War to save German culture

"War to save German Culture" was subtitled 'Goethe, Beethoven, Wagner - in humble chorus - "How, Oh Saviour Krupp, how can we ever thank thee!"'. Will Dyson has depicted the figure of Krupp seated on a throne that consists of a howitzer and another field gun. Kneeling before him are the figures of significant men of German culture: Goethe, Beethoven and Wagner. Beside them, on the left, is a floral wreath, with notes of sympathy from Heine and Schiller attached to it. Behind the figure of Krupp are columns and a burning city and beside him are a pile of books, with titles 'Pay Book', 'Secret Service Ledger' and 'Diplomatic Petty Cash' on their spines. Gustav Krupp (1870- 1950) was a German diplomat who married Bertha Krupp, daughter of Freidrich Alfred Krupp, the arms manufacturer. Gustav Krupp took over running the company and by the beginning of the First World War had gained the monopoly on German arms manufacture. He manufactured a high angle heavy calibre howitzer, called 'Big Bertha' named after his wife. Johan Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832) was a German poet, novelist, playwright, philosopher and courtier. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was a German composer of classical music. Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883) was a German composer, conductor and music theorist. Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) was a German poet while Freidrich von Schiller (1759-1805) was a German poet, philosopher, historian and dramatist. The caricature is number 14 of a series of 20 produced by Dyson and illustrated in the publications 'Will Dyson's war cartoons' (1916) and 'Kultur Cartoons' (1915), expressing his strong anti-German sentiment and anger at the vanity and arrogance of the German military during the First World War. Will Dyson was the first Australian official war artist to visit the front during the First World War, travelling to France in December 1916, remaining there until May 1917, making records of the Australian involvement in the war. He was formally appointed as an official war artist, attached to the AIF, in May 1917, working in France and London throughout the war. His commission was terminated in March 1920.