{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O124323"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O124323/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O124323","accessionNumber":"E.205-2006","objectType":"Poster","titles":[{"title":"An Meine Volker","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This poster is a historic document, announcing on 23 May 1915 the Declaration of War by Italy against the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1915. Signed by the Hapsburg Emperor Franz Josef (1830-1916), ruler of Austria-Hungary since 1867, it demonstrates the power of the poster to communicate vital information at times of crisis. Pasted up in this large format it would have conveyed an unequivocal message. This official poster exists in many forms.","physicalDescription":"Poster","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"K.K. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Wien","id":"A17620"},"association":{"text":"printer","id":"x30811"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lithograph on paper","categories":[{"text":"Propaganda","id":"THES48902"},{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Politics","id":"THES48908"},{"text":"Images Online","id":"THES48937"},{"text":"Posters","id":"THES252963"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLC (VA)","id":"THES49171"},"free":"","case":"GG","shelf":"140","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"poster","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Vienna (city)","id":"x29246"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"23/05/1915","earliest":"1915-05-23","latest":"1915-05-23"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Voggenauer, in memory of his father Josef Voggenauer","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"124.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"94.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Seine kaiserlich und königlich Apostolische Majestät haben das nachstehende Allerhochste Handschreiben Allergnädigst zu erlassen geruht://<br>\r\nLieber Graf Stürgkh!// Ich beauftrage Sie, das angeschlossene Manifest an Meine Völker zur allgemeinen Verlautbarung zu bringen.// Wien, am 23.Mai 1915// Franz Joseph m. p.// Stürgkh m. p.//<br>\r\nAn Meine Völker!//<br>\r\nDer König von Italien hat Mir den Krieg erklärt./<br>\r\nEin Treubruch, dessengleichen die Geschichte nicht kennt, ist von dem Königreiche Italien an seinen beiden Verbündeten begangen worden./<br>\r\nNach einem Bündnis von mehr als dreißigjähriger Dauer, während dessen es seinen Territorialbesitz mehren und sich zu ungeahnter Blüte entfalten / konnte, hat Uns Italien in der Stunde der Gefahr verlassen und ist mit fliegenden Fahnen in das Lager Unserer Feinde übergegangen./<br>\r\nWir haben Italien nicht bedroht, sein Ansehen nicht geschmälert, seine Ehre und seine Interessen nicht angetastet; Wir haben Unseren Bündnispflichten/ stets getreu entsprochen und ihn Unseren Schirm gewährt, als es ins Feld zog./<br>\r\nWir haben mehr getan: Als Italien seine gegehrlichen Blicke über Unsere Grenzen sandte, waren Wir, um das Bundesverhältnis und den Frieden/ zu erhalten, zu großen und schnerzlichen Opfern entschlossen, zu Opfern, die Unserem väterlichen Herzen besonders nahe gingen./<br>\r\nAber Italiens Begehrlichkeit, das den Moment nützen zu sollen glaubte, war nicht zu stillen./<br>\r\nUnd so muß sich das Schicksal vollziehen./<br>\r\nDem mächtigen Feinde im Norden haben in zehnmonatlichem gigantischen Ringen und in treuester Waffenbrüderschaft mit den Heeren Meines erlauchten/ Verbündeten Meine Armeen siegreich Stand gehalten./<br>\r\nDer neue heimtückische Feind im Süden ist ihnen kein neuer Gegner./<br>\r\nDie großen Erinnerungen an Novara, Mortara, Custozza und Lissa, die den Stolz Meiner Jugend bilden, und der Geist Radetzkys, Erzherzog/ Albrechts und Tegetthoffs, der in Meiner Land- und Seemacht fortlebt, bürgen mir dafür, daß Wir auch gegen Süden hin die Grenze der Monarchie erfolgreich/ verteidigen werden./<br>\r\nIch grüße Meine kampfbewährten, siegerprobten Truppen, Ich vertraue auf sie und ihre Führer! Ich vertraue auf Meine Völker, deren beispiel=/ losem Opfermute Mein innigster väterlicher Dank gebührt./<br>\r\nDen Allmächtigen bitte Ich, daß er Unsere Fahnen segne und Unsere gerechte Sache in seine gnädige Obhut nehme.//<br>\r\nWien, am 23. Mai 1915.// Franz Joseph m.p.// Stürgkh, m. p.//<br>\r\nDies wird hiermit zur allgemeinen Kennnis gebracht./ Wien, am 23. Mai 1915./ Der k.k. Statthalter im Erzherzogtume Österreich unter der Enns:/ Bienerth m.p.<br><br>","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"'[...]The King of Italy has declared war on me.\r\nPerfidy whose like history does not know was committed by the Kingdom of Italy against both allies.  After an alliance of more than thirty years' duration, during which it was able to increase its territorial possessions and develop itself to an un-thought of flourishing condition, Italy abandoned us in our hour of danger and went over with flying colours into the camp of our enemies.\r\nWe did not menace Italy; did not curtail her authority; did not attack her honour or interests.  We always responded loyally to the duties of our alliance and afforded her our protection - then she took the field.\r\nWe have done more.  When Italy directed covetous glances across our frontier we, in order to maintain peace and our alliance relation, were resolved on great and painful sacrifices which particularly grieved our paternal heart.  But the covetousness of Italy, which believed the moment should be used, was not to be appeased, so fate must be accommodated.\r\nMy armies have victoriously withstood mighty armies in the north in ten months of this gigantic conflict in most loyal comradeship of arms with our illustrious ally.  A new and treacherous enemy in the south is to you no new enemy.\r\nGreat memories of Novara, Mortaro, and Lissa, which constituted the pride of my youth; the spirit of Radetzky, Archduke Albrecht, and Tegetthoff, which continues to live in my land and sea forces, guarantee that in the south also we shall successfully defend the frontiers of the monarchy.\r\nI salute my battle-tried troops, who are inured to victory.  I rely on them and their leaders.  I rely on my people for whose unexampled spirit of sacrifice my most paternal thanks are due.  I pray the Almighty to bless our colours and take tinder His gracious protection our just cause.[...]'<br><br>","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"The declaration of war by Italy against Austria came out of the abandonment by Italy of its policy of neutrality in the build up to the outbreak of the 1st World War. Italy entered the war against the Central Powers (Germany, Austro-Hungary and their associated Empires), signing up to a secret treaty with the Entente Powers (France, the United Kingdom, Russia and their associated empires and dependencies) in April 1915. This treaty promised sizeable territorial gains for Italy were she to join the Entente cause. Given Italy's earlier alliance with Germany and Austro-Hungary, an indignant reaction from both countries was to be expected.","briefDescription":"Austrian declaration of war, printed by the K.K. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Vienna, 1915","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.205-2006"],"accessionNumberNum":"205","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2006,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2006-05-25","availableToBook":false}}