K-138

THE LANDING OF INDIAN AND AFRICAN TROOPS AT MARSEILLES

(Indische Ttruppenschau in Marseille)

1914 Cast bronze medal, 58.4mm, 67.75g, Frankenhuis 1520.

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Obverse: Tall English "Tommy" urging a tiny Indian elephant. In border, "All right — Weiler zum Kriegsschauplatz" (All right, forward to the fighting front).

Reverse: Triumphal arch on the shore festooned with garlands, elephant heads, and topped with a strutting rooster is inscribed, "Vive les Anglais" (Long live the English) and "Nous sommes sauvês 1914" (We are saved). Walking below the triumphal arch is an Indian holding a flag inscribed, "Grande attraction des Indiens —Marseilles" (Grand performance of the Indians at Marseilles). K-G found at base of posts.

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This piece is also known in the following composition and size:

• 58mm Blackened cast iron

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This is Goetz' first racially motivated attack on allied use of colonial troops in Europe. His anger intensifies later with French colonial occupation troops in the Rhineland.

Goetz made five mistakes in using the French language and the text on the reverse should read; VIVENT instead of VIVE; SAUVÉS instead of SAUVES; GRANDE instead of GRAND; INDIENS instead of INDIERS; and finally, MARSEILLE instead of MARSEILLES.