Homefront Propaganda in Germany and the U.S.A.
Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels and the American Office of War Information took on similar tasks during World War II. Both worked to persuade citizens of the importance of the war effort, stir up patriotism, and emphasize crucial efforts like resource conservation and silence about military tactics.
View propaganda posters from the U.S. and Germany.
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Posters in both nations urged citizens to conserve energy, water, and other resources.
"There he is again! He's always hungry, his sack is always empty. Greedily he skulks around the oven, the stove or the dripping faucet. He sneaks around the window, the door or the light switch, stealing what he can. He steals from armaments production, which needs every little bit, he steals from city and countryside. Catch him!
Read more about it in the newspapers."
Credit: German Propaganda Archive -
Posters in both nations urged citizens to conserve energy, water, and other resources.
"Your wartime duty! Don't waste water...
Do not use hose for washing your automobile
Do use water from a pail
Do not let water run a long time to get a drink
Do keep water in icebox instead"
These posters were created by the New York City Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity.
Credit: Library of Congress -
Women in Air-Raid Protection. German authorities called on ordinary people to help defend their neighborhoods.
Credit: German Propaganda Archive -
American authorities called on ordinary people to help defend their neighborhoods. "There's a job for every Pennsylvanian in these civilian defense efforts. Citizens Defense Corps, Citizens Service Corps, American Unity, Salvage Program, Victory Gardens."
Credit: Library of Congress -
Citizens in both the U.S. and Germany were asked to make personal sacrifices for the war effort, like giving up planned trips or donating clothes. "Get rid of old cloth and shoes!"
Credit: German Propaganda Museum -
Citizens in both the U.S. and Germany were asked to make personal sacrifices for the war effort, like giving up planned trips or donating clothes. "Millions of troops are on the move... is your trip necessary?"
Credit: National Archives and Records Administration -
Americans and Germans -- including many schoolchildren -- recycled paper for their opposing war efforts.
"Waste Paper Collection 1943
4 April - 24 April"
Credit: German Propaganda Archive -
Americans and Germans -- including many schoolchildren -- recycled paper for their opposing war efforts.
"Save waste paper.
It is a "weapon of war!" "
Credit: National Archives and Records Administration -
"Come Join the "Kindlandverschickung" [this untranslatable word combines "child", "countryside" and "send." It sounds like a vacation program, but describes the voluntary evacuation of urban children to lower-density, lower-risk areas.]
3-10 year olds register with the N.S.V. [Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt, or National Socialist Public Welfare Society]
10-14 year olds at school"
Families on both sides of the battle lines were urged to plan for their futures, whether that meant planting a victory garden to ensure there was enough to eat or sending children out of harm's way.
Credit: German Propaganda Archive -
"Grow it yourself.
Plan a farm garden now."
Families on both sides of the battle lines were urged to plan for their futures, whether that meant planting a victory garden to ensure there was enough to eat or sending children out of harm's way.
Credit: Library of Congress -
"Youth Serves the Führer. All 10-year-olds into the Hitler Youth."
Posters in both nations promoted patriotism to special segments of the population. In Germany, boys were made to join the Hitler Youth. By the time this poster was issued, membership in this organization had been mandatory for four years.
Credit: German Propaganda Archive -
"Books are weapons. Read about... The Negro in National Defense. Africa and the War. Negro History and Culture. At the Schomburg Collection of the New York Public Library."
Posters in both nations promoted patriotism to special segments of the population. In America, citizens were encouraged to use public library resources on African American history and culture. This poster refers obliquely to Nazi book-burnings by promoting the importance of knowledge. The Nazis' racist ideology viewed non-Aryans, including African Americans, as inferior.
Credit: Library of Congress -
"District Meeting of the N.S.D.A.P. [Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, or National Socialist German Workers Party, the official name of the Nazi Party]
Bad Tölz, 23-25 May 1941"
A woman works on the family farm while her husband fights at the front. With men on the front lines, women filled in on the job, in factories or on farms. Both governments sent women the message that their work was essential for victory.
Credit: German Propaganda Archive -
"Sewing electrically heated flying suits with a smile -- so that our boys can make it HOT for the AXIS. Who said, "This is a man's war?" This is OUR war!"
With men on the front lines, women filled in on the job, in factories or on farms. Both governments sent women the message that their work was essential for victory.
Credit: National Archives and Records Administration -
"Build Weapons for the Front"
German and American factories converted their assembly lines to make war materiel. Tradesmen were in high demand in both nations, for work both in the armed forces and in industry.
Credit: German Propaganda Archive -
"Build for your Navy! Enlist! Carpenters, machinists, electricians etc. For information apply to your nearest recruiting station. U.S. Navy - Bureau of Yards & Docks."
German and American factories converted their assembly lines to make war materiel. Tradesmen were in high demand in both nations, for work both in the armed forces and in industry.
Credit: Library of Congress -
The shadowy figure of a spy hovers over a couple dining in a restaurant.
Being a good citizen meant keeping quiet about sensitive information -- troop movements, for example. Posters reminded people that spies could be lurking anywhere, monitoring conversations -- in public places, on telephone lines, or intercepting letters.
Credit: German Propaganda Archive -
Being a good citizen meant keeping quiet about sensitive information -- troop movements, for example. Posters reminded people that spies could be lurking anywhere, monitoring conversations -- in public places, on telephone lines, or intercepting letters.
The Thirteenth Naval District of the U.S. Navy created this poster.
Credit: Library of Congress -
"The enemy sees your light! Black out!"
Blackout orders helped cities hide their strategic targets from enemy bombers. Ships were urged to limit broadcast transmissions so their locations could not be pinpointed.
Credit: German Propaganda Archive -
"Disaster
Broadcast receivers can help the enemy sink you.
Don't use them!"
Blackout orders helped cities hide their strategic targets from enemy bombers. Ships were urged to limit broadcast transmissions so their locations could not be pinpointed.
Credit: Library of Congress
