A careless word you drop in the presence of an enemy spy can cost thousands of lost lives, dozens of ships, planes, and tanks. This unquestionable axiom nevertheless constantly demands to be reminded during hostilities. That is why the military propaganda of all the participants of the Second World War in this «direction» is so similar — of course, with some national circumstances. Our selection tells about it.
The poster on the left, issued by the Spanish Republicans in 1937, recalls the «hidden beast» and calls for silence. British poster on the right asks not to keep diaries during wartime — a valuable source of intelligence
English posters not to be patsy, keep your mouth shut and remember that spies are everywhere
More British posters. Indeed, while talking with a friend, you can tell something important to the enemy, so it is better to keep quiet. You never know who is in front of you, and this simple-minded chick might not be so stupid!
Canadian posters. The left one is quite traditional — Hitler is eavesdropping, but the right one is one of the many illustrations of a successful slogan. Indeed, the loss of control over the lips sinks ships — similar posters were printed in dozens of versions for all Western allies
Most of the Soviet posters are known to general public. The strange poster on the right is interesting — probably originally it was intended for a children's audience
The Japanese «don't talk» on the left looks quite formal, but the Anglo-American dogs that are eavesdropping drinkers are quite unusual
French posters are not very original. However, the details of the uniform are recognizable, and you can clearly see who is your ally and who is the enemy
The harsh Finnish posters are not very colorful, but they clearly show the eavesdropping Red Army soldier and the consequences in the form of Soviet bombers over Finnish cities. They also threaten the traitors with execution
Whereas Finnish posters promise execution for collaboration with the enemy, the American poster on the left promises the German Iron Cross for chattering about troop movements, sailing, and military equipment. Probably, such owner of the German award is wanted for murder — her careless talk cost lives (in the center). The poster on the right shows that the enemy knows how to piece together the most fragmentary information
To judge the German posters, the main danger comes from coffee shops and pubs — this is where enemy spies of all stripes and colours probably like to eavesdrop
Italian posters are calling for silence in order to leave the Briton in the recognizable helmet Brodie in the cold
