WW1 AND WW2 POSTERS

[The Sailor]

During the Second World War, recruitment posters grew into a huge industry.
The Navy began with a group of approximately 100 artists that grew to nearly 400 artists by February 1944.

Throughout the nation, recruiting posters were placed in countless prominent public locations.
Posters hung in post offices, libraries, grocery and department stores, on billboards and even in public restrooms. Car cards, or smaller rectangular posters, were mounted in subway cars by transit authorities in major metropolitan areas. Window cards were displayed in the storefronts of businesses.

The Navy was looking for educated, capable, virtuous, and feminine women. Accordingly, the WAVES needed to be simultaneously glamorous and serious. They possessed a conventional feminine appearance, wearing blush, lipstick and nail polish. Yet the artists depicted them doing important, manicure-marring work: rigging parachutes and operating radios. In truth, WAVES also did much more labor-intensive work as well, such as machine assembly, repair work and kitchen patrol, but artists did not depict those jobs in recruitment posters.

In the picture below, this woman operates a telegraph key. The Navy ran a school for radio personnel beginning in 1942. Research suggests that John Falter used a Naval photograph taken during March 1943 of Virginia L. Scott as the basis for this image. She is sending a message from the code room of the Radio School at Madison, Wisconsin. The Navy used this painting to print 40,000 posters, 71,000 window cards and 57,000 car cards in June of 1943.

[romft1945]

Have a few of these thought the naval ones may be of interest,if they are I will post more general posters
Rom

1 Arms for Russia British Poster
2 Thank you British Poster 1943
3 As per the title British 1941 - 1942
4 Britians Army,Navy,Airforce are united with China against a commom
enemy British Poster
5 As per the title 1941 British poster

[romft1945]

Here we go correct way up
ROM

[herakles]

These are good - especially the right way up!! LOL

I hope you've some more.

[romft1945]

Herks I have more posters but most of them are general war posters,from different nations and not only Navy but Army and Airforce,
ROM

[herakles]

So? Post them. I guarantee that I'll look at them.

[romft1945]

Art least I have a friend,
ROM

[The Sailor]

Here are a few from Oz.

[herakles]

Some quite remarkable posters were made in Oz during the war. I have the first one you posted as well as a few related to Gallipoli.

[romft1945]

Great posters will put some more on later,
Cheers Rom, go to go

[romft1945]

Gentlemen here are a few more will post them all in due course,
ROM

1 Greece 1940
2 Greece 1940
3 Belgium 1941
4 New Zealand 1941
5 Canada no date

[herakles]

The first Greek poster says - loosely - Rally Greek Boys!

And they certainly did, holding back 15 German divisions for 3 days. Some without shoes.

Great posters. Enjoyed them.

[romft1945]

Here are a few more
ROM:p

1 Great britain 1941
2 Great Britain 1940
3 Great Britain 1939
4 Great Britain 1940 "The progress of Russian and Gerrman Co-Operation" In
Arabic
5 Great Britain

[romft1945]

:)1 Great britain 1943
2 Great Britain
3 Great Britain 1939-1945
4 Great Britain
5 Great Britain 1942

[herakles]

These posters are a wonderful addition! Thanks for posting them. Some of them are sooooooo patriotic!!

[romft1945]

Here we go lads a few more for you have about 55 left in my collection,
ROM

1 Great Britian 1942
2 Great britain
3 Japanese More arms for the front 1943
4 Italy The fascist beast is Vanquished circ Sept 1942
5 Italy "Hold On" the poster reads " The hour when vengance will be
unleashed on the anti-european forces is at hand"The letter V is for
"Vittoria" VICTORY.

[herakles]

Oooooooooh! I'm glad you still have about 50 or so left. These are a worthy additions to the forum.

Do you have any of the marvellous ones from early WW1 depicting the Hun as a monster etc??

[romft1945]

Sorry Herks No they are to expensive to get hold of ,
ROM

[astraltrader]

Rom - Some excellent posters there - thank you for sharing these. Very much appreciated.
Herk - I have a collection of very rare WW1 postcards that I have put together over the past 25 years - some of which are the ultimate for jingoistic patriotic and anti-Kaiser sentiments - I will post some on here as soon as I can manage...

[herakles]

Terry, I look forward to these!

[romft1945]

terry look forward to your cards here are a few more for you,
ROM

1 USSR Smash the Fascist Scorpion
2 Italy 1940-1943 The enemt is listening to you belt up.
3 Finland 1939 Here behind the lines help our soldiers,dont spread gossip!
4 Nationalist China The young pilots take off
5 USSR We shall fly the flag of Victory over Britain

[The Sailor]

How about this one I just found? God save the King.

[herakles]

OK Terry. I am glad you are going to make all that effort to scan them etc.

I will wait for the link as I'm looking forward to seeing them.

[romft1945]

Herk and Rom - Just to keep you up to date. I wont now be posting the First World War "Patriotic and Jingoistic" postcards on here in view of the post-count ruling that has been decided for us. I had intended to display them in different themes which would have involved a lot of sorting and scanning!
No matter - I will complete this project and will post them elsewhere. Rest assured that I will PM you both the links when I have finished...

And me mate thanks ROM

[romft1945]

A few more got loads more did not know I had so many,
ROM

1 USSR Onward To The West
2 USSR 1942 Mother Russsia Demands Your Help
3 USSR 1942 All For The Front
4 USSR 1942 To Our Last Drop Of Blood
5 USSR 1936 Fascism Means War

[herakles]

These are most interesting. The second one has a very stern looking lady!

[The Sailor]

Here are a few more from America

[herakles]

I suppose that with today's communications and technology, posters are now hopelessly out of date as a medium. Which is a pity as the were so good.

[romft1945]

I like posters all the ones I have are slightly larger than A4 sizes still have a few more to show,nice one Comm thanks.
ROM

[herakles]

The first is the front cover of the ANZAC book. You'd have to sell the car to buy a first edition (1916) of this now. There's a copy on display at the Newcastle Keep. What a wonderful castle that is.

The second shows WW1 Allies. Some interesting counties displayed!

[astraltrader]

Herk - that last picture you posted - is similar to the collection that I was going to put on here once. I have over 500 + rare examples - all from WW1.
I will just post now the first few in the pile to give you an idea...

[romft1945]

I still have about 30 more likethe ones you both posted,
ROM

1 USSR he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword
2 USSR Revenge
3 USA We have just begun to fight!
4 USA This is the enemy
5 USA Victory-Now you can invest in it

[herakles]

These are so very interesting! Don't they portray an insight into the times.

Thanks to the both of you for the trouble you took putting them here.

[astraltrader]

Herk - A few for you colonials! All have a leaning towards the Dominions.
I especially like the Lions mane with all the hidden names...

[astraltrader]

Herk - Knowing your penchant for words here are a few from WW1...

[romft1945]

Terry these posters are very good touched my heart thanks,
ROMFT:)

[herakles]

Ooooooooh! These are so good. Such patriotism!

When PM Fisher announced we were going to war he said we would defend England "to the last shilling"!

There could be confusion about our flag. It's exact shape and colour wasn't decided upon until quit recently. That's why sometimes our flag has a red and sometime a blue background.

I did like the one showing that "the sun never sets on the Empire"!

Empire? Not really a Commonwealth now even. Australians now enter Britain using the Aliens entrance. You should hear Germaine Greer on that subject.

[astraltrader]

A few more...

[herakles]

These ARE interesting. Dear old Britannia had to feature didn't she!

[romft1945]

I thought mine were good well done Terry these are brilliant,
ROM:p

[astraltrader]

They are both good in their own way, Rom. The WW2 examples are much better from the points of view of professionalism, politicisation and printing.
The WW1 examples to me underline King, Country and Empire.
To employ crass generalisation I suppose one could say Head -v- Heart...

[romft1945]

Thanks for that got to go will post some more this evening,
ROM

[astraltrader]

This weeks issue...

[astraltrader]

...is in two parts.......................................

[astraltrader]

...or was it three! In this one - I will move more to featuring on the enemy! I especially like the one that refers to the German fleet that never goes out to sea!!

[herakles]

You've surpassed yourself this time Terry! These are wonderful.

Interesting the two featuring French. On reflection ... ...

These are all classic jingoism at its best.

God Save The King!

Now I've seen the German ones too. My word, they say a lot. I loved the ship "Stikphastz".

I do have some but not here showing the German as a monster. Came out about the time they destroyed Belgium.

And the house destroyed in Surrey was nothing compared to 25 years later.

[astraltrader]

Ah but at the time the effect on the public that an incident like the Surrey house had on the British population was just as great an impact as for example one of the big blitz-nights over London during WW2...
By the time that London started to really suffer in late 1940 - instances like the Japanese bombing of civilians in Manchuria during the early 1930`s, the Nazi Bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War and more importantly the bombing of many European cities by the Germans between 1937-1940 sadly provided precedants...

[astraltrader]

A few more. This time with a more appropriate Naval flavour...

[herakles]

My word. This thread is starting to take serious time to download!

Wonderful pics Terry. I particularly liked the pretty flags fluttering on the rigging.

Seriously, I gather at least one word had to be spelt out letter at a time. I have read that the famous command: England expects ... ... isn't actually what was intended and had to be changed because of flag limitations.

Either way, it's the stuff of Empire isn't it. Small wonder we are the envy of the world.

[herakles]

And God save The Queen!

Yes, perhaps a light of other days but still influential I feel. We are certainly doing more than our fair share of overseas duties.

[kc]

I haven't commented on this thread yet, but I have read with interest the discussion and viewed the images. You have done really well building this thread. Keep up the good work! :).

[astraltrader]

Thanks, Kc. I was beginning to think it was just for the interest and enjoyment of Herk, Rom and myself! Anyway glad you find these of interest. Rom did well with his beautiful WW2 posters - which gave me the idea of comparing them with their WW1 equivalents - via the postcard.

[astraltrader]

One particular form of these WW1 postcards I have not yet touched upon are the hand made silk-embroidered cards which were brought home by our soldiers from France - usually for their wives and sweethearts. Some of them contain little flaps in which were stored a small card - where Tommy would scribble his words of love. Very few of these message cards have survived as they were often separated from the postcard. Good examples of these embroidered cards can fetch a lot of money now as the fragility of their construction means that very few have escaped the ravages of time...

[herakles]

How very interesting! I didn't know of these before.

The embroidery must have taken a long time to do. Who did the embroidery do you know? And what might they have cost to buy?

I found a reasonable amount of magnification was needed to see the stitching.

How very touching these are!

These cards you've posted are so different to all the others. Thanks so much for taking the trouble Terry.

[romft1945]

Sorry for not being around been busy but here we go some more from WW11 these are all USA,
ROM

1 USA
1 USA
3 USA
4 USA
5 USA this poster was part of a campaign to change American attitudes and to prepare them for the possibilty of war

[astraltrader]

Interesting posters Rom - especially the first one - which to me shows how very much Britain and America underestimated the Japanese...

[herakles]

They were too small to see over the edge of their fighter planes.

And they were all half blind because of their slanting eyes.

Dear oh dear, did we make mistakes.

[astraltrader]

One aspect of WW1 Patriotic postcards I have not touched on at all yet are what could be described as the glamour sector.
A classic example of these are known as Aux Allies. These beautiful postcards were painted and produced towards the end of 1917 and consist of butterflies superimposed with female faces incorporating the national colours of the various Allied countries.
Here are a selection ...

[astraltrader]

As well as Aux Allies there were also a few other equally rare examples - nearly always based on the flags of various countries...

[herakles]

Surely not hand painted.

These are delightful! I never knew anything of this side of the war.

[astraltrader]

No I meant that a set of Paintings were printed to postcards. Not many were sold compared to normal topographical postcards because they were expensive to buy. From what I can gather they were for sale at around 1/6d each in 1918!

[herakles]

Thanks Terry. 1/6? that's a lot of money when you consider that an English soldier's pay was 1/- a day.

[romft1945]

Thanks Terry I like herks never knew this side of the war these are truly amazing,
Rom

[romft1945]

Well here we go gents got a few more
ROM

1 USA It refers to the "Doolittle Raid" on Tokyo in April 1943by B-25 bombers
2 USA 1942 Pearl Harbour
3 USA 1942
4 USA 1944
5 Germany 1942 Reference to Germanys struggle at sea with battleships
6 Germany 1943 EIN KAMPF one struggle EIN SIEG! one victory

[herakles]

Most interesting. The first three particularly. The second one makes a strong point.

[herakles]

Here's a few more. Canadian and Australian

[romft1945]

Great Herka I have had a browse at the rest of mine and they are all German and French so will post in a day or two,
ROM

[herakles]

Here's a few more Aussie ones from WW1.

[herakles]

And here's a few patriotic English ones.

[romft1945]

Nice ones there Herks Thanks,
ROM

[astraltrader]

Whilst I have concentrated with patriotic postcards of WW1 - this is one of the most recent of its type I have seen. It was published for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953...

[herakles]

Here are a few more:

[John Brown]

Here's one for the Aussies.....

I came across this picture of a banner with the following narrative beneath it.......

'This hand painted canvas measures 60 x 36 inches. It was found rolled up in the Woombye Community hall on the Sunshine Coast (QLD). The canvas appears to be WW2 vintage and has wooden supports at either end. It is not known what USAS stands for, nor what sort of vouchers it refers to'.

Any ideas?

Regards....John

[herakles]

Hmmmm. Interesting. I've never heard of USAS and I can't find any information about it.

[John Brown]

Terry....Sounds good.....and the vouchers?


Regards..John

[herakles]

I'm not so sure Terry. Knowing what happened at that time between Australia and the USA.

And John, as I do, feels uncomfortable with the voucher issue.

The first treaty between these countries was ANZAAS I think, and that's a long time later.

[astraltrader]

Herk - I wasn`t doing anything other than hazard a guess on what the banner initials might stand for. Like John I have also seen the banner in an Australian history site where they also make reference to not knowing what they mean. Also I think you are referring to ANZUS which I am not confusing it with.
On further reflection I think the final letter "S" stands for safety rather than security. As the banner says [Keep] Australia Safe...
As to what the vouchers mean - I haven`t a clue!

[herakles]

I did a search and came up with nothing.

The trouble with acronyms is how confusing they can be:

ANZAS the Australia New Zealand America Society located in Seattle

ANZAAS Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science

ANZUS the Security Treaty Between Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America.

Thanks for correcting me!

[herakles]

A few more posters - from the USA.

[romft1945]

Good morning all nice to be back here we go still got a few more posters to put up ROM

1 Germany 1943 The tanks your weapon
2 Nazi Germany At the end lies victory
3 Nazi Germany The Waffen-S.S. You can join on your 17th birthday
4 Germany 1938 The productivity struggle of German industry 1938-1939
5 Germany 1938-1939 Luftwaffe

[Commodore Armiger]

Er Romft old chap I think you may have put the wrong snap in first!

[romft1945]

Er Romft old chap I think you may have put the wrong snap in first!

Rhere we go Gosh that was a bit brain tasking trying to do that on a Sunday morning,
Rom

[John Brown]

Yes...welcome back ROM.


Regards....John

[romft1945]

Thank you all alls well that ends well?,
Rom

Here are a few more have about 20 or so left from the 81 I have,

1 Germany We fight for Victory-You work for it
2 Germany 1941 Never Germanys fighting and your efforts will save
Europe from Bolshevism.
3 germany 1940 Out with this Gallic Rubbish
4 Germany 1940 1940 Dunkirk
5 Germany 1939-40 Victory will come to our Banners!

[herakles]

More interesting posters!

Numbers 3 and 4 are most unpleasant.

[romft1945]

here we go with a little help from a friend some more posters of WWII


2 Germany 1934-35 Danzig is German
3 France De Gaulle commander 4th Armoured division
4 France To eternal France
5 Germany 1938 Say yes to the Fuhrer,on 4th December

[astraltrader]

Great to have them and you back Peter. Glad you enjoyed your holiday in Mombasa.

[romft1945]

Not many left so might aswell use them

1 Germany 1939 The mission of the German navy
2 France 1940 Mers-el-kebir
3 France no known details anyone any idea ????????????
4 Occupied France 1943 The jewish Conspirancy against Europe
5 France 1939 Buy arms bonds

[astraltrader]

Number 3 is just a "celebration" of the Allied side that is obviously winning or has won the war against Germany. The top left arm represents Russia, the top right Britain, bottom left USA and bottom right France...
Together they are pulling apart Germany or the Reich...

[Kevin Denlay]

Although these pale in comparison to most of whats gone before I thought I'd stick em on anyway. (All WW11 except #2, and all from USA.)

K

[astraltrader]

Cheers Kevin - appreciated mate!

[romft1945]

Thanks for that Terry and you Kevin very nice anymore bring them on,
ROM

[romft1945]

Just a few more to keep you happy ROM

1 France The victory of the United nations is now certain
2 France 1943 If the Soviet union won the war
3 France 1942 North Africa-The Soviet bridgehead
4 France 1940 Civil Defence

[romft1945]

just a few more
ROM

1 France 1940 National revolution
2 Vichy France Doomed the European Adventure
3 Vichy France 1942 Yesterday,,,,Today,,,,Tomorrow
4 Vichy France Its a long way to Rome

[herakles]

Here's a few more!

[romft1945]

will put more up in a few days have to go away for a day or so
ROM :p

[astraltrader]

Look forward to that Peter. Have a good trip mate.

[romft1945]

Here you go Ladies and Gents this is the last three in my collection of 81.


1 Occupied France Welcome to the enemies of Europe
2 Occupied France Working in Germany
3 Occupied France France,watch out for ghosts!

ROMFT.

[romft1945]

Well all you lucky people found 5 more but can assure you these are the lot,
ROMFT


1 Germany 1940 Dunkirk
2 Germany 1940 Out with this Gallic rubbish
3 Germany 1941 Never!
4 Germany We fight for it You work for it
5 Germany 1939_40 Victory will come to our banners

[herakles]

These have been most interesting. I'm glad you went to the trouble of posting them.

[romft1945]

These have been most interesting. I'm glad you went to the trouble of posting them.

Thanks Herks it is rather fun with all this new gear I have especially Windows Vista had to seek the aid of Terry (astraltrader) has did not have a clue what to do,
Romft

[astraltrader]

Pleased to help Peter. Anyway great posters as per usual!

[herakles]

I hope you never come to regret having Vista. Many say it's a backward step from XP.

[astraltrader]

I think it is a vast improvement - I have had it for almost a year and a half. I know Vista has its critics, as did XP when it first came out and Windows 98 before that. A classic case of fear of the unknown/change.
It is what one would expect...

[romft1945]

I still have all the discs for XP so if all goes pear shaped I can always revert,but I must say so far I have found it to be very good and I might say now used to it a lot easier,
ROMFT

[astraltrader]

It is another step forward from XP - and is as you say a lot easier to use...

[herakles]

Nonetheless when Microsoft announced the ending of sales of XP, international outrage was so big that they had to reverse the decision. Microsoft have stated that sales of Vista are "disappointing".

[astraltrader]

Cost of Vista had a lot to do with that. Anyway Herk - you have 2 Vista users who like it against one who aint got it who doesnt!
If you had it and after living with it didnt like it I would take more account.
Dont worry about it stay with XP:D

[herakles]

Frankly, if I could do away with all of Microsoft's products, it would be a good day.

[herakles]

Agreed. The shame is that there was good opposition - and British made - but it was swamped and disappeared. The American market is just so dominant.

[Stan.J]

A while since we saw posters on this thread, I have found a couple. 1. Using Old Bill from the first world war,
2.A Russian Poster.
3/4 A couple of montages from the inside spine of The Daily Telegraph book :-Record of the 2nd world war.

[Stan.J]

Sorry first two never made it another try!

[Stan.J]

Another try..Russian?

[Stan.J]

Now for Old Bill and son.

[Dreadnought]

Only just stumbled across this brilliant thread.

Here's one I don't think has been featured. American Navy WW2 submarine service recruiting poster.

[John Odom]

Here is one I found:

[Dreadnought]

I could only find a black and white example of this poster that was of a reasonable size/quality worthy of posting, so I have colourized it myself.

An American poster, date unknown.

[John Odom]

Colors are good, Clive. I remember that one.

[Dreadnought]

Thanks John, here is another one I have coloured, also US Navy ......... not such good quality original unfortunately.

[astraltrader]

Thanks Clive - I will admit that because of a seeming lack of interest I gave up on it some time ago so feel free to breathe some life into it.

I have literally hundreds and hundreds of postcards that I could add to the thread but a lack of time and as well an understanding of the forum needing to conserve our resources more for good warship photos means they will probably never see the light of day!

[Dreadnought]

Is there no end to the breadth and depth of your collections Terry ...??!! Some of the cards you have already posted here are fantastic. The Empire/Brittannia types are particular favourites of mine. So thanks for those you have posted, and fully appreciate why we can't see all of them.

[astraltrader]

Thanks Clive - much appreciated.

Maybe in the future one day if we get a greater picture hosting capacity I might upload some more so watch this space!!

[Dreadnought]

Will do Terry.

Here's an earlier vintage American recruiting poster - got warships on it Terry ..!!

[astraltrader]

Very interesting Clive.

I have dated it as just on the turn of the century.

Compared to the typical wages paid at that time in Britain the terms offered seem quite generous!

[cheapchippy]

Hi All,
Here is a recruitment advertisment published in The Sydney Morning Herald in 1954. Nice to see the Navy on top...still;)
Kudos to your colouring of posters Dreadnought-they look good.

[alanbenn]

Here's my small contribution.....

Regards
Alan

[terreplein]

I'm trying for the worst photography award in this thread. My posters are original world War I posters. I recently added a few at auction, and so looked up this thread. I didn't take pictures of many of them before I had them framed, so the resulting photographs are not good. The posters are, though. The two that look like they're in plastic, are. They recently arrived, and I haven't removed the plastic yet, as I have no better place to keep them.
I haven't read through the whole thread yet, but I did notice two of the previously posted WWII posters copied the pose of one of these WWI French posters.
The last picture is the French mobilization broadside used at the beginning of the Great War. Sorry it's not legible. It has the date, Dimanche deux Aout 1914, written in. It's a moving poster in it's own way, when you think of what it represents.

[Joseph Borda]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing them with us!!
Looking forward in seeing some more posters!!

Joe

[astraltrader]

I literally have hundreds of other WW1 and WW2 postcards similar to the ones I have already posted earlier on in this thread.

Unfortunately my time is limited due to all my moderating duties. Therefore posting photographs and pictures of warships/naval related content has to take first priority.

Later on this year if I do get any spare time I will consider adding to the thread.

[John Odom]

Those are beautiful, Terry! I hope you can soon post more.