Political satire in the legendary Soviet illustrated magazine Krokodil

March 27 2015

The thrice-yearly magazine had a circulation of 6.5 million. The Soviet Union’s best writers, such as Ilya Ilf, Evgeniy Petrov, Valentin Kataev and Yury Olesha, and cartoonists, from the prominent group Kukryniksy to Boris Efimov, all contributed to Krokodil. The famous contemporary writers and poets Lev Rubinstein, Liudmila Petrushevskaya, Vladimir Paperniy and others also wrote comments for the publication. RBTH presents some cartoons from the first issue, dedicated to foreign affairs in the period 1922-1937.

XX Century Krokodil publishing house has released the first three books of the 12 volume series “History through the eyes of Krokodil: the 20th Century” devoted to illustrations and cartoons from the legendary Soviet magazine Krokodil [Crocodile], which was issued from 1922 to 1992. The thrice-yearly magazine had a circulation of 6.5 million. The Soviet Union’s best writers, such as Ilya Ilf, Evgeniy Petrov, Valentin Kataev and Yury Olesha, and cartoonists, from the prominent group Kukryniksy to Boris Efimov, all contributed to Krokodil. The famous contemporary writers and poets Lev Rubinstein, Liudmila Petrushevskaya, Vladimir Paperniy and others also wrote comments for the publication. RBTH presents some cartoons from the first issue, dedicated to foreign affairs in the period 1922-1937. // Wonderful France, 1923-04#5, 4 February-00 Krokodil, №04-05, 1923, drawing by I. Malyutin

XX Century Krokodil

Donate to the Krokodil airplane! America: “May you rest in peace on Earth! What’s in the air and sea is my business, get it?” // 1923-19#20-05 Krokodil, №19-20, 1923, drawing by D. Melnikov

XX Century Krokodil

Re events in Damascus. Attending to world peace, the Council of the League of Nations adopted a resolution that no war can begin without the permission of the League. We recommended that this resolution be emblazoned in gold letters over the ruins of Damascus. // 1925-44#45 (155), November-00, Krokodil, №44-45, 1925, drawing by Y. Ganf

XX Century Krokodil

Chamberlain on war: “I oppose chains and violence. The beast should be let loose!” // 1927-25#26-00 Krokodil, №25-26, 1927, drawing by Y. Ganf

XX Century Krokodil

Palestine disappoints. The trouble with the Dove of Peace is that it’s always sure to foul itself somewhere. // 1929-37#38-05 Krokodil, №37-38, 1929, drawing by Chernyak

XX Century Krokodil

Who eats what in the West? The Mensheviks get scraps from the master’s table. The ordinary citizen is fed rumors and canards. The White Guard is served fabrications. The Pope and the generals are not averse to the taste of cannon fodder. The diplomatic lickspittles dine on the world at disarmament conferences. But the Western worker, refusing handouts and sops, declares his appetite ever louder: “To the defense of the USSR! For work and bread!" // 1930-08#9-06 Krokodil, №08-09, 1930, drawing by M. Khrapkovsky

XX Century Krokodil

A sensitive soul. "Henry, don’t read it out loud... My blood runs cold when I hear about the Bolshevik atrocities." // 01/07/1931#9-11 Krokodil, №07, 1931, drawing by L. Brodaty

XX Century Krokodil

Futile precaution. “- Hey Jim, d’you read that in Brooklyn an entire family was poisoned by pâté?” “- You see, gotta be careful when having lunch.” // 1936-08#9-03 Krokodil, №08-09, 1936, drawing by Y. Ganf

XX Century Krokodil

King Famine: “These soldiers’ wives keep nagging, ‘Who’ll look after me? Who’ll look after me?’ How about me? Tell them no need to fear, I’ll take care of them.” // 1937-32#34-00 Krokodil, №32-34, 1937, drawing by L. Brodaty

XX Century Krokodil

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