Source Collection: World War II

What new ideas and tools did governments develop to wage the “total war” of the Second World War?

Document 1

Author	Various
Date and location	1937–1944, Various nations
Source type	Primary source – posters
Description	Individual descriptions can be found next to each of the six posters that make up this source. Note that these are all from “Axis power” countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Japan. Please note that only the images—not the descriptions, apart from the translations of text on the posters—are primary sources.
Citation	See citations with individual images below.

“’They give blood, give your work to save Europe from Bolshevism’ German and Vichy France’s propaganda poster encouraging the population to participate in the STO (Compulsory Work Service), 1942, Private collection” (Photo by Leemage/Corbis via Getty Images) https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/they-give-blood-give-your-work-to-save-europe-from-news-photo/587489232

A dramatic, red-toned propaganda poster showing a large soldier’s helmeted face in the sky above a crowd of workers walking toward a factory.

“A Dutch poster from World War II, depicting a WA man with the words ‘In dienst van ons volk, en gij? Wordt WA man’ (‘In the service of our people, and you? Become a WA man’), circa 1943. The WA or Weerbaarheidsafdeling were the paramilitary wing of the Dutch Nazi party NSB, who worked in collaboration with the Germans to arrest Jews and Resistance members. Poster by Lou Manche.” (Photo by Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images) https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/dutch-poster-from-world-war-ii-depicting-a-wa-man-with-the-news-photo/84300779

An illustration of a man in a black uniform and peaked cap with red accents, staring directly ahead. Bold green, white, and red text surrounds him on a yellow background.

“’The three great leaders defenders of peace and civilization’ Propaganda postcard, Italy, Rome 1937” (Photo by Fototeca Gilardi/ Getty Images). https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/nationalism-fascism-nazism-mussolini-hitler-franco-news-photo/691237257

A colorful propaganda postcard showing portraits of Mussolini, Hitler, and Franco in overlapping rings over a globe. Nazi, Italian, and Spanish flags frame the image.

“An Italian poster from World War II depicts the Statue of Liberty removing her mask to reveal a grinning skull, as she presides over the destruction, 1944. The caption reads ‘Ecco i liberatori!’ (‘Here are the liberators!’).” (Photo by Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images) https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/an-italian-poster-from-world-war-ii-depicts-the-statue-of-news-photo/84358247

A dark propaganda poster showing a skeletal figure dressed as the Statue of Liberty holding a mask and torch, rising from smoke above a city engulfed in flames and bombs.

“Japanese samurai sinking the American fleet at Pearl Harbor (7 December 1941), poster by Gino Boccasile (1901–1952), Italy, 20th century.” (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images) https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/japanese-samurai-sinking-the-american-fleet-at-pearl-harbor-news-photo/182132898

A giant samurai in full armor towers over a naval battle, sword raised above his head. Behind him, Nazi, Japanese, and Italian flags billow dramatically in the smoke-filled sky.

Japanese anti-British propaganda leaflet air dropped into Assam, India, 1944. “It is written in Hindi and Bengali, and titled ‘Glorious Freedom. Revenge for our blood-bathed history’. The leaflet illustrates an Indian pointing dramatically to the viewer with the shadow of death and decay in the background.

The text … makes reference of the Battle of Plassey (1757), the Indian Mutiny (1857–1859), World War One (1914–1918) and the Amritsar Massacre (1919).” (Photo courtesy of National Army Museum, UK) https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php? acc=2000-06-159-1

An Indian man wearing a white turban points forcefully at the viewer against a bold red background. The poster is filled with Hindi and Bengali text, with marching soldiers and elephants faintly illustrated behind him.

Glossary

Bolshevism: the doctrine or program of the Russian communists calling for revolution against capitalism
Propaganda: information or opinions, often based or misleading, that are made public to influence opinion for or against something
Collaboration: can mean either working together towards a common goal or working with the enemy

Document 2

Author	Various
Date and location	1940–1943, Various nations
Source type	Primary source – posters
Description	These propaganda posters from the Allied countries were designed to promote support for the Allied powers and opposition to the Axis powers during the Second World War. Notice the style of art and messaging in these government-produced images. Individual descriptions are provided with each image. Please note that only the images—not the descriptions, apart from the translations of text on the posters—are primary sources.
Citation	See citations with individual images below.

This 1941 “war poster is typical of those which are plastered all over Moscow as the Germans advance on the Soviet capital.” The text reads: “Kill the Fascist Reptile.” The artist Alexei Kokorekin created numerous propaganda posters for the Soviet Union and the Allies. (Photo by Bettmann/Getty Images) https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/this-savage-war-poster-is-typical-of-those-which-are-news-photo/514686516

A clenched hand drives a rifle downward, crushing a black, insect-like creature with swastika markings. A hammer and sickle symbol appears above bold Cyrillic text.

“’We Will Beat the Enemy with our Bolshevik Harvest Gathering.’ Found in the Collection of Russian State Library, Moscow.” A. G. Sittaro 1941. (Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images) https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/we-will-beat-the-enemy-with-our-bolshevik-harvest-gathering-news-photo/905608252

A woman in a red dress and white headscarf swings a sheaf of wheat while the wheat transforms into red bullets as they rain down on a shadowy black mass.

This American propaganda poster from 1943 features a woman working at an aircraft factory. The poster tries to get women to take on jobs left vacant by men fighting in the war, and lists some of the areas where there is more need, such as farm worker, bus driving, and elevator operation. (Photo by Universal History Archive/Getty Images) https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/world-war-ii-1939-1945-the-more-women-at-work-the-sooner-we-news-photo/113492800?adppopup=true

A wartime American poster featuring a woman in a red uniform and headscarf working on an aircraft canopy. Bold text above urges women to join the workforce to help win the war, while a list below highlights various essential roles women can fill.

“Together” by William Little, August 1941 “The poster depicts a number of uniformed Commonwealth servicemen marching under a flying Union Jack flag, with the slogan ‘Together’. It was part of a series of propaganda “posters designed to demonstrate strength in unity. The image was passed for publication on 22 August 1941.” (Image courtesy of The National Archives, UK) Catalogue ref: INF 3/400 https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/ resources/art-war/

Crown License - Permission to use for education purposes)

A World War II-era poster featuring soldiers from across the British Empire, depicted in varied uniforms and skin tones, marching in unison beneath a large Union Jack.

“A US poster showing a two-headed German/Japanese monster tearing the Statue of Liberty apart, while in the foreground a hand holds a wrench with the word ‘Production’ on the handle, 1943. Beneath are the words ‘Stop this monster that stops at nothing... Produce to the limit! This is YOUR war!’ Poster by Bert Yates.” (Photo by Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images) https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/world-war-ii-poster-showing-a-two-headed-german-japanese-news-photo/84300828

A U.S. propaganda poster depicting a monstrous figure with exaggerated, grotesque features representing Axis powers—shown crushing the Statue of Liberty and wielding a bloodied weapon. A large hand holding a wrench labeled "PRODUCTION" moves to strike the monster.

Glossary

Bolshevik: a term used to describe communists and others on the far left of the political spectrum and ideas such as a classless society and the overthrow of capitalism
Fascism: a term used to describe members of the far right of the political spectrum and ideas such as a strong single leader, suppression of opposition, and intense nationalism

Document 3

Author	Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (1883–1945) Giovanni Gentile (1875–1944)
Date and location	1932, Italy
Source type	Primary source – essay
Description	In 1932 the Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini and the Italian philosopher Giovanni Gentile published an entry for the Italian Encyclopedia on the definition of fascism. The excerpt below, likely authored primarily by Gentile, outlines the political philosophy of fascism.
Citation	Mussolini, Benito. “The Doctrine of Fascism.” In The Social and Political Doctrines of Contemporary Europe, edited by Michael Oakeshott, 164-179. The Macmillan Company, 1945.

… Fascism [is] the precise negation of... Marxian Socialism:.. according to which... can be explained only as the struggle of interest between the different social groups and as arising out of change in the means and instruments of production.... Fascism believes... in acts in which no economic motive—remote or immediate—plays a part.... there is also denied the... “class struggle” which is the natural product of this economic conception of history, and above all it is denied that the class struggle can be the primary agent of social changes...

… Fascism denies that the majority... can rule human societies; it denies that this majority can govern by means of a periodical consultation; it affirms the... inequality of men, who cannot be levelled by such a mechanical and extrinsic fact as universal suffrage...

… For Fascism the State is as an absolute before which individuals and groups are relative...

… For Fascism the tendency to Empire, that is to say, to the expansion of nations, is a manifestation of vitality; its opposite, staying at home, is a sign of decadence... Empire calls for discipline, co-ordination of forces, duty and sacrifice; this explains many aspects of the practical working of the regime and the direction of many of the forces of the State and the necessary severity shown to those who would wish to oppose this

Glossary

Negation: to oppose something and make it ineffective
Socialism: a theory of government in which the whole community rather than individuals owns property and resources
Fascism: a term used to describe members of the far right of the political spectrum and ideas such as a strong single leader, suppression of opposition, and intense nationalism

Document 4

Author	Unknown/multiple authors
Date and location	1940–1945, London, Coventry, Milan, Tokyo, and Dresden
Source type	Primary source – photographs
Description	During the Second World War, air raids were a common offensive tactic. Below are photographs taken during and after the air raids at multiple locations, depicting the damage and terror they caused.
Citation	See citations with individual images below.

“London, England: Weary London residents are shown catching up on sleep in the comparative safety of a tube [subway] station. [The trains were] taken out of service and [this space] converted into an air raid shelter. Trucks as well as the platform are used.” (Photo by Bettmann/Getty Images) https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/weary-london-are-shown-catching-up-on-sleep-in-the-news-photo/514686398?adppopup=true

A black and white photo of civilians packed into a London Underground station, lying on the tracks and platform. Blankets and coats cover the sleepers, with people sitting, reading, or watching nearby. Overhead lights cast a soft glow through the tunnel, which fades into the distance. Signs on the tiled wall identify the station as Aldwych.

“November 1940: The ruins of Coventry Cathedral in Coventry, United Kingdom, after the night Blitz on Coventry.” (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images) https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/the-ruins-of-coventry-cathedral-after-the-night-blitz-on-news-photo/3312332

A black and white image of a bombed-out cathedral, with its roof completely destroyed and the interior filled with rubble. Gothic arches and tall windows remain standing, while smoke or haze surrounds the background buildings.

“Piazza San Carlo after the Allied Forces air raid. Milan, August 1943.” (Photo by Mondadori via Getty Images) https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/piazza-san-carlo-after-the-allied-forces-air-raid-milan-news-photo/141561832?adppopup=true

A black and white photo of a heavily bombed urban street. Crumbling buildings line the road, with facades destroyed and interior walls exposed. Large piles of rubble spill into the street, while civilians walk and bike past the ruins.

“Broken lathes [machines for shaping wood] and other industrial machinery in the wreckage of a home workshop destroyed in American air-raids on Tokyo, September 1945.” (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/broken-lathes-and-other-industrial-machinery-in-the-news-photo/148793775?adppopup=true

A black and white photo of a bombed-out industrial area. Damaged machinery sits exposed amid debris and twisted metal. A man inspects the ruins, surrounded by the remains of factory equipment. In the background, skeletal building frames and ruined structures highlight the widespread destruction.

Glossary

Weary: tired

Document 5

Author	Yoshito Matsushige (1913–2005)
Date and location	1945, Japan
Source type	Primary source – oral history
Description	Matsushige was a Japanese photojournalist who survived the atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima of 1945. He took photographs on the day of the attack, of which only a handful were developed and survive. He describes scenes he couldn’t bear to photograph in his account, which is excerpted below.
Citation	Matsushige, Yoshito. “Account of the Hiroshima Bombing.” Atomic Heritage Foundation and the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History. https://www.atomicheritage.org/key-documents/yoshito-matsushiges-account-hiroshima-bombing

There was a flash from the indoor wires as if lightning had struck. I didn’t hear any sound... the world around me turned bright white... Immediately after that, the blast came... [T]he blast was so intense, it felt like hundreds of needles were stabbing me all at once... Most of the victims who had gathered... were junior high school girls... They... were outside when the bomb fell. Having been directly exposed to the heat rays, they were covered with blisters, the size of balls, on their backs, their faces, their shoulders and their arms. The blisters were starting to burst open and their skin hung down like rugs...

Then, I saw a burnt streetcar which had just turned the corner at Kamiya-cho. There were passengers still in the car.... There were perhaps 15 or 16 people in front of the car. They laid dead one on top of another...

… During the war, air-raids took place practically every night... Those of us who experienced all these hardships, we hope that such suffering will never be experienced again by our children and our grandchildren. Not only our children and grandchildren, but all future generations should not have to go through this tragedy. That is why I want young people to listen to our testimonies and to choose the right path, the path which leads to peace.

Glossary

Blisters: painful bubbles that form on the skin caused by friction, burns, or other irritation
Generation: a group of humans born and living around the same time

Document 6

Author	Irving Berlin (1888–1989)
Date and location	1942, United States
Source type	Primary source – animated song
Description	Irving Berlin was a famous American songwriter. He wrote a wide variety of popular songs for radio and for musical theater, and many were patriotic. When the treasury secretary requested a song to inspire people to buy war bonds, Berlin came up with “Any Bonds Today?”. It was produced as a three-minute animated film, staring the beloved American cartoon character, Bugs Bunny, along with his frequent co-stars Elmer Fudd and Porky Pig. The proceeds went to the United States Treasury Department. This song was part of the National Defense Savings Bond Campaign, but it came in the form of this short animated musical film. It was very popular.
Citation	Berlin, Irving, songwriter. Any Bonds Today?. Leon Schlesinger Studies and the US Department of Treasury, 1942. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcR8-sal73g

Bugs Bunny: The tall man with the high hat and the whiskers on his chin
will soon be knocking at your door, and you ought to be in!
The tall man with the high hat will be coming down your way.
Get your savings out when you hear him shout, “Any bonds today?”

Come on and get ’em folks, come on, step right up and get ’em.

Any bonds today?
Bonds of freedom, that’s what I’m selling
Any bonds today?
Scrape up the most you can!
Here comes the freedom man,
asking you to buy a share of freedom today
Naw, many stamps today!
Give, kiddies!
We’ll be blessed, we all invest
in the U.S.A.!
Sammy, my uncle Sammy!
Elmer Fudd: Here comes the freedom man!
Porky Pig: Can’t make tomorrow’s plan!
Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd and Porky Pig: Not unless you buy a share of freedom today Any stamps? Any bonds today?

Glossary

Bond: a form of investing in a government with the promise of being repaid with interest, often used to fund military expenses during wartime
Stamp: in terms of funding the US war effort, savings stamps were small investments similar to the much larger bonds

Source Collection: World War II

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