WAR & Rumours of WAR
The 20th century was defined by warfare: two World Wars which, with a break for recession, recovery and re-arming, culminated in the dropping of the first nuclear bomb on Hiroshima on August 8th 1945.
This was followed by the ‘Cold War’, a nuclear standoff between USSR and the USA, and smaller wars wherever one side, or the other, overstepped the ‘demarcation line’ of geo-political interest, i.e in Korea, Vietnam. Cuba, Latin America, Afghanistan, the ‘free-for-all grapple’ for post-colonial Africa, and a revolution in China).
During the early 20th century the graphic arts came to the fore as an important messenger of commerce, policy and ideology. Posters, magazines/newspapers, photos and film became the propaganda ‘weapons of choice’ for opposing forces of all kinds.
It has been said that ‘Wealth, Violence and Knowledge control the world’, but ‘Knowledge ‘ can be divided in two parts:’ information’ and ‘misinformation’ .
This was followed by the ‘Cold War’, a nuclear standoff between USSR and the USA, and smaller wars wherever one side, or the other, overstepped the ‘demarcation line’ of geo-political interest, i.e in Korea, Vietnam. Cuba, Latin America, Afghanistan, the ‘free-for-all grapple’ for post-colonial Africa, and a revolution in China).
During the early 20th century the graphic arts came to the fore as an important messenger of commerce, policy and ideology. Posters, magazines/newspapers, photos and film became the propaganda ‘weapons of choice’ for opposing forces of all kinds.
It has been said that ‘Wealth, Violence and Knowledge control the world’, but ‘Knowledge ‘ can be divided in two parts:’ information’ and ‘misinformation’ .
Propaganda Posters
World War I and II
Germany -World War I
The Germany that entered World War I was a culturally conservative and rather authoritarian society were the state played an essential role in industry. Perhaps in part due to said conservative attitude, modern poster styles, as embodied in Plakatstil, did not make a clear breakthrough during the war, only partially.
During World War I, the German Empire was one of the Central Powers that ultimately lost the war. It began participation with the conflict after the declaration of war against Serbia by its ally, Austria-Hungary. German forces fought the Allies on both the eastern and western fronts, although German territory itself remained relatively safe from widespread invasion for most of the war, except for a brief period in 1914 when East Prussia was invaded. A tight blockade imposed by the British Navy caused severe food shortages in the cities, especially in the winter of 1916-1917, known as the turnip winter.
During World War I, the German Empire was one of the Central Powers that ultimately lost the war. It began participation with the conflict after the declaration of war against Serbia by its ally, Austria-Hungary. German forces fought the Allies on both the eastern and western fronts, although German territory itself remained relatively safe from widespread invasion for most of the war, except for a brief period in 1914 when East Prussia was invaded. A tight blockade imposed by the British Navy caused severe food shortages in the cities, especially in the winter of 1916-1917, known as the turnip winter.
Go on soldier! And fulfill your duty!
Christ, the good shepherd watches over his flock. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. The claim of divine support in war may be as old as war itself. The crusaders thought they had it, all sides in the 30-years war of the 17th century were sure they had it. During World War II, an American poster from World War II presented the boxer Joe Louis stating that the allies would win because God was on their side, while German soldiers fought with belt buckles stating "Gott Mit Uns" ("God is with us")Depicting it as it's done here however, is rather gutsy in my eyes, with Jesus himself personally blessing and watching over the soldiers as they ride on to the front. This poster is clearly done in the style of a painting, a style that was still regularly to be seen at this time but would soon be displaced by more modern styles.
Germany World War II
The European stage of World War II erupted in September of 1939 with the German invasion of Poland. In the year before, Germany had annexed Austria and the Sudetenland portion of Czechoslovakia. German strategy in World War II is wholly intelligible only if Hitler’s far-reaching system of power politics and his racist ideology are borne in mind. Since the 1920s his program had been first to win power in Germany proper, next to consolidate Germany’s domination over Central Europe, and then to raise Germany to the status of a world power by two stages: (1) the building up of a continental empire embracing all Europe, including the European portion of the Soviet Union, and (2) the attainment for Germany of equal rank with the British Empire, Japan, and the United States—the only world powers to be left after the elimination of France and the U.S.S.R.—through the acquisition of colonies in Africa and the construction of a strong fleet with bases on the Atlantic. In the succeeding generation Hitler foresaw a decisive conflict between Germany and the United States, during which he hoped that Great Britain would be Germany’s ally.
The eternal Jew - 1940
An advertising poster for the best known German propaganda film aimed at the Jews. In a type with a clear similarity to the Hebrew alphabet, the title "Der ewige Jude" (The eternal Jew) is spelled out, alluding to the eternal nature of the corruption of the Jews. In the style of a documentary, the film contrast the laborious and moral German/Nordic race with the hedonistic, greedy and lazy Jews. In the poster, this is symbolized by the content of the mans hands, money and what looks like a whip. Seemingly slapped on top at the last minute is a map piece with the communist hammer and sickle, to make sure that the Bolshevik connection isn't forgotten.
England World War I
Britain entered the war on 4 August 1914. The possessor of a small professional army and without a policy of conscription she had urgent need of more men - many, many more men - for training within the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). The country's armed forces were reorganised—the war marked the creation of the Royal Air Force, for example—and increased in size because of the introduction, in January 1916, of forced conscription for the first time in the country's history as well as the raising of the largest all-volunteer army in history, known as Kitchener's Army, of more than two million men.The outbreak of war has generally been regarded as a socially unifying event, though this view has been challenged by more recent scholarship. In any case, responses in the United Kingdom in 1914 were similar to those amongst populations across Europe.
Origin: A British recruitment poster which would have come out before conscription was introduced in January 1916.
Motive: To encourage men in Britain to enlist in the New Armies.
Audience: Men who are eligible to enlist and who are in the right age group. This changed over time but ranged from 19-40 years. This poster would not be aimed at skilled workers in occupations required by the Government.
Content: The symbol - John Bull represents the British people, note the Union Jack waistcoat.
Personal appeal - Use of Question -'Who's Absent? Is it You?'
The finger pointing at the reader -'You'.
Soldiers waiting in the background for 'your' response.
Other features to note:
Brevity of language.
Simple message - easy to comprehend by a reader walking past
The poster's message is obvious because many people would not stop to read a poster.
England World War II
Britain, along with most of its dominions, Crown colonies, and British India, declared war on Nazi Germany in 1939. War with Japan began in 1941, after it attacked British colonies in Asia. The Axis powers were defeated by the Allies in 1945. Although Britain had increased military spending and funding prior to 1939 in response to the increasing strength of Nazi Germany, its forces were still weak by comparison - especially the British Army. Only the Royal Navy - at the time the largest in the world[3] - was of a greater strength than its German counterpart. The British Army only had nine divisions available for war, whereas Germany had 78 and France 86.
A unique cache of approximately 15 original “Keep Calm and Carry On” World War II propaganda posters were brought in for appraisal to an Antiques Roadshow event at St. Andrews University in Scotland. This is the only known collection of the original 1939 poster whose iconography has become ubiquitous over the past few years both in its original form and in countless parodies.
“Keep Calm and Carry On” was one of three posters designed and printed to rally the population of Britain for war before war was even declared. There wasn’t even a Ministry of Information, in fact, when the posters were first conceived, because the department responsible for propaganda and censorship had been closed at the end of World War I. Reestablishing an MOI would be tantamount to a government announcement that they expected to go to war again, so the organization was developed in secret in the late 1930s and only officially formed on September 4th, 1939, four days after the German invasion of Poland, one day after Britain declared war on Germany.
“Keep Calm and Carry On” was one of three posters designed and printed to rally the population of Britain for war before war was even declared. There wasn’t even a Ministry of Information, in fact, when the posters were first conceived, because the department responsible for propaganda and censorship had been closed at the end of World War I. Reestablishing an MOI would be tantamount to a government announcement that they expected to go to war again, so the organization was developed in secret in the late 1930s and only officially formed on September 4th, 1939, four days after the German invasion of Poland, one day after Britain declared war on Germany.
U.S World War I
On April 6, 1917, the U.S. joined its allies--Britain, France, and Russia--to fight in World War I. Under the command of Major General John J. Pershing, more than 2 million U.S. soldiers fought on battlefields in France. Many Americans were not in favor of the U.S. entering the war and wanted to remain neutral. However, the U.S. eventually did enter the war. Disagreements in Europe over territory and boundaries, among other issues, came to a head with the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian zealot on June 28, 1914. Exactly one month later, war broke out. In 1915, the British passenger liner the Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine, killing 128 Americans and futher heightening tensions. By the end of 1915, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire were battling the Allied Powers of Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Belgium, Serbia, Montenegro and Japan. In 1917, the U.S. entered the war. Germany formally surrendered on November 11, 1918, and all nations agreed to stop fighting while the terms of peace were negotiated.
Poster shows Uncle Sam pointing his finger at the viewer in order to recruit soldiers for the American Army during World War I. The printed phrase "Nearest recruiting station" has a blank space below to add the address for enlisting. Uncle Sam (initials U.S.) is a common national personification of the American government that, according to legend, came into use during the War of 1812 and was supposedly named for Samuel Wilson.
Maker
James Montgomery Flagg (Artist)
James Montgomery Flagg was born in New York in 1877. As a child he began to draw and sold his first drawing at the age of 12. Two years later he was contributing to Life Magazine and at fifteen was on the staff of the The Judge. Flagg studied at the Arts Students League in New York. When he was twenty, he spent a year working in London before moving on to France. Flagg was one of America's leading illustrators. His illustrations were in Photoplay, McClure's Magazine, Collier's Weekly, Ladies' Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, Saturday Evening Post and Harper's Weekly. During the First World War Flagg designed 46 posters for the government. His most famous work is the Uncle Sam poster with the caption "I Want You for the U.S. Army". An adapted version of this poster was also used during the Second World War. James Montgomery Flagg died in 1960.
Maker
James Montgomery Flagg (Artist)
James Montgomery Flagg was born in New York in 1877. As a child he began to draw and sold his first drawing at the age of 12. Two years later he was contributing to Life Magazine and at fifteen was on the staff of the The Judge. Flagg studied at the Arts Students League in New York. When he was twenty, he spent a year working in London before moving on to France. Flagg was one of America's leading illustrators. His illustrations were in Photoplay, McClure's Magazine, Collier's Weekly, Ladies' Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, Saturday Evening Post and Harper's Weekly. During the First World War Flagg designed 46 posters for the government. His most famous work is the Uncle Sam poster with the caption "I Want You for the U.S. Army". An adapted version of this poster was also used during the Second World War. James Montgomery Flagg died in 1960.
U.S World War II
In September 1939, the ideological affinity between the USA and Britain was unquestionable, yet large swathes of the US public, media and politicians were deeply isolationist. With hindsight, many people resented America’s involvement in the First World War. The desire to ‘avoid foreign entanglements’ and focus on domestic issues was widespread. When war broke out in Europe, US President Franklin Roosevelt recognised that the conflict threatened US security, and looked for ways to help the European democracies without direct involvement in the war. This necessity increased in June 1940, when the Fall of France left Britain as the only democracy standing between Nazi Germany and America. In 1939, the Fourth Neutrality Act authorised the US to trade arms with belligerents provided that the countries paid in cash and collected them. In March 1941, Roosevelt moved further towards making the US the ‘arsenal of democracy’ with the Lend-Lease Act, which permitted the lending, leasing, selling, or bartering of arms, ammunition and food to “any country whose defence the President deems vital to the defence of the US.”
This is a professionally done reproduction poster photo of a WWII Military Poster - O'er the ramparts we watch. - US Army Air Forces.
A young man with dark hair stands in the clouds, holding a large rocket-shaped bomb. He wears a brown leather bomber jacket and a silver I.D. bracelet. Small images of military airplanes fly in the clouds below him.
Over the ramparts we watch were so glancing streaming refers to a building of defense, with a perpendicular wall that extends past the roof, to hide behind. It means from the battlements they saw the American flag, through the flashes of light from the bombs, still silently waving. That is, a fortification made up of an embankment, often with a parapet built on top.
A young man with dark hair stands in the clouds, holding a large rocket-shaped bomb. He wears a brown leather bomber jacket and a silver I.D. bracelet. Small images of military airplanes fly in the clouds below him.
Over the ramparts we watch were so glancing streaming refers to a building of defense, with a perpendicular wall that extends past the roof, to hide behind. It means from the battlements they saw the American flag, through the flashes of light from the bombs, still silently waving. That is, a fortification made up of an embankment, often with a parapet built on top.
Revolution Propaganda
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was not only fought by armed rebels on the battlefield but also through the propaganda campaigns designed and orchestrated by Fidel Castro and his rebel comrades. Cuban Revolutionary Propaganda included Castro’s use of personal interviews with journalists, radio broadcasts and publicity seeking operations that contributed significantly to the victory of the rebels over Fulgencio Batista’s and provided insight into the successful propaganda campaign established by Castro after gaining power.The limited yet successful revolutionary propaganda apparatus transitioned into what Castro has called “one of the most potent weapons in his foreign policy arsenal.” Today the Cuban government maintains an intricate propaganda machine that includes a global news agency, magazines, newspapers, broadcasting facilities, publishing houses, front groups, and other miscellaneous organizations that all stem from the modest beginnings of Castro’s revolutionary propaganda machine. The freedom fighters of South Africa and Angola produced iconic posters that have become quite famous and part of ‘world art’. The Cuban revolutionary posters, like the one of Che Guevara, are still reproduced worldwide and on all kind of merchandise,( most of which have nothing to do with Cuba or its revolution).
This image, taken from a 1960 photograph by Alberto Korda, became one of the most iconic propaganda images of all times. Che Guevara, an Argentinian Marxist, fought successfully with Castro against the corrupt Batista regime in Cuba. He then tried to export the Cuban revolution to the rest of the world. He first went to Congo-Kinshasa in Africa, and then to Bolivia. In 1967 he was captured in Bolivia by CIA assisted Bolivian troops and executed. Che became even more famous after his death. His images were displayed on millions of t-shirts and student walls around the world.
Soviet Union Revolution
“… Arm-in-Arm with the Proletarian Women of Russia, You will Finally Break off the Last Shackles.”
The ethnic groups whose home lay on the periphery of Russia, such as the famous Cossacks, had always played a large part in its military defense. Tatarstan actually lies quite close to the cultural heart of Russia, but managed to retain for centuries its own Islamic culture and Turkic language. This poster, which features Tartar script as well as Russian, encourages Tartar women to abandon the “shackles” of tradition in favour of the factories and furnaces of modernity. Part of the Soviet drive to assimilate the Tartars involved discouraging the traditionally subservient role of women. Gender equality thrived in many aspects of Soviet life (though women were notably absent from high state politics).
China Revolution
1950 – Smash the imperialist war conspiracy, forge ahead courageously to build our peaceful and happy life!
The (territorial part of the) communist revolution was barely finished when the People's Republic was reluctantly dragged into another war, this time in Korea. North-Korea had invaded the south and made great advances, only to collapse once the US and the United Nations got involved on the side of the South.
US General MacArthur, happy with the initial success, decided to press on into the north and drive home a complete victory. This compelled the People's Republic to enter the war, and thus followed three years of bloody stalemate resulting in an estimated 4 million deaths and no significant territorial changes. With white doves flying above, the poster suggests that the People's Republic did not want this war, but were forced into it by US and British imperialists, as illustrated by the little caricatures being trampled underfoot.