Mar 14, 2022 · During World War II, the Office of War Information (OWI) controlled the release of all the American propaganda from the time of its formation to the end of the war. Franklin D. Roosevelt created the agency with Executive Order 9182 on 13 June 1942 with the goal of simplifying the way information about the war reached the public.
Messages made the war personal-you can make a difference, the soldiers are counting on you. Some posters also tapped into people’s patriotic ... “The function of the war poster is to make coherent and acceptable a basically incoherent and ... morality and decent living.”--O.W. Riegal, propaganda analyst for the Office of War Information ...
In 1942 President Franklin Roosevelt created the Office of War Information to distribute and control pro-American propaganda during World War II. To accomplish this goal the Office of War Information recruited Hollywood movie studios, radio stations, and the print media.
Under the direction of Joseph Goebbles, Hitler's Minister of Propaganda, all manner of anti-Semitic posters were produced and plastered in public spaces. One …
Of all WW2 propaganda posters with explanation, Uncle Sam certainly sticks out as one of the most famous. Actually, this “I Want YOU” poster was first published in 1916 for World War 1 recruiting efforts. The poster proved to be so popular, that the U.S. Army revamped it and pushed it out again for the Second World War.
During American involvement in World War II from 1941–45, the government used propaganda to increase loyalty to war efforts and commitment to victory. Through a diverse set of posters, propagandists encouraged hatred toward the enemy and support for America’s allies. Some images illustrated over-the-top caricatures against ethnic groups associated ...
Dig On for Victory. A rural backdrop with a farmer proudly carrying out his harvest from the fields. In an effort to decrease reliance on imports and instead boost domestically grown crops, the government encouraged families to grow “Victory Gardens”.
In an effort to decrease reliance on imports and instead boost domestically grown crops, the government encouraged families to grow “Victory Gardens”. Any free plot of land was used to plant vegetables and other crops, even in the concrete jungle of New York City. The poster pictured was released in Britain, but was just one of many variations used in the campaign across the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany.
Rosie the Riveter is perhaps the most famous image to come out of the WWII era. Today this icon represents feminism and women’s power, and with good reason. As men were drafted and served on the front line, the women left behind filled in the economic holes.
As Allied airplanes shoot Hitler from behind, he cries out with surprise. The Nazi military is pictured as tiny toys, unable to react. This kind of aggressive propaganda instilled hatred of the enemy and often depicted the Axis Powers as cartoon-ish.
The newspaper he’s holding represents the easy transmission of information into the wrong hands.
This unit is part of Gilder Lehrman’s series of Common Core State Standards–based teaching resources. These units were written to enable students to understand, summarize, and analyze original texts of historical significance. The lessons are built around the use of textual and visual evidence and critical thinking skills.
In this lesson the students will carefully analyze an essay that discusses both the purpose and the impact of World War II posters on the American war effort on the home front. This essay will give the students background knowledge that will make close analysis of the actual posters more effective over the next two lessons.
In this lesson the students will carefully analyze ten primary source posters from World War II. These posters come from a variety of sources but all of them reflect the themes developed by the United States government and the Office of War Information (OWI). These themes were introduced in the essay used in lesson one.
In this lesson the students will carefully analyze ten primary source posters from World War II. The students will determine which of the six themes recommended by the Office of War Information the poster best represents.
Japanese war propaganda posters sought to glorify the nation’s military might. This poster of the Imperial Air Force shows countless airplanes flying over a globe decorated with Japan’s historic sun symbols.
Propaganda can be a powerful weapon, capable of arousing passions, unifying communities, stirring up fear, or changing minds no bullet or bomb can do. During World War II, Allied and Axis forces used propaganda posters to spread their messages around the world.
They hail from the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Vichy France. Some of the posters fueled patriotism, faith in the nation, and a belief in the righteousness of the war effort to protect national values and virtues.
Some of the posters fueled patriotism, faith in the nation, and a belief in the righteousness of the war effort to protect national values and virtues. Many aimed to boost morale and deliver a message of shared sacrifice.
This 1932 election poster for Germany’s Nazi Party declares “We’re Building Things Up” with a muscular man posing against a set of stone blocks etched with the words “Work,” “Freedom,” and “Bread.” He looks down upon two older, weaker rivals offering unemployment, corruption, lies, and more.
The “Come into the Factories” poster encouraged women in Britain to fill critical jobs such as manufacturing as the men went off to fight. Efforts to draw women into the war effort were often aimed at those who had never worked outside the home.
The poster “Become a Nurse” was produced by the U.S. Public Health Service, encouraging women to become military nurses. The nation had a shortage of nurses during the war, and in 1943, Congress established the Cadet Nurse Corps. Almost 120,000 women trained with the Corps and served in military hospitals and other facilities.
Of course I can!; I'm patriotic as can be - And ration points won't worry me!
Of course I can!; I'm patriotic as can be - And ration points won't worry me!
Persuading soldiers not to share military details with loved ones was an important aspect of these campaigns. Credit: The National Archive / Commons.
Another famous Fougasse poster. Hitler’s face can be seen in the painting. Credit: The National Archives / Commons.
Imagery based on fear was also important. Credit: Boston Public Library / Commons.
A more simplistic but informative poster. Credit: Library and Archives Canada / Commons.
This poster outlines the dangers of discussing sensitive information. Credit: Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco / Commons.
This poster attempts to demonstrate the danger of leaking even minor pieces of information. Credit: Boston Public Library / Commons.
This poster attempts to link staying quiet with patriotism, and the potential that one might help the Nazis was intended to discourage careless talk. Credit: U.S. National Archives / Commons.