By 1917, paper was in extremely short supply and normally limited to official publications. But German military and governmental authorities provided raw paper to some popular magazines so that these periodicals could continue to publish – just so long as they continued to support the war effort whole-heartedly.  The provision of paper offers evidence that the military authorities saw these magazines as crucial to keeping up the morale of the home front.  

In this illustration from a 1917 issue of Simplicissimus titled “reinforcement,” somber soldiers march to the front with grim determination. The men’s eyes are hidden by the new steel helmets that were first issued in 1916. But the soldiers’ upright posture and rigid jawlines clearly show their determination. This is a starkly different style of image from those showing lighthearted scenes of easy victory from 1914. The backdrop here is gloomy resolution: this humor magazine recasts the severe manpower shortage of 1917 as an image of unflinching resolve.

The illustration is accompanied by a war poem written by a soldier.