The cartoon depicts Hitler poaching a deer labeled "Austrian Integrity" despite a sign saying it is "Strictly Preserved". Mussolini is depicted lazily encouraging Hitler's actions. The cartoon warns that Hitler intends to violate Austria's independence through violent expansionism, threatening the terms set by the Treaty of Versailles, if other nations do not intervene.

1. Drawn by the British cartoonist Bernard
Partridge for the satirical magazine Punch
in February 1938.
The deer is labelled ‘Austrian Integrity’
and the sign says ‘Strictly Preserved’.

2. What is the message of this cartoon?

3. To do this question, you
need first to borrow two
concepts from English:
Denotation
(what you see)
Connotation
(how it affects its audience)
Drawn by the British cartoonist Bernard
Partridge for the satirical magazine Punch
in February 1938.
The deer is labelled ‘Austrian Integrity’
and the sign says ‘Strictly Preserved’.

4. Hitler as a poacher, stealing a
deer labelled ‘Austrian Integrity’.
Poaching has connotations of
crime and cruelty – Hitler is shown
as a ‘bad man’.
Denotation
Connotation
Meaning
Hitler is stealing Austria’s integrity
(= independence/freedom).
Drawn by the British cartoonist Bernard
Partridge for the satirical magazine Punch
in February 1938.
The deer is labelled ‘Austrian Integrity’
and the sign says ‘Strictly Preserved’.

5. A sign stating: ‘Strictly
preserved’.
Hitler is committing an illegal act.
Denotation
Connotation
Drawn by the British cartoonist Bernard
Partridge for the satirical magazine Punch
in February 1938.
The deer is labelled ‘Austrian Integrity’
and the sign says ‘Strictly Preserved’.
Meaning
Anschluss was forbidden by the
Treaty of Versailles, but Hitler was
breaking the terms of the Treaty.

6. Hitler carries a gun.
The gun represents German
militarism, violence and
expansionism.
Denotation
Connotation
Drawn by the British cartoonist Bernard
Partridge for the satirical magazine Punch
in February 1938.
The deer is labelled ‘Austrian Integrity’
and the sign says ‘Strictly Preserved’.
Meaning
Hitler is stealing Austria’s integrity
by force

7. The gamekeeper (who looks like
Mussolini) lounges against the rock,
waving Hitler on.
It is a lazy, ‘do-nothing’ pose, and
the gesture is one of
encouragement.
Denotation
Connotation
Drawn by the British cartoonist Bernard
Partridge for the satirical magazine Punch
in February 1938.
The deer is labelled ‘Austrian Integrity’
and the sign says ‘Strictly Preserved’.
Meaning
Mussolini (who stopped Hitler in
1934) is allowing – even
encouraging – Hitler.

8. Austria is represented as a deer.
Deer as beautiful, but vulnerable.
(Although Austria was in fact a
authoritarian, right-wing state.)
Denotation
Connotation
Drawn by the British cartoonist Bernard
Partridge for the satirical magazine Punch
in February 1938.
The deer is labelled ‘Austrian Integrity’
and the sign says ‘Strictly Preserved’.
Meaning
Note how cartoonist misrepresents
Austria (as delicate and vulnerable)
in order to make Hitler look worse –
i.e. this is a biased source.

9. Finally, always remember
to look at:
Origin
(who drew it)
Date
(when it was published)
Drawn by the British cartoonist Bernard
Partridge for the satirical magazine Punch
in February 1938.
The deer is labelled ‘Austrian Integrity’
and the sign says ‘Strictly Preserved’.

10. Drawn by the British cartoonist Bernard
Partridge for the satirical magazine Punch
in February 1938.
The British cartoonist Bernard
Partridge.
Partridge, as many British
people, was alarmed by Hitler’s
expansionism.
Origin
Details
Significance
Partridge is warning people of
Hitler’s violent intentions; this is an
anti-appeasement cartoon saying
‘why isn’t someone stopping him?’
The deer is labelled ‘Austrian Integrity’
and the sign says ‘Strictly Preserved’.

11. Drawn by the British cartoonist Bernard
Partridge for the satirical magazine Punch
in February 1938.
February 1938.
A month before Anschluss, as the
crisis was developing.
Date
Details
Significance
Partridge is predicting (and
condemning) the Anschluss if
nothing is done to stop Hitler.
The deer is labelled ‘Austrian Integrity’
and the sign says ‘Strictly Preserved’.