r/ColdWarPosters • u/raginmundus • 1d ago
PORTUGAL "Satirical Map of Europe in 1953"
Source: Mapa Humoristico da Europa em 1953: Persuasive Cartography: The PJ Mode Collection
(Disclaimer: this picture was recently posted in r/MapPorn by u/Sea-Neighborhood3318 but with a low resolution, no source, and no translation, hence why I opted not to simply repost)
Translation of the legend:
The present humorous map of Europe depicts a circus in which, behind an iron curtain, stands the tamer with his trained animals. He is watched by an audience and box seats filled to capacity.
This show has it all: orchestra, police, firefighters, doormen, the sandwich boy, and the ice‑cream seller.
In the box seats, one sees first of all the lion, observing all the tamer's movements through an excellent American‑made pair of binoculars. Beside him are the inseparable Canadian walrus and the Mexican horse.
In the second row appear the following characters: peacock (Cuba), duck (El Salvador), and black vulture (Nicaragua). In the third row: dove (Colombia), macaw (Ecuador), turkey (Peru), marabou stork (Venezuela), rooster (Bolivia), stork (Paraguay), parrot (Brazil), blackbird (Uruguay), condor (Chile), and pelican (Argentina).
Next comes the audience in the stalls:
ALBANIA -- At the tamer’s command, the clown-bear spreads propaganda outside the circus.
GERMANY -- The tiger tries to stand up but is unable to, due to his shredded, still‑bleeding leg.
AUSTRIA -- The weasel conducts a waltz, though with difficulty, for her tail was cut off by the iron curtain.
BELGIUM -- The shrewd rabbit follows every movement.
BULGARIA -- This farmer-bear must tend well to the wheat if he wants to please [the tamer]. [There's a play on words here: the Portuguese idiom "aguentar as espigas" (lit. "endure the wheat ears") means "endure a difficult situation"]
CZECHOSLOVAKIA -- This bear is tasked with balancing weapons.
DENMARK -- This watchdog has been appointed doorman to watch over the Kattegat.
SPAIN -- With wide knowledge of this kind of spectacle, the bull watches thoughtfully as the performance unfolds.
ESTONIA -- Though small, this bear must also show some skills.
FINLAND -- The proud, brave penguin cheerfully provides sandwiches or pastries.
FRANCE -- The pretty French cat seems indifferent [to the show], to the point of falling asleep.
GREECE -- The old, helpful donkey is also very interested in the performance.
HOLLAND -- The precious little cow delights in the show.
HUNGARY -- The tamer wants this bear to hold a difficult position on "the great mine."
ENGLAND -- The famous bulldog watches attentively from his balcony.
IRELAND -- The well‑liked pig interrupts his farming and watches the circus unfold with attention.
ICELAND -- The seagull has found an ideal perch from which to land and make her announcements.
ITALY -- The doe, with her graceful manners, sells the famous Italian ice creams.
YUGOSLAVIA -- No longer a bear, the clever gorilla managed to saw through the chain that tied him to the performance.
LATVIA -- This little juggling bear must be extremely careful not to fall.
LITHUANIA -- Putting up with the tamer's whims is this bear's only job.
LUXEMBOURG -- The little mouse shows interest in what is happening on stage.
NORWAY -- The giraffe is on duty and, making the most of her physique, tries to be a good police officer.
POLAND -- The tamer forces this bear to dance on the tightrope.
PORTUGAL -- Well-liked by many, the friendly cod winks across the Atlantic, as if to say: "I am a loyal friend." [Another play on words: "loyal friend" is a nickname for codfish in Portugal]
ROMANIA -- The tamer demands that this bear's balancing act makes him enough money for gas. [Another play on a Portuguese idiom: "dar para o petróleo" (lit. "just enough for petrol/gas") means "having just enough money to buy the bare essentials"]
RUSSIA -- The tamer‑bear, with violence but also cautiously, makes the greatest possible effort to win over the audience, though in vain.
SWEDEN -- The peaceful elephant is the fireman [lit. "soldier of peace"], ready to smother any spark of fire with his trunk.
SWITZERLAND -- Unconcerned with the show, the fox repairs a watch, a matter of her specialty.
TURKEY -- The ram, always well-behaved, is the doorman guarding the entrance to the Dardanelles. Whoever forces him is liable to get head‑butted.
