Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
A War Message: Don't Discuss Troop Movements, Ship Sailings, War Equipment, 1944 US poster: Narrow card or bookmark format

A War Message: Don't Discuss Troop Movements, Ship Sailings, War Equipment

Narrow card or bookmark format headed 'A War Message', with a line drawing of Uncle Sam holding a finger to his lips above the same three-item list of subjects not to discuss. The technique is transfer: the national symbol lends authority to a plain instruction, and no threat is shown.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Transfer
Date
1944
Period
Second World War
Made by
Office of War Information
Region
North America
Country
United States
Medium
Poster
Issuer type
State
Regime
Roosevelt Administration
Leader
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Audience
Domestic public
Purpose
Warn or inform
Themes
Home front, Security and surveillance
Event
World War II
Regime
Roosevelt administration
Leader
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Source
Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
Source
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
Rights
Public domain (U.S. government work)
Office of War Information. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-158A (NAID 513605).

Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

A WAR
MESSAGE
Don't Discuss
TROOP
MOVEMENTS
•
SHIP
SAILINGS
•
WAR
EQUIPMENT
[imprint:] U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1944-O-602424

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