Publications from the Central Powers
German magazines and periodicals were just as varied as those published in the other warring countries and with almost the same confusion of like-sounding names, though on a whole as time wore on, the quality of paper and printing declined due to shortages and rationing and prices increased through war-time inflation. The prestigious 'Leipziger Illustrirte Zeitung', published simultaneously in Berlin, Vienna, Budapest and New York (until 1917) was much like its British and French counterparts 'the Illustrated London News', 'the Sphere' and 'l'Illustration', both in size, layout and use of illustrations. 'Der Krieg in Wort und Bild 1914' and 'Illustrierte Weltkriegschronik' were serial history magazines, much like similar British and French magazines such as 'the Great War' and 'Panorama de la Guerre'. Other German publications were less inspiring in appearance and compared to Allied publications, were certainly much less warlike in content, publishing few photos of actual combat or military operations.
Instead German magazines seemed to have a tendency to concentrate on more homely matters, showing everyday military life in regards to sanitary provisions, accomodations for the troops, re-building damaged infrastructure in the occupied territories, fraternizing with enemy nationals, attending cultural events and so on. Most magazines also contained charming, if unattainable, accounts of travelogues and visits to historical monuments and buildings. Certainly German publications did not enjoy portraying the wide spread destruction and devastation caused by the war and aside from showing scenes of Russian dead from time to time, did not go in for publishing the more grisly photographs of the dead as did many French magazines like 'le Miroir' or 'J'ai Vu'.
German magazines dedicated a large portion of their contents to war news from the Eastern and Turkish fronts. From their point of view, the fortunes of war on fronts other than the Western front was just as important and at times much more heartening as well. Allied news magazines tended to be somewhat more parochial in outlook, with almost all attention focused on events in the West.
Included in this collection of German Great War magazines are several which were expressly published for foreign consumption, in both occupied territories as well as abroad. These magazines are even more sedate and bland than those printed for the home public as far as warfare and fighting are concerned. On the other hand though, German magazines provide a very interesting view of life behind the front lines and of how soldiers spent their time going about their daily duties.
Though most illustrative material in German magazines was home-made so to speak, it should be noted that quite a number of photographs and drawings originally published in Allied magazines made their way into German periodicals. Generally speaking this process did not work the other way around, which is somewhat of an indication that propaganda-wise, German publishers were lagging behind their Allied adversaries.
- see also French war-time article : Les Numéros de Guerre des Journaux Illustrés Allemands / Ce que Fut le Role de la "Lillerkriegszeitung”
German illustrated magazines for sale in a French shop in occupied territory
- *see also Magazines of the Great War (a French site)
right : from a war-time German magazine : a collage of German newspapers and trench newspapers
General News Magazines
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Unsere Krieger (Austrian Magazine) |
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 Illustrierte Frankfurter Woche |
Oesterreichische Illustrierte Zeitung |
 Beilage der Berliner Lokal-Anzeigers |
Deutsche Illustrierte Zeitung |
 Kriegsbilder |
 Der Weltkrieg 1914 Illustrierte Kriegszeitung |
Der Weltbrand |
Hamburger Fremdenblatt |
Illustrierte Kriegs-Zeitung |
Der Welt-Spiegel |
Aus Zeit und Leben |
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Kriegsbilder Beilage |
Der Weltenbummler |
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Zeit im Bild |
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Neue Warte am Inn |
Welt im Bild |
Illustrierte Kronen Zeitung (Austrian magazine) |
Wurttemberger Illustrierte Zeitung |
Chemnitzer Illustrierte Zeitung |
Illustrierte Unterhaltungsblatt |
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Schwabisches Bilderblatt |
Der Weltkrieg - Algemeine Deutsche Kriegszeitung |
Illustrierte Kriegszeitung Westfalische Volksfreund |
Konrads Illustrierte Blaetter (Austrian Newsmagazine) |
Deutsche Feldpostbriefe |
Illustrierte Wochen-Rundschau |
Ueber Land und Meer |
Feldpostbriefe |
Lothringer Zeitung |
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War Reports and Official Communiqués
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 Der Grosse Krieg |
 Deutschland zur See |
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Serial History Magazines
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 Der Weltkrieg 1914 |
 Krieg und Sieg 1914 |
Eisern Kreuz |
Der Volkerkrieg |
Unsere Bayern im Felde |
for Foreign and Occupied Countries
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 Belgischer Bilder-Kurier |
Cultural, Literary, Family and Humor Magazines
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 Eulenspiegel |
 Meggendorfer Blaetter |
 Tornister Humor |
 Sachsen im Feld und Heimat |
Salonblatt |
 Vobachs Frauen-Moden |
 Illustrierte Familien-Zeitung |
 der Kriegs-Lese |
 Allgemeine Rundschau |
 Lustiges Blatt |
 Die Wacht |
Fur Alle Welt |
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Simplicissimus |
Die Bayerische Landwehr |
Feinde Ringsum |
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Children's Magazines
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 Der Krieg |
 Fremdenlegionaer |
 Maedchenpost |
 Illustrierte Maedchen-Zeitung |
 der Gute Kamerad |
 Jugendlust |
Army and Trench Magazines
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 Champagne Kriegs-Zeitung |
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Post-War Magazines
 Kriegskunst in Wort und Bild |
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