeared
in the Evening Standard
newspaper, 14 December 1936.

5. Denotation
In the background there is a
landscape of destruction.
Fascist soldiers read a
newspaper with the headline:
‘SPAIN – League Discussions.‘
One says: ‘The League! Pah!
Fancy suggesting nations could
unite for PEACE.’
Connotation
They are winning.
Meaning
Spain is falling to a fascist war
of aggression.
This cartoon by the British
cartoonist David Low, appeared
in the Evening Standard
newspaper, 14 December 1936.

6. Denotation
Fascist soldiers read a
newspaper with the headline:
‘SPAIN – League Discussions.‘
One says: ‘The League! Pah!
Fancy suggesting nations could
unite for PEACE.’
The soldiers are reading a
newspaper headline: ‘Spain –
League Discussions.’
Connotation
The League disapproved of the
fascist involvement in Spain.
Meaning
But it is not DOING anything –
only talking (as usual); the
members cannot agree on a
course of ACTION.
This cartoon by the British
cartoonist David Low, appeared
in the Evening Standard
newspaper, 14 December 1936.

7. Denotation
One soldier mocks the idea that
nations could unite for peace.
Fascist soldiers read a
newspaper with the headline:
‘SPAIN – League Discussions.‘
One says: ‘The League! Pah!
Fancy suggesting nations could
unite for PEACE.’
Connotation
The irony is that they have united
for war.
Meaning
The League – meant to bring
collective security – has failed to
unite to stop the aggressors.
This cartoon by the British
cartoonist David Low, appeared
in the Evening Standard
newspaper, 14 December 1936.

8. Finally, always remember
to look at:
Fascist soldiers read a
newspaper with the headline:
‘SPAIN – League Discussions.‘
One says: ‘The League! Pah!
Fancy suggesting nations could
unite for PEACE.’
Origin
(who drew it)
Date
(when it was published)
This cartoon by the British
cartoonist David Low, appeared
in the Evening Standard
newspaper, 14 December 1936.

9. Origin
The British cartoonist David
Low.
Fascist soldiers read a
newspaper with the headline:
‘SPAIN – League Discussions.‘
One says: ‘The League! Pah!
Fancy suggesting nations could
unite for PEACE.’
Details
Low supported the League, hated
the fascists, and wanted the
League to stand up to them.
Significance
This cartoon echoes the
despair of people like Low at
the failure of the League to act.
This cartoon by the British
cartoonist David Low, appeared
in the Evening Standard
newspaper, 14 December 1936.

10. Date
14 December 1936.
Fascist soldiers read a
newspaper with the headline:
‘SPAIN – League Discussions.‘
One says: ‘The League! Pah!
Fancy suggesting nations could
unite for PEACE.’
Details
In the middle of the Spanish civil
war, after Germany and Italy had
intervened.
Significance
People could see the fascist
powers were using Spain as a
dress rehearsal for war; they
were depressed that the
League could not stop them.
This cartoon by the British
cartoonist David Low, appeared
in the Evening Standard
newspaper, 14 December 1936.