Content note: Shows a human skull reflected in a pool of water beneath a staring soldier. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Beware... Drink only approved water
War Department training poster: a helmeted soldier lies at a bank staring wide-eyed at a canteen cup, while in the water below him a skull is reflected, under 'Beware... Drink only approved water'. The skull in the water is a direct fear-appeal about untreated water, closed by the slogan 'Never give a germ a break!'
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1944
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. War Department (Graphic Training Aid 8-15)
- 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
- Health, War and the military
- 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. War Department. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-484 (NAID 513965).
Text on the object
BEWARE.. Drink only approved water NEVER GIVE A GERM A BREAK! BEWARE, DRINK ONLY APPROVED WATER Approved War Department Graphic Training Aid 8-15 WAR DEPARTMENT - 12 OCTOBER 1944 Reproduction without permission prohibited Distribution: Continental: In accordance with Part II, ASF Cir. No. 313, 1944 and Section I, ASF Cir. No. 181, 1944. Overseas: T of Opns (10), Depts (10), SvC (10), Base Comds (10), Island Comds (10), Det Comds (10), Sectors (10), Base Sectors (10), Armies (1), Corps (1), D (1), R (1), Sep Bn (1), [illegible]
