WWIIPosterProject

We Have Just Begun To Fight!

2011-06-17T23:31:00.000-04:00

Lots more to do.

A US Soldier presses onward reminding us that, though we've been at war a while, there is still much to accomplish. OWI Poster No. 62. Additional copies may be obtained upon request from the Division of Public Inquiries, Office of War Information, Washington, DC. US Government Printing Office 1943-O-527284.

Rumor: Kill It

2011-06-17T23:28:00.000-04:00

Precious lies.

An ugly snake-looking thing hatches from an egg with swastikas on the shell. Artist is Hoch. Issued by the director of Public INformation, Under Authority of Hon. J.T. Thorson, Minister of National War Services, Ottawa. Printed in Canada. AG.13 ES. It is a small poster, 13.5" x 9". It is a very ugly poster and the rumor looks a bit like Gollum.

If The Cap Fits, Wear It

2011-06-17T23:21:00.000-04:00

Now we know how Men Without Hats got their name.

Somewhere Canada Needs You on the War Front. Hats and hands saluting show the many roles people can play to help Canada win the war. The poster is signed in the upper left by ABUGOV. Issued by National Film Board, Ottawa. Printed in Canada. It is 36" x 24" and marked NFB-2E.

If You Don't Need It . . . Don't Buy It

2011-06-17T23:17:00.000-04:00

Well, maybe if it is on sale.

A 'white elephant' reminds people not to make wasteful purchases. Issued by the director of Public INformation, Under Authority of Hon. J.T. Thorson, Minister of National War Services, Ottawa. Printed in Canada EC1

Don't Fall for Enemy Propaganda

2011-06-17T23:14:00.001-04:00

If I spoke German or Japanese I'd be in trouble.

Against a bright yellow background a surprised man has a little green Hitler and Tojo whispering in his ears. Text: Don't fall for enemy propaganda. Against our Government / Against our Allies / Against Catholics, Jews or Protestants. Remember - Hitler and the Japs are trying to get us fighting among ourselves. Vetrans of foreign wars of the United States. The poster is 22" x 16".

Attack on All Fronts

2011-06-17T23:08:00.000-04:00

Let's trade places!

This Canadian World War II poster shows a soldier with a machine gun, a worker with a rivet gun, and a woman with a hoe to encourage workers on the home front.

Says Mike: Its Got To Be Right To Win The Fight

2011-06-17T23:05:00.001-04:00

That Mike is a real tool

A tool is anthropomorphisized (is that even a word?) to remind Canadian workers to be careful and prevent defects and waste. This poster is framed and hanging and I can't determine the much more about it.

The Torch! Be yours to hold it high!

2011-06-17T22:46:00.001-04:00

The light shines on.

This poster by R. Filopowski evokes the Canadian experience in WWI to encourage the population to victory WWII. It depicts the Vimy Memorial, an important battle for Canada's national consciousness. The poster quotes McCrae's "In Flnaders Fields" a famous poem remembering the dead of WWI. This is a large poster, 36.5" x 24".

Sealed Lips Will Save Our Ships

2011-06-17T22:36:00.001-04:00

The Go-Go's took note of this message.

A sailor in the Royal Canadian Navy holds his finger to his lips reminding people to keep silent. Issued by the director of Public Information, under authority of the Minister of National War Services, Ottawa. Printed in Canada. AGE-6. This is a small poster, measuring 12" x 9".

Get Your TEETH Into The Job

2011-06-17T22:31:00.001-04:00

Timber!

Get your teeth into the job. A beaver chews the trunk of a tree that Hitler has climbed hoping to escape. The poster is 27" x 18" and was issued by the Wartime Information Board, Ottawa. Printed in Canada.

BEWARE - The Walls Have Ears

2011-06-17T19:29:00.001-04:00

Don't derail the war effort!

BEWARE - The Walls Have Ears. Artwork by Jac Leonard. At the top a train is exploding and and the pictures tell a story of how casual conversation overheard by the wrong person allowed the information to flow to saboteurs. Issued by Wartime Information Board, Ottawa. Printed in Canada. Design, courtesy Walls Have Ears Organization. AG-19. This poster is 24.5" x 18.25".

There is too much loose talk

2011-06-17T19:23:00.000-04:00

By the time you finish reading this, the war will be over.

This is one text - heavy poster. It is Essential that every man, woman and child take a part in the war effort. There is too much Loose Talk about Navy, Army, Air Force and Production Matters. To serve in silence s the duty of every citizen in or out of uniform. Issuec by the director of Public INformation, Under Authority of Hon. J.T. Thorson, Minister of National War Services, Ottawa. Printed in Canada AG-12R. The poster is 24" x 17".

The Merchant Service is Silent, Too

2011-06-17T19:21:00.000-04:00

Even though I look Russian, I am Canadian.

The Merchant Service is Silent, Too. Don't talk about cargos or ship salings. A sailor in a pea coat and a bushy hat stares sternly out to sea. The poster measures 24.5" x 18.25" and the photo is by Nicholas Morant, N.F.B. Issued by wartime information board, Ottawa, printed in Canada. W1B-3E.

A SPY doesn't look like this

2011-06-17T19:18:00.000-04:00

We're on to you, Mister.

A SPY doesn't look like this A SPY may look like this. Don't Talk about troop movements - ship sailings - war work - munitions shipments. This poster is 24.5" x 18.25". A Canadian poster reminding people that spys may look like the man next door, not a sinister caricature. Issued by War Information Board, Ottawa. Printed in Canada - W1B-IE.

Somebody Talked - The Walls Have Ears

2011-06-17T19:15:00.001-04:00

Spies are everywhere in Canada.

On a dark sea black smoke belches from a burning merchant ship. Along the bottom: Issued by Wartime Information Board, Ottawa. Printed in Canada. Design, courtesy of "Walls Have Ears" Organization AG-20. This poster is 24.5" x 18.25".

Zip Those Lips!

2011-06-17T19:12:00.000-04:00

And throw away the key

No text, just a photo of a man zipping his lips to remind people not to speak about sensitive topics. This is a small poster, only about 12" x 16". I guess it is to remind people not to speak about sensitive topics. Printed in Canada - Issued by the director of Public Information, Under Authority of the Hon. J.T. Thorson, Minister of National War Services, Ottawa. Code AG-10E.

Women are Urgently needed to release men for active service

2011-04-02T17:45:00.001-04:00

I got all my sisters and me.

This is a great, large poster. It measures 30" x 40". It shows the many different ways women can participate in the war effort, either in uniform, in industry, in civil service or in agriculture. Women are encouraged to apply to the Selective Service Office for more information about how they can help. Issued by Wartime Information Board, Ottawa. Printed in Canada. In the bottom right is a code: WR-IEL. I can not find any information on line about this poster.

There's a job for YOU in the A.W.A.S.

2011-04-02T17:38:00.000-04:00

Nice red background with a blue bottom encouraging women to join the A.W.A.S. A stamp on the bottom right reads, 'Printed in Australia.' This poster is 19.5" x 25".

Czechoslovakia Will Live Again

2011-04-02T17:33:00.000-04:00

Thanks for nothing, Neville.

Over a rich and deep blue background a hand waves a Czech flag. In the background the word 'Appeasement' is crossed out in red. In the upper right is the notation P with 42 as a subscript. The publisher is the Czechoslovak Information Service (New York, N.Y.). The poster is 32" x 24".

CARELESS WORDS may cause DISASTER

2011-04-02T17:31:00.000-04:00

Canadian sailor says, "Shhh . . ."

The telltale trail of torpedo bubbles heads toward ships in a convoy. A sailor alongside the drawing of the unfolding disaster reminds Canadians that talk can have consequences. Issued by The Director of Public Information, Under Authority of Hon. J.T. Thorson, Minister of National War Services, Ottawa. Printed in Canada AG-11EL. There are two identical posters in this collection, each one is 24" x 17".

Shoptalk may be Sabotalk - THE WALLS HAVE EARS

2011-04-02T17:21:00.001-04:00

Never put anything in your ear but your elbow.

A giant ear hovers over a factory, reminding Canadian citizens to be careful with their words. The artist, noted on the lower right, is Morris. I like the design and color scheme of this poster very much. Issued by the Wartime Information Board, Ottawa. Printed in Canada. Design, courtesy Walls Have Ears Organization. 24.5" x 18".

Danke Schon - "Thanks for the Tip-off"

2011-04-02T17:18:00.002-04:00

A finderlohn for you!

A sinister looking, smiling German U-Boat captain leans over the side of his U-Boat's conning tower. In the background, in silhouette, is a sinking ship. The clear implication is that the Captain used information gathered by spies from people not careful about secrecy. Issued by the Wartime Information Board - Produced by National Film Board, Ottawa. Printed in Canada. Code No. - 7E. 24.5" x 18".

Norway Fights!

2011-04-02T17:14:00.001-04:00

A series of posters describing the actions of Norwegians with the Allies services and those Norwegians resisting Nazi occupation at home.

Norway Fights! On land - On Sea - In the Air

Sabotage in Norway Plagues the Nazis!

Norway Resists on the home front.

Norwegian Sailors on the Seven Seas

The U.S. Government published many posters reminding U.S. citizens of the valuable contributions our allies were making, even those with Governments in exile and with their home countries under German occupation. All the posters are the same size, 22.5" x 17.5".

This is our Strength - Our Forests

2011-04-02T16:18:00.001-04:00

The lumberjack is on a lunch break.

Poster of an axe in a tree stump reminding people of the importance of lumber and forest products to Canada's war effort. Artist (noted in upper right) is Eneleigh. There is another image in the collection by this artist, but I can't find out any resources about him (or her) on-line. Issued by Wartime Information Board, Produced by National Film Board, Ottawa. W.I.B. - 10E.

This is our Strength - Electric Power

2011-04-02T16:12:00.003-04:00

Always remember to wash your hands.

In this image you can almost feel the power of the water running through those fingers. The poster designed by artist Marian Scott. It reminds Canadians of how important hydroelectric power is for the war effort and will continue to be to Canada after the war ends. Issued by Wartime Information Board, Produced by National Film Board, Ottawa. W.I.B. - 18E. Poster measures 36" x 24".