The Art of Persuasion: World War II Propaganda - Motivation

The exhibition showcased propaganda produced during the world conflict, through examples that show that the war was fought not only in the battlefield, but also in the background.

We own the lair of the fascist beast! (1945) by Ék SándorMuseu do Caramulo

We own the lair of the fascist beast!

Ék Sándor

1945

We own the lair of the fascist beast!

Ék Sándor

1945

Free Holland welcomes the soldiers of the Allies by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Free Holland. Welcomes the soldiers of the Allies.

Pat Keely

Nazi Germany will be quickly destroyed

- so as been decided by Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill at the conference in the Crimea


Ék Sándor

1945

Nazi Germany will be quickly destroyed

- so as been decided by Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill at the conference in the Crimea


Ék Sándor

1945

Jugoslavia's merchant seamen fight… by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

Jugoslavia's merchant seamen fight…

Unknown

The americas united for victory and human progress by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

The United Americas for the Victory and the Human Progress

UnknownCoordinador de Asuntos Interamericanos, U.S.A.

Be ready The army must finish the job! (1942) by Russel TaberMuseu do Caramulo

Be ready. The army must finish the job!

Russel Taber
Department of National Defence, Canada

1942

This time up to Berlin by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

This time we go until Berlin

Unknown 
1944

Image missing

United we are strong. United we will win.

Henry Koerne
Office of War Information, U.S.A.

1943

We've made a monkey out of you!

J. H. King

1943

We've made a monkey out of you!

J. H. King

1943

Winter work ... Strengthened summer! (1941) by J. S. De RoosMuseu do Caramulo

Winter work... Strengthened summer!

J. S. De Roos

1941

Hunt the Kraut Join the National Liberation Movement by Atelier R. P. R.Museu do Caramulo

Hunt the Kraut. Join the National Liberation Movement.

Atelier R. P. R. 
Mouvement de Liberation Nationale, France

Salute to THE Resistance - and go ahead! by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Hail to the Resistance - and go ahead!

Unknown
Bureau d’Information anglo-américain, France

1944

Abandoned populations rely on the German soldiers! (1940) by Theo MatejkoMuseu do Caramulo

Abandoned populations rely on the German soldiers!

Theo Matejko

1940

Fall in the fire-bomb fighters! by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Fall in the fire-bomb fighters!

Unknown
Ministry of Home Security, Great Britain

Freedom shall prevail! by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

Freedom shall prevail!

Unknown

Ours... to fight for freedom from fear by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

To fight for freedom from fear.

Rockwell Norman
U.S. Government

1943

To fight for freedom from fear.

Rockwell Norman
U.S. Government

1943

Ours... to fight for freedom from want (1943) by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

To fight for freedom from want

Rockwell Norman
U.S. Government

1943

That winning smile Now it is not about losing control by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

That winning smile. Now the point is not to lose your head.

Unknown

1944

Comrades, let's go! (1942) by Hubert RogersMuseu do Caramulo

Comrades, let's go!

Hubert Rogers 
Wartime Information Board, Canada

1942

Victory The armies of the united nations that will defeat Germany by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Victory

The armies of the United Nations that will defeat Germany


Unknown

Image missing

National Revolution

Philippe H. Noyer (Equipe Alain Fournier)
Secrétariat Général de l'Information, France


1940

The succession continues! There are some rest! by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

The Replacement continues!

They still need you… relieve them!


Unknown

1942

Tokyo by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Words of friendship lead to bad karma

Let's create a National Military Alliance against the Japanese 


Unknown

Image missing

You can’t be certain - You can be ready

Train in your spare time in the National Hospital Service Reserve


Unknown
Red Cross Society, Great Britain

Join A.R.P. (1944) by Jean CarluMuseu do Caramulo

Join A.R.P.

George Giusti
Fortune Magazine, U.S.A.

1944

Mightier yet! Britain's Mechanised Army grows stronger every day by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Mightier yet!

Britain's Mechanised Army grows stronger every day


Harold Pym

Great Britain freedom defender by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

Great Britain defender of freedom

C. E. Turner
British Embassy Press and Information Services, Portugal

Great Britain freedom defender by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

Great Britain defender of freedom

UnknownBritish Embassy Press and Information Services, Portugal

Great Britain freedom defender by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

Great Britain defender of freedom

Jobson
British Embassy Press and Information Services, Portugal

Great Britain freedom defender by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

Great Britain defender of freedom

Unknown
British Embassy Press and Information Services, Portugal

Great Britain freedom defender by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

Great Britain defender of freedom

Unknown
British Embassy Press and Information Services, Portugal

Let's stand against aggression by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

Let's unite against aggression

Unknown

Young man, do a good job by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Young man, do a good job

Unknown

EAM by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

1941-44 The new Papaflessas and Diakos fight for our nation

Unknown
c.1944

EAMMuseu do Caramulo

Hold high the legacy of our ancestors

Unknown
EAM, Greece

Image missing

The ELAS in the four years of slavery

was the guardian of the traditions of our homeland


Unknown

EAMMuseu do Caramulo

EAM created the most heroic young people in the nation

Unknown

Be with him at every mail call (1945) by Lejaren HillerMuseu do Caramulo

Be with him at every mail call

Lejaren Hiller
Recruiting Publicity Bureau U.S. Army
1945

Be with him at every mail call

Lejaren Hiller
Recruiting Publicity Bureau U.S. Army
1945

United. The United Nations fight for freedom (1943) by Leslie Darrell RaganMuseu do Caramulo

United. The United Nations fight for freedom.

Leslie Darrell Ragan
Office of War Information, U.S.A.

1943

The united nations fight for freedom by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

The United Nations fight for freedom

S. Broder
Office of War Information, U.S.A.

Image missing

We have just begun to fight!

Unknown
Office of War Information, U.S.A.

1943

The victory of the United Nations is now certain by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

The victory of the United Nations is now certain

Unknown

Image missing

We are united nations

Unknown
Life Magazine, U.S.A.

strong in the strenght of the lord by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Strong in the strength of the Lord

David Stone Martin 
Office of War Information, U.S.A.

1942

Blue Division Leningrado by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Blue Division

Unknown

The Blue Division by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

The Spanish division

Unknown

1942

Blue Division The blood from the fallen doesn't consent oblivion by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Blue Division

The blood from the fallen doesn't consent oblivion


Unknown

The Blue Division by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

The Blue Division

Unknown

Russia is guilty by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Russia is guilty

Unknown

5000 danish seamen sailing for United Nations by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

5000 danish seamen sailing for United Nations

Louise Dahl-Wolfe

Image missing

The man who leads

the crowd is the one who thinks, plans and acts for himself


Unknown

Image missing

Oh, Lord! Lay down their weapons!

Unknown

1944

We will have them by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Let's get them!

Unknown

Image missing

Infantry, the queen of the armed forces

Hans Liska

c.1943

Work for your victory as hard as we fight for it by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Work for victory as we fight for it!

Unknown

Believing in Germany, we shall fulfill our destiny. Adolf Hitler (1939) by Robert FuchsMuseu do Caramulo

By believing in Germany, we shall fulfill our destiny.

Adolf Hitler

Robert Fuchs
Reichspropagandaleitung, Germany

1939

There is no gain with half measures. The highest award requires the ultimate sacrifice. Theodor Fontane (1943) by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

There is no gain with half measures.

The highest award requires the ultimate sacrifice. 
Theodor Fontane 


Unknown
Reichspropagandaleitung, Germany

1943

FeuerspruchMuseu do Caramulo

Fire incantation

The flame shines through the smoke!
Following the ancient sacred custom
The heart will rise 
The flame is purified by smoke: 
So purify our faith! 
Your light, who wants to steal it? 
Johann Wolfgang Goethe


Unknown

1939

The mother's heart is the son's most beautiful place, even if he has gray hair. And everyone have, in the whole universe, a heart like this. (1942) by Adalbert StifterMuseu do Caramulo

The mother's heart is the son's most beautiful place

even if he has gray hair. And everyone have, in the whole universe, a heart like this.


Adalbert Stifter
Reichspropagandaleitung, Germany

1942

When this war comes to an end, I will become a National-Socialist even more fanatic than ever before. Adolf Hitler (1942) by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

When this war comes to an end

I will become a National-Socialist even more fanatic than ever before.
Adolf Hitler 


Unknown
Reichspropagandaleitung, Germany

1942

Above the freedom of the inividual lies the freedom of our people. Adolf Hitler (1939) by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Above the freedom of the inividual lies

the freedom of our people.
Adolf Hitler

Unknown
Reichspropagandaleitung, Germany

1939

Thriving hearts are the ones who lead to victory. (1943) by AhrléMuseu do Caramulo

Thriving hearts are the ones who lead to victory.

Ahrlé 
Reichspropagandaleitung, Germany

1943

Today, the German people and its soldiers work and fight, not only for the present but also for the future generations. (1942) by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Today, the German people and its soldiers work and fight

not only for the present but also for the future generations.
Adolf Hitler


Unknown
Reichspropagandaleitung, Germany

1942

Posterity forget men who only serve their own interests and praises the heroes who renounce their own happiness. Word of the Führer (1942) by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Posterity forget men who only serve their own interests

and praises the heroes who renounce their own happiness.
Word of the Führer


Unknown
Reichspropagandaleitung, Germany

1942

Only serenity and a heart of steel will lead to victory. Goebbels (1943) by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Only serenity and a heart of steel will lead to victory.

Goebbles

Unknown
Reichspropagandaleitung, Germany

1943

You carry the flags and standards and are the guarantors for the liberation of Europe from Bolshevism by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Bring the flags and banners

and be the assurance of an Europe free from Bolshevism


Unknown
Reichspropagandaleitung, Germany

1941

September 10 - in Bromberg Bloody Sunday. When light collides with darkness there are no agreements, only the struggle of life or death to the extermination of one party. Dietrich Eckart (1942) by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

September 10 - in Bromberg Bloody Sunday

When light collides with darkness there are no agreements, only the struggle of life or death to the extermination of one party.
Dietrich Eckart

Unknown
Reichspropagandaleitung, Germany

1942

Image missing

It can not be otherwise: we have to win and we will win.

Adolf Hitler 

Kaske
Reichspropagandaleitung, Germany

1940

Image missing

SS - The victorious behind us!

Unknown

Only brave people have a safe life (1942) by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Only brave people have a safe life

Unknown
Reichspropagandaleitung, Germany

1942

Handeln by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

You should act as if fate of Germany depended on you

and your actions and the responsibility was yours. 
Johann Gottlieb Fichte


Unknown

1941

Image missing

Dig ’em out

Unknown
Philco Corporation, U.S.A.

1942

Crush fascism. Perpetrators of war must pay war debts! (1945) by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Crush fascism. Perpetrators of war must pay war debts!

Unknown
Soumen Kansan Demokraattisen Liiton

1945

Objective Tokio by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Objective Tokio

Unknown
Coordinador de Asuntos Interamericanos, U.S.A.

Join the army (1941) by Veyron-Lacroix (Equipe Alain Fournier)Museu do Caramulo

Join the army

Veyron-Lacroix (Equipe Alain Fournier)

1941

In the battle field and in the work field, the army and the people assure our victory (1942) by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

In the battle field and in the work field

the army and the people assure our victory

Unknown
Servizio Propaganda P.N.F., Italy
1942

What is the atlantic battle (1943) by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

What is the Atlantic battle

UnknownServizio Propaganda P.N.F., Italy

1943

The block taken by the enemy has not affected the Axxis powers (1943) by UnkownMuseu do Caramulo

The block taken by the enemy

has not affected the Axxis powers


Unknown
Servizio Propaganda P.N.F., Italy

1943

Freedom of the seas is in your own backyard (1944) by Herbert BayerMuseu do Caramulo

Freedom of the seas is in your own backyard

Herbert Bayer
Fortune Magazine, U.S.A.

1944

Choose the Regular Army Air Forces for your career (1945) by OttMuseu do Caramulo

Choose the Regular Army Air Forces for your career

Ott
1945

Japanese Poster 5 by UnknownMuseu do Caramulo

Japanese, fighting against China

is already occupying Nankin and showing the "Japanese Strong Spirit"


Unknown

Image missing

After the occupation of Nakin

the second phase of occupation of all territories and the stabilization of the new Japanese government in China has already started


Unknown

Credits: Story

The people of the involved nations were mobilised in an active support of the war effort by the powerful images in the posters. The printed poster was the main form of propaganda, especially since it was easy to produce and could be glued almost anywhere, so that the message was always present among the citizens, asking them to give more of themselves, produce more and sacrifice themselves for the sake of the war effort. The posters were also the most democratic way of reaching equally all kinds of people. In the United States alone, more than 3000 different posters were produced. 

The Art of Persuasion - Protection
The Art of Persuasion - Financing
The Art of Persuasion - Production
The Art of Persuasion - Rationing

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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