1-150-667 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'Injured Innocence', 1872. Germany reels at the headline in the newspaper confirming the amount of money that France has raised to pay off her war indemnity. This relates to France's unsuccessful war against Prussia. In the background are the ghouls representing communism, Napoleon III and Germany. France had been charged with making a massive payment to Prussia, but the terms demanded by the newly unified Germany were considered harsh. They included an agreement that France pay a war indemnity of some £200 million. However, subscriptions were received in July 1872 of £1,720 million in response to a French Loan campaign. Apparently, Germany was disappointed at the speed with which France was able to raise the funds and this emptying of the purses of the French citizens is reflected in this cartoon. From Punch, or the London Charivari, August 10, 1872.