The official entry of the United States of America into the second war in December 1941 shocked most Americans. The wave of indignation caused by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor indicated that the Americans would fight — it only remained to find out who were allies in this war, and who were aliens. The policy of isolationism and the traditionally low interest of an average American in what is happening outside the country demanded a direct indication of those with whom you can «share a foxhole».
A small series of leaflets and posters is widely known under the motto «This man is your friend: He fights for freedom». In early 1942, it was published by «the Office of Facts and Figures», which was responsible for information and advocacy work. The series includes seven portraits released in huge editions of an Englishman, Australian, Canadian, Russian, Chinese, Ethiopian and Dutch.
Special interest is the prototype of the poster with a Red Army soldier. On the head of the soldier is Adrian's helmet with a tin red star, that actually was not used in the Red Army during the Second World War, in his hands is a Mosin sniper rifle, on his chest there are signs «Voroshilov Sharpshooter» and GTO. A similar picture was published on the cover of the magazine «Ogoniok» #3 in 1939, and it was taken, most likely, at one of the 1938 parades.
Currently, the posters of the series, thanks to the slogan «he fights for freedom», which everyone interprets in his own way, have become fertile ground for the creativity of Photoshop masters of different skill and wit. Recognizable black-white-blue pictures penned by them include Jedi and Imperial stormtroopers from Star Wars, Vietcong and Taliban, Vladimir Putin and Julian Assange.
