Caricature map of Europe, 1914  Nov 20 2009

Britain is an militaristic lion with a Roman Imperial italic-type helmet. It sits upon a mound of riches gathered from its Empire.

Drawn by Keith Thompson...prints are available if you like. (thx, zoe)

Thompson's maps may have been influenced by this 1870 map of Europe. (thx, mark)

Like a shotgun full of snow  Aug 13 2009

Avalanches were used as weapons in World War I.

Some unknown person got the idea that avalanches could make a highly effective weapon. The avalanche war had begun. Avalanches could be started and even directed by just bombing a mountain. History has not yet calculated the exact number of deaths. Deaths have been estimated as high as 40,000 on each fighting side.

Scans of an issue of a magazine  Nov 06 2006

Scans of an issue of a magazine produced by inmates of a German POW camp during WWI. (via bb)

Dazzle ships  Apr 25 2006

Some photos and sketches of WWI ships painted with "Razzle Dazzle" camouflage. "The primary goal of dazzle painting [which took visual cues from cubism] was to confuse the U-boat commander who was trying to observe the course and speed of his target." (via cf)