Category:Hurra! Ein Kriegsbilderbuch

English: Hurra! Ein Kriegs-Bilderbuch ('Hooray! A war picture book') is a children's picture book with verses and colour illustrations by (Max) Herbert Rikli, a Bern based illustrator born i Atlantic City 1880, died in Hilterfingen 1939. The book was published in Stuttgart, Germany in 1915. The text is in German and Fraktur (German Blackletter) typeface. Kline Bookseller: Illustrated with numerous color illustrations, "Hurrah!" tells the story of a young German boy's dream in the early stages of WWI.

Story and illustrations

Hurra! represents the German side of the patriotic nationalist war propaganda of World War I, "The Great War" between the Central Powers (mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire) and the Allied Powers (mainly Russia, France and the British Empire) 1914 – 1918.

In the story it's Christmas and the little German boy Willi goes to bed. Inspired by the talk about the ongoing war, a picture book on animals and his toy weapons, uniform and soldiers, the boy dreams of being a brave soldier himself. In his dream little Willi (kleine Willi), accompanied by his dog Bussi, is protecting the boarders of Germany and attacking the enemy abroad. The boy, and his Austrian friend Franzl (der Franzl), are defeating – and killing – French, Russian, Serbian and English enemies, mostly depicted as small soldiers helped by animals.

The drawings are colorful and child-friendly. Willi is drawn as a toddler with rosy cheeks wearing the uniform of the German Imperial Army (with spiked Pickelhaube helmet), while Franzl is wearing the one of the Austro-Hungarian Army (with peaked service cap). They are represented by the black, white and red flag of the German Empire and the black and yellow flag of the Habsburg Monarchy (Austrian Merchant Ensign).

The boys happily win the war before Willi shouts out "Hooray!" and wakes up. His mother is laughing and the morning sun is smiling.