The cartoon depicts Hitler goose-stepping over the "spineless leaders of democracy" towards his goal of becoming "Boss of the Universe". The first three steps are labeled as "Rearmament", "Rhineland", and "Danzig", representing Hitler's increasing consolidation of power through militarization in violation of treaties. The cartoonist David Low uses this image as a warning that Britain and other countries must confront Hitler to stop his expansion, rather than pursuing appeasement policies.

1. This cartoon by the British cartoonist
David Low appeared in the Evening
Standard newspaper in July 1936.
Hitler goose-steps across the ‘spineless
leaders of democracy’ towards his goal:
’Boss of the Universe’.
The first 3 steps are labelled
‘Rearmament’, ‘Rhineland’ and ‘Danzig’.

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)
Hitler goose-steps across the ‘spineless
leaders of democracy’ towards his goal:
’Boss of the Universe’.
The first 3 steps are labelled
‘Rearmament’, ‘Rhineland’ and ‘Danzig’.
This cartoon by the British cartoonist
David Low appeared in the Evening
Standard newspaper in July 1936.

4. Hitler strides across the
‘spineless leaders of democracy’
thumbing his nose.
Thumbing one’s nose is a sign of
contempt.
Denotation
Connotation
Meaning
Hitler was increasing his
power with utter contempt for
the other countries of the
world.
Hitler goose-steps across the ‘spineless
leaders of democracy’ towards his goal:
’Boss of the Universe’.
The first 3 steps are labelled
‘Rearmament’, ‘Rhineland’ and ‘Danzig’.
This cartoon by the British cartoonist
David Low appeared in the Evening
Standard newspaper in July 1936.

5. Hitler is goose-stepping.
German militarism – the goose-
step was the formal march of the
German army.
Denotation
Connotation
Meaning
Hitler is increasing his power
by force and threat of military
force.
Hitler goose-steps across the ‘spineless
leaders of democracy’ towards his goal:
’Boss of the Universe’.
The first 3 steps are labelled
‘Rearmament’, ‘Rhineland’ and ‘Danzig’.
This cartoon by the British cartoonist
David Low appeared in the Evening
Standard newspaper in July 1936.

6. Hitler is goose-stepping over ‘the
spineless leaders of democracy’
The leaders of the western
democracies are just giving way
to Hitler.
Denotation
Connotation
Meaning
Anger at appeasement and
the need to stand up to Hitler
– who intended to keep on
expanding – are a regular
message of Low’s cartoons.
Hitler goose-steps across the ‘spineless
leaders of democracy’ towards his goal:
’Boss of the Universe’.
The first 3 steps are labelled
‘Rearmament’, ‘Rhineland’ and ‘Danzig’.
This cartoon by the British cartoonist
David Low appeared in the Evening
Standard newspaper in July 1936.

7. Other countries, represented by
children, wait in line to be stolen.
Children are weak, vulnerable,
and need protection.
Denotation
Connotation
Meaning
Hitler will carry on taking more
(this is a common message of
Low cartoons).
Hitler goose-steps across the ‘spineless
leaders of democracy’ towards his goal:
’Boss of the Universe’.
The first 3 steps are labelled
‘Rearmament’, ‘Rhineland’ and ‘Danzig’.
This cartoon by the British cartoonist
David Low appeared in the Evening
Standard newspaper in July 1936.

8. The bed-head reads: ‘Ex French-
British family’.
Family has connotations of
friendship, but also of duty/support.
Denotation
Connotation
Meaning
Britain is betraying/losing her
allies, which she has a duty
to help.
Hitler goose-steps across the ‘spineless
leaders of democracy’ towards his goal:
’Boss of the Universe’.
The first 3 steps are labelled
‘Rearmament’, ‘Rhineland’ and ‘Danzig’.
This cartoon by the British cartoonist
David Low appeared in the Evening
Standard newspaper in July 1936.

9. This cartoon by the British cartoonist
David Low appeared in the Evening
Standard newspaper in July 1936.
The first three steps are taken
towards the ultimate goal: ‘Boss of
the Universe’.
‘Taking steps’ implies conscious
decisions. Low does not know what
Hitler will do next.
Denotation
Connotation
Meaning
Low does not know what Hitler
will do next, but he is sure that
Hitler intends to continue until
he rules the world.
Hitler goose-steps across the ‘spineless
leaders of democracy’ towards his goal:
’Boss of the Universe’.
The first 3 steps are labelled
‘Rearmament’, ‘Rhineland’ and ‘Danzig’.

10. Finally, always remember
to look at:
Origin
(who drew it)
Date
(when it was published)
Hitler goose-steps across the ‘spineless
leaders of democracy’ towards his goal:
’Boss of the Universe’.
The first 3 steps are labelled
‘Rearmament’, ‘Rhineland’ and ‘Danzig’.
This cartoon by the British cartoonist
David Low appeared in the Evening
Standard newspaper in July 1936.

11. This cartoon by the British cartoonist
David Low appeared in the Evening
Standard newspaper in July 1936.
The British cartoonist David
Low, in a British newspaper.
Low hated Hitler and appeasement.
Date
Details
Significance
Low is reflecting the anti-
appeasement standpoint that
Hitler was just humiliating the
appeasers.
Hitler goose-steps across the ‘spineless
leaders of democracy’ towards his goal:
’Boss of the Universe’.
The first 3 steps are labelled
‘Rearmament’, ‘Rhineland’ and ‘Danzig’.

12. This cartoon by the British cartoonist
David Low appeared in the Evening
Standard newspaper in July 1936.
July 1936.
In March 1936, German troops
had re-occupied the Rhineland.
Origin
Details
Significance
Low is warning that Hitler
needed to be confronted, or he
would continue trying to take
over more countries.
Hitler goose-steps across the ‘spineless
leaders of democracy’ towards his goal:
’Boss of the Universe’.
The first 3 steps are labelled
‘Rearmament’, ‘Rhineland’ and ‘Danzig’.