Allure or a lure?
Army counterintelligence poster: a stylised close-up of a made-up woman in a fur wrap against a dark blue ground, with the question 'Allure or a lure?' and the advice 'Always be careful! It's safer. Don't talk about military affairs.' The fear-appeal rests on the implied enemy informant who gathers information by charm.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1941
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Army, VI Army Corps (Engineer Headquarters; artist Nugent)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Themes
- Security and surveillance, War and the military, Gender and suffrage
- 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)
U.S. Army, VI Army Corps. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-334 (NAID 513781).
Text on the object
ALLURE OR A LURE? ALWAYS BE CAREFUL! IT'S SAFER Don't talk about Military Affairs [signature:] NUGENT. [imprint:] REPRODUCED BY ENGR. HQS., VI ARMY CORPS G-2 VI AC NO 11
