Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
Back 'Em Up with More Metal, 1942 US poster: Scrap-metal drive poster in a dark palette

Back 'Em Up with More Metal (infantry crawling)

Scrap-metal drive poster in a dark palette: two helmeted infantrymen, faces smudged, crawl through tall grass with rifles and leaf camouflage. The slogan asks civilians for more metal. The technique is transfer: the soldiers' exposed position is tied to the home-front act of supplying scrap.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Transfer
Date
1942
Period
Second World War
Made by
U.S. Army, artist Harold von Schmidt
Region
North America
Country
United States
Medium
Poster
Issuer type
Military
Regime
Roosevelt Administration
Leader
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Audience
Domestic public
Purpose
Mobilize or secure compliance
Themes
War and the military, Home front
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, artist Harold von Schmidt. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-445B (NAID 513914).

Text on the object

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

BACK 'EM UP WITH MORE METAL
[signature:] HAROLD VON SCHMIDT 1942
[emblem:] U. S. ARMY
[imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1942-O-485484

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