WWI began in 1914 following the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian anarchist. Germany gave its full support to Austria-Hungary, as did Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, thereby creating the Central Powers. Russia, Belgium, France and Great Britain joined an alliance with Serbia establishing the Allied Powers, with the U.S. joining in April 1917. Russia’s involvement ended later that year following the Bolshevik Revolution led by Vladimir Lenin. Germany’s failed attempt at the Second Battle of the Marne in July 1918 ultimately led to the downfall of the aggressor. WWI officially came to an end on November 11, 1918. The Treaty of Versailles of June 1919 was signed in an effort to safeguard future global calamities and to negate the potential for a second World War.
European tourism posters encouraging travel to countries impacted by the war made no reference to the decimation inflicted on those locales. Instead, the focus represents the idyllic beauty and allure, historical significance, and key sights. The positive spin of the imagery was certainly a reassuring sign that Europe had recovered. Commercial and graphic artists were sought out to create the desired vision that travel agencies wanted potential travelers to see and believe as a form of propaganda.