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Description
‘Zur grossen English-Französichen Niederlage in Mazedonien’ (‘the Great Defeate of the English and French in Macedonia’)
Biography Adolf Reich
This painting by Adolf Reich, one of his first works as regiments-painter, was printed on a full page in the ‘Österreichs Illustrierte Zeitung’, a weekly magazine based in Vienna. Publication date: 30 January 1916, page 19.
It depicts the fleeing English and French troops in World War I in Macedonia.
Left: cover of ‘Österreichs Illustrierte Zeichnung’ of 30 January 1916.
Right: ‘Zur grossen English-Französichen Niederlage in Mazedonien’ by Reich, on page 19.
The text below the depiction reads: ‘Am 12. Dezember 1915 wurde von den bulgarischen Armeen der letzte feindliche Mann nach dem Kämpfen an den Ufern des Dorian- und Ochridasees vom mazedonischen Boden vertrieben‘ (‘At 12 December 1915, after the battles at the Dorian- and Ochridalakes, the Bulgarian army chased the last enemy away from Macedonian ground’.
More depictions by Adolf Reich in ‘Österreichs Illustrierte Zeitung’ (digitalised)
31 January 1915, cover of the ‘Österreichs Illustrierte Zeitung‘
Adolf Reich, ‘Zu den Kämpfen in den Karpathen, -In der Nacht vom 21. zum 22. Dezember von J. nahmen unsere Truppen einen 1035 Meter hohen Berg im Sturme, durch den sie in den Besitz des Ungher Komitates gelangten. Die Russen, die in ihren Verschanzungen schliefen, wurden gefangen genommen und hiebei zwei Maschinengewehre erbeutet‘ (‘The Battle in the Carpathians, -In the night from January 21 to 22 December, our troops stormed a mountain of 1035 meter high, they concured the Ungher Komitate. The Russians who were sleeping in their entrenchments were captured, and two machine guns were conquered’. Printed on the cover of the ‘Österreichs Illustrierte Zeitung‘, 31 January 1915.
4 April 1915, ‘Österreichs Illustrierte Zeitung‘
Adolf Reich, ‘Heldentaten unseres Landwehr-Infanterie Nr. 1‘ (‘Heroic actions of our Landwehr-Division Nr. 1‘), 1915. Full page, published in ‘Österreichs Illustrierte Zeitung‘, 4 April 1915.
12 December 1915, ‘Österreichs Illustrierte Zeitung‘
Adolf Reich, ‘Der Kampf um Görz, -Dalmatiner Landwehr und Lemberger Infanterie warfen am 28. Oktober 1915 die Italiener aus den von ihnen zeitweise besezten Gräben auf der Podgora‘ (‘The Battle of Gorizia, -at 28 October 1915, the Landwehr-corps of Dalmatia and the Infantery of Lemberg drove the Italiens out of the ditches in the accopied Podgora’). Full page, published in ‘Österreichs Illustrierte Zeitung‘, 12 December 1915.
23 January 1916, ‘Österreichs Illustrierte Zeitung‘
Adolf Reich, ‘Erfolgreicher heftiger Sturmangriff eines Truppenteiles der Kövess-Armee gegen die von den Montenegrinern besezte Bobiahöhe am 3. November 1915‘ (’Succesful heavy attack at 3 November 1915, by a section of the Kövess-Army against the Montenegrins, who occupied the Bobia-Heights’).
Full page, published in ‘Österreichs Illustrierte Zeitung‘, 23 January 1916.
20 February 1916, ‘Österreichs Illustrierte Zeitung‘
Adolf Reich, ‘Zur heldenmütigen Erstürmung des Lovcen durch unsere tapferen
Truppen am 11. Jänner 1916: Der Angriff auf die ersten montenegrinischen Stellungen in der halben höhe des Lovcen.‘ (‘The heroic storming of Lovcen by our couragious troops at 11 January 1916: the Attack on the first Montenegrian positions at the half-heights of Lovcen’).
Full page, published in ‘Österreichs Illustrierte Zeitung‘, 20 February 1916.
German War Art in the Pentagon
‘Very good, outstanding and brilliant in conception…’
House of Representatives, Committee on Armed Services, Investigation Subcommittee, Washington, D.C. , September 23, 1981
At September 23, 1981, the House of Representatives discussed the transfer to Germany of 6.337 pieces of war art that were seized from the German Government by the United States Army in March 1947. Below some remarkable quotes from the discussion.
George William Whitehurst (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, journalist, professor) about the 6.337 pieces of German war art:
‘They are similar to the military works of art hanging on our own committee and subcommittee rooms. Part of the German collection is on display in the Pentagon…. This is war art, showing the life of German military personnel under the best and the worst conditions, as indeed soldiers, sailors, and airmen of all nations experienced it… ‘Asked by the Chairman about the value of the art: ‘Some of it is very, very good. The large canvas in my office is an outstanding work of art’.
Marylou Gjernes, Army Art Curator, U.S. Army Center of Military History, Department of the Army:
‘..The Air Force similarly favors retention of German war art integral to its museum operations at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and a small exhibit of paintings that they have in the Pentagon.’…. ‘Some of the paintings and drawings are brilliant in conception and execution. They show by their artistry, color and mood, the spirit of combat, and the desolation, destruction and tragedy of war. There are illustrations of the despair and boredom of the troops…They are a testament to the sensitivity of the artist regardless of nationality. The collection ..is utilized in ongoing exhibition programs and displays to provide a unique view of World War II that supplements and supports the written history of the conflict..’
Extreme scarce work of art
Art works considered as overt propaganda were massively destroyed
In accordance with the Potsdam Agreement of August 1945, the Allied Control Council laws and military government regulations, all collections of works of art related or dedicated to the perpetuation of German militarism or Nazism, were destroyed. Thousands of paintings were considered of ‘no value’ and burned. Around 8,722 artworks were shipped to military deposits in the U.S. In 1986 the largest part was returned to Germany, with the exception of 200 paintings which were considered as overt propaganda: depictions of German Soldiers, war sceneries, swastika’s and portraits of Nazi leaders.
| – condition | : II |
| – size | : 76 x 59 cm, unframed 57 x 41 cm |
| – signed | : right, under |
| – type | : gouache on paper |
| – misc. | : professional reframed; museum-glass; acid free cardboard on the back |
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