German Michel

There is probably not a single country that does not have its own personalized national symbol. The symbol of the USA is Uncle Sam, known to everyone from the propaganda poster from the time of the First World War, calling for volunteers to join the American army. The symbol of Britain is the fat simpleton farmer John Bull. The allegorical figure of Helvetia has served as the symbol of Switzerland since the end of the 17th century. France has two such symbols at once - the Gallic rooster and Marianne, a young girl in a Phrygian cap (remember the painting by Delacroix "Liberty on the Barricades"). The symbol of our country for several hundred years has been the Russian bear (or Ivanushka the Fool, if anyone does not like animals). Germany is symbolized by an allegory called (attention!) Germany, in the form of a young woman, often with a raised hand. During the times of the German Empire, the figure of Germany was very popular and was printed, among other things, on postage stamps. Another symbol of Germany as a country is the German Michel - Deutscher Michel. And although the German Michel is practically unknown outside of Germany, this visual symbol of the Germans has a long history.

The symbol of Germany - Germany - on a postcard dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Franco-Prussian War and the annexation of Alsace and Lorraine. 1896 (postmark).

The German Michel reflects the Germans' ideas about themselves and their character, and not the opinions of foreigners about Germans. The first mentions of the German Michel are found in a book of German folk proverbs and sayings published in 1541 by the philosopher and theologian Sebastian Frank. But the German Michel only became truly popular in the first half of the 19th century. The formation of his visual image also dates back to this time - a man in a nightcap with a tassel. However, a stable image of Michel never developed (unlike, for example, the already mentioned Uncle Sam). The German Michel became the hero of numerous caricatures, and, depending on who portrayed him, he could be either a positive or a negative character.

In particular, during the wars waged first by Prussia, and then by the German Empire and the Third Reich, the German Michel became a folk hero for the Germans, and an object of ridicule and mockery for their opponents.

German Michel grinds politicians in a meat grinder. Postcard, early 1910s.

German Michel Deutscher Michel Propaganda 1914 — A propaganda postcard from the First World War . The inscription on the postcard reads: "Don't push, everyone will get theirs!" The inscription on the pole reads: "War is being declared here. Michel." The postmark is from 1914.

German Michel deutscher Michel — German Michel. Postcard from the First World War.

German Michel threatens to give all Germany's enemies a hard time. Postcard from the First World War.

"Michel takes his rightful place." Postcard. 1914.

"Hands off our heritage." German Michel defends German lands. The tone of this patriotic postcard from the end of World War I is already very different from the previous ones.

In general, over time, even the Germans themselves began to perceive Michel with a rather negative connotation. Largely for this reason, the Nazis did not like Michel either.

Perhaps one of the most striking examples of a positive portrayal of the German Michel was his bronze statue by Friedrich Reusch , created in 1895 for the garden of the Prussian Museum in Königsberg. The sculpture depicted a stocky, muscular man in a loincloth and a cap with a tassel, holding a flail on his left shoulder. In 1904, the sculptor presented the statue as a gift to Königsberg. In 1924, it was installed on a brick pedestal near the eastern wall of the Wrangel Tower. After the end of World War II, the sculpture disappeared and its current location is unknown.

German Michel deutscher michel koenigsberg — German Michel. Monument by Friedrich Reusch in Königsberg.

German Michel deutscher Michel 1927 — Wrangel Tower in Königsberg and the monument to the German Michel. 1927 (according to the postmark).

wrangel turm 2015 — The site where the German Michel stood since 1924. July 2015.

wrangel tuerm 2015 — Wrangel Tower (in the background) and the site where the bronze sculpture of the German Michel was installed. Kaliningrad, Proletarskaya Street. July 2015.