During World War I, thousands of American soldiers were first introduced to cigarettes. Tobacco companies, volunteer groups and, eventually, the US government collected and shipped tobacco products "over there."
AC0433-0002536Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
"As for the poor fellows lying mangled in shell holes ... with life slowly ebbing away from a body soon to become dreamless dust - who would be heartless enough to 'prohibit' this last and only solace."
AC0433-0002537Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Tobacco companies welcomed the opportunity to promote cigarettes, using patriotism and the war in their advertisements.
AC0433-0006491Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
The phrase "three on a match," supposedly originating in WWI, comes to mind; lighting cigarettes could attract sniper fire.
AC0433-0002389Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Bull Durham proclaimed, "When our boys light up, the Huns will light out."
AC0433-0002533Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
When they came back, the boys didn't kick the habit; cigarette sales skyrocketed throughout the 20s, the product in many ways legitimated by its "service" in the war.
See Allan M. Brandt, The Cigarette Century (New York, 2007), pp. 52-4.
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