The use of Propaganda Posters in WW2

In World War 2 propaganda took many forms, but one that was employed by all the nations at war was that of the Propaganda Poster.

A review of some of these posters is quite revealing, and Northwestern University in the United States has gathered a large collection in their library archives, all of which are in the public domain.

Here I have selected a group of them which give a good feel of what is available, in addition, a few posters from Britain, Germany, Russia, Japan and Italy have also been added to show their style and flavour.

Click the pictures to enlarge the posters.

A Careless Word. The United States Office of War Information.

A Careless Word. The United States Office of War Information.

America Needs your Scrap Rubber. United States War Production Office.

America Needs your Scrap Rubber. United States War Production Office.

Another Tanker torpedoed off the Atlantic Coast. Should brave men die so you can drive? United States Office of Price Administration.

Another Tanker torpedoed off the Atlantic Coast. Should brave men die so you can drive? United States Office of Price Administration.

Arms for Russia.

Arms for Russia.

Australian. This man is your friend. 1942. United States. Office of Facts and Figures.

Australian. This man is your friend. 1942. United States. Office of Facts and Figures.

Because somebody talked. 1944. Office of Adjuntant- General. United States Office of War Information.

Because somebody talked. 1944. Office of Adjuntant- General. United States Office of War Information.

Books are weapons in the war of ideas. Books cannot be killed by fire. United States President ( 1933-1945 Roosevelt ) United States Office of War Information.

Books are weapons in the war of ideas. Books cannot be killed by fire. United States President ( 1933-1945 Roosevelt ) United States Office of War Information.

Bundles for Berlin. 1942. United States War Production Board.

Bundles for Berlin. 1942. United States War Production Board.

Buy Bonds the G I way. 1945. United States Army.

Buy Bonds the G I way. 1945. United States Army.

Crush Anglo-Americans.

Crush Anglo-Americans.

Don't let that shadow touch them- buy war bonds. 1942. United States Department of the Treasury

Don't let that shadow touch them- buy war bonds. 1942. United States Department of the Treasury

Farm scrap builds destroyers, 900 tons of scrap metal goes into every destroyer. 1942. United States Department of Agriculture.

Farm scrap builds destroyers, 900 tons of scrap metal goes into every destroyer. 1942. United States Department of Agriculture.

For the Motherland's sake.

For the Motherland's sake.

Give us the lumber for more PT's. 1943. United States War Department Bureau of Public Relations/US Army.

Give us the lumber for more PT's. 1943. United States War Department Bureau of Public Relations/US Army.

Guiness Blitz poster.

Guinness Blitz poster.

Help smash Hitler. 1943. US Army/ US War Department Bureau of Public Relations.

Help smash Hitler. 1943. US Army/ US War Department Bureau of Public Relations.

Hitler, One Empire, One People, One Leader.

Hitler, One Empire, One People, One Leader.

If you tell where he's going he may never get there. 1943. United States Adjutant-General's Office.

If you tell where he's going he may never get there. 1943. United States Adjutant-General's Office.

Italian Navy shooting down a Hurricane.

Italian Navy shooting down a Hurricane.

Japanese Aircraft destroying the enemy.

Japanese Aircraft destroying the enemy.

Join the Airforce.

Join the Airforce.

Join the Wrens.

Join the Wrens.

Keep 'em flying. 1941. US army recruiting Service.

Keep 'em flying. 1941. US army recruiting Service.

Keep Mum she's not so dumb.

Keep Mum she's not so dumb.

Let us go forward together.

Let us go forward together.

Men of valor, they fight for you. 1943. Canada, Wartime Information Board.

Men of valor, they fight for you. 1943. Canada, Wartime Information Board.

Ouch! the Japs don't like mosquitoes. 1942. US Bureau of Naval Personnel.

Ouch! the Japs don't like mosquitoes. 1942. US Bureau of Naval Personnel.

Part time work for the war effort.

Part time work for the war effort.

Remember Dec 7th. we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain. 1942. United States Office of War Information.

Remember Dec 7th. we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain. 1942. United States Office of War Information.

Stalin leading his nation to Victory.

Stalin leading his nation to Victory.

Stopping Hitler just as they stopped Napoleon.

Stopping Hitler just as they stopped Napoleon.

Today Germany is ours, tomorrow the World...Oh Yeah! 1942. US War Department Adjutant General's Office.

Today Germany is ours, tomorrow the World...Oh Yeah! 1942. US War Department Adjutant General's Office.

Together we conquer.

Together we conquer.


   

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