The Second World War
Illingworth's first cartoon was published in the Daily Mail in November 1939, a few weeks after the declaration of war between Britain and Germany. His cartoons until 1945 primarily deal with the war, the battles and the political conflicts behind them. The 'Battle of Britain', the bombing of Pearl Harbour, the fall of France, the battles in north Africa, Stalingrad and the liberation of Italy and France are events which feature prominently in the cartoons.The purpose of many of the cartoons was to raise the morale of the British public by showing Hitler cowering in fear, and emphasising the battle victories of the Allies. But Illingworth was not afraid to criticise where he thought necessary, especially after losses in the Far East due to inadequate air defences.
The characters of the war are essentially important in the cartoons. Illingworth portrays Hitler, Mussolini and Franco as cowards, France as a prisoner and Churchill as a man of bravery, leading the army into battle. Montgomery, Stalin and Goebbels also feature predominantly in the collection.
Italy
Cartoons referring to the liberation of Rome and the Allies landing at Anzio.
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ILW0729
29 May 1944
29 May 1944
ILW0671
24 January 1944
24 January 1944
France
Cartoons referring to the fall of France in 1940, the Allies' progress across Europe in 1944, and the relationship between Britain and France during the war.
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ILW0084
24 June 1940
24 June 1940
ILW0781
6 September 1944
6 September 1944
ILW0736
13 June 1944
13 June 1944
ILW0793
2 October 1944
2 October 1944
Germany
Cartoons showing the German propaganda machine as well as the effect that bombing had on German industry and morale.
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ILW0647
29 November 1943
29 November 1943
ILW0579
16 June 1943
16 June 1943
ILW0599
3 August 1943
3 August 1943
ILW0538
6 March 1943
6 March 1943
Pearl Harbor
Cartoon discussing attacks on the United States, and predicting revenge on the Japanese and the Germans.
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ILW0319
23 October 1943
23 October 1943
ILW0507
7 December 1942
7 December 1942
The air war
Cartoons showing the successes of the RAF in the war in the air.
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LW0481
14 October 1942
14 October 1942
ILW0305
28 September 1941
28 September 1941
ILW0411
2 May 1942
2 May 1942
The war at sea
Cartoon showing the Allies' use of convoys to protect Atlantic shipping.
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ILW0451
4 August 1942
4 August 1942
The Far East
These cartoons were published following the fall of Singapore.
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ILW0380
28 February 1942
28 February 1942
ILW0376
16 February 1942
16 February 1942
War allies
Cartoons about the Allies, showing co-operation between Britain, the Soviet Union and the United States, the new optimism after the deposing of Mussolini, and Soviet victories in Finland.
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ILW0351
24 December 1941
24 December 1941
ILW0604
13 August 1943
13 August 1943
ILW0741
22 June 1944
22 June 1944
Victory
Cartoons referring to the German victories early in the war, the Allied victories in Berlin and in the far east.
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ILW0450
3 August 1942
3 August 1942
ILW0863
27 February 1945
27 February 1945
ILW0889
17 April 1945
17 April 1945
ILW0960
15 August 1945
15 August 1945
Propaganda
Cartoons referring to the RAF's successful bombing raids against Germany, Goebbels attempts to report positive news during the fighting against the Soviets, and the discovery of the grave of Polish soldiers who had been killed by the Red Army.
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ILW0310
4 October 1941
4 October 1941
ILW0627
22 October 1943
22 October 1943
ILW0560
28 April 1943
28 April 1943
The holocaust
This cartoon was published towards the end of the war in Europe when the scale of the holocaust was becoming apparent.
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ILW0903
8 May 1945
8 May 1945
Summit Meetings
Two cartoons referring to the challenges that lay ahead for the Allies, after the war had ended.
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ILW0895
27 April 1945
27 April 1945
ILW0944
16 July 1945
16 July 1945
Characters from the war
Monty
1887-1976
Bernard Montgomery served with distinction during the First World War, and after being evacuated from Dunkirk he became commander of the Eighth Army in 1942, stopping the German advance in north Africa, and pushed Rommel back during the battle of El Alamein in November of that year. He led the invasion of Italy in September 1943. In December he was appointed head of the 2nd Army and commander of all ground forces for the invasion of Europe. At the end of the war he was appointed Commander in Chief of the British Army of Occupation.
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ILW0737
15 June 1945
D Day was 9 June 1945
15 June 1945
D Day was 9 June 1945
Goebbels
1897-1945
Elected to the Reichstag in 1929, Goebbels became the Nazi party's propaganda officer. During the war he helped build up hatred for the allies, but had little respect for other Nazi ministers. He committed suicide in 1945.
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IILW0535
26 February 1943
26 February 1943
Hitler
1887-1945
Born in Austria, Hitler volunteered to join the German army during the First World War, during which he was highly decorated. After Germany's defeat, his right wing ideas became more appealing, and in 1921 he became leader of the NASDP, later nicknamed the Nazi party. Hitler became Chancellor in 1933, and led Germany to a policy of lebenstraum, or expansion. His invasion of Poland in 1939 led to the outbreak of the Second World War, and during the next two years his army was succesful in occupying many European countries. Hitler committed suicide just before the end of the war in 1945, when the allies were advancing towards Berlin.
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ILW0110
21 August 1940
21 August 1940
ILW0299
17 September 1941
17 September 1941
ILW0559
24 April 1943
24 April 1943
Hideki Tojo
1884-1948
Hideki Tojo became Prime Minister of Japan in October 1941, having previously served as Minister of War. When he realised that Japan could not win the war, he resigned in July 1944. He was hanged as a war criminal in 1948.
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ILW0363
24 January 1942
Japan's army arrives at New Guinea on 23 January
24 January 1942
Japan's army arrives at New Guinea on 23 January
Mussolini
1883-1945
Benito Mussolini was appointed Prime Minister of Italy by King Victor Emmanuel III after a series of riots which he had helped to organise. In 1929 Italy became a one-party state, and in 1936 Mussolini signed a pact with Hitler. Italy entered the Second World War in June 1940, but in July 1943 the Allies invaded Sicily and the following month the King dismissed Mussolini from office. He was arrested but later rescued by Hitler, and he set up a facist state in German-occupied northern Italy. As the Allies advanced through Italy, Mussolini attempted to flee to Switzerland, but was captured and shot by Italian partisans.
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ILW0185
23 January 1941
23 January 1941
ILW0574
31 May 1943
31 May 1943
Further information about the Second World War can be found at the BBC History website, the Spartacus Schoolnet website and the National Library's
Campaign! website
Search the cartoon collection on the e-Resources catalogue
Search the cartoon collection on the e-Resources catalogue