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World War Two Posters

The images on this page are of U.S. propaganda posters used in World War Two to motivate millions of Americans in the successful effort to defeat the Axis Powers in World War Two.

Today, propaganda is commonly thought of to be false or misleading and the term is commonly used in a derogatory way.  This was not always true. Propaganda is actually neither right or wrong and is not necessarily deceptive. The message conveyed can be valid.

The term "propaganda" has evolved over the years to take on a more negative connotation but this was not always the case as evidenced by the definitions from several dictionaries published at different times. From 1971 "the spreading of ideas or information deliberately to further one's cause or damage an opposing cause" from The New Merriam-Webster Pocket Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam Company, 1971, page 398. From 1979 "any widespread promotion of particular ideas, doctrines" from Webster's New World Dictionary, Simon and Schuster, 1979, page 479. From 1983 "any systematic, widespread, deliberate indoctrination or plan for such indoctrination: now often used in a derogatory sense, connoting deception or distortion" from Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, Deluxe Second Edition Simon and Schuster, 1983, page 1442.

Clearly, when these World War 2 posters were created, the earlier definition of propaganda applied (i.e. spreading ideas or information to further a cause).  Most of the posters below convey accurate messages of what America was fighting to preserve - our freedoms, our way of life, and what average citizens could do to help in the war effort.  Some of posters are very powerful in both image and words.  Others are motivational or informational.

In the overly sensitive, easily offended, multicultural, and politically-correct nation we have become, many of these posters would never be produced. Keep that in mind as you view these historical treasures.

If World War 2 happened today, could we ever hope to win the war when our media, and our own government, broadcast our troop levels, troop movements, strategy, and tactics?  Could we stomach the hundreds of thousands of dead and wounded troops and the civilian deaths and injuries?

Careless Talk

In World War Two, troop movements, strategies, and tactics were highly guarded and the message driven home by many posters and informational films. Click here to watch a short, 10-minute movie about Safeguarding Military Secrets and below are posters about the possible ramifications of loose talk.