---
title: 'Explosives: The Power That Wins Wars. Give the Boys That Power!'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/canada-explosives-give-the-boys-that-power-1939/
description: A photograph shows a depth-charge or shell burst astern of a warship, with sailors silhouetted on deck, under a yellow panel reading 'Explosives.
section: Collection
---

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3. Explosives: The Power That Wins Wars. Give the Boys That Power!

[![Explosives: The Power That Wins Wars. Give the Boys That Power!, 1939 Canada poster: A photograph shows a depth-charge](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/canada-explosives-give-the-boys-that-power-1939.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/canada-explosives-give-the-boys-that-power-1939.jpg)

# Explosives: The Power That Wins Wars. Give the Boys That Power!

A photograph shows a depth-charge or shell burst astern of a warship, with sailors silhouetted on deck, under a yellow panel reading 'Explosives: The power that wins wars'. The photograph lends the sailors' danger and a visible blast to the production appeal (transfer), and 'the power that wins wars' is a broad virtue claim with no specifics (glittering generalities).

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/) [Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/)

## Text on the object

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

```
EXPLOSIVES
The Power that wins Wars

GIVE THE BOYS THAT POWER!

This Message is issued by the Department of Munitions and Supply for Canada
```

[← Every Canadian Must Fight](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/canada-every-canadian-must-fight-surrey-1939/) [Explosives: The Power That Wins Wars. Count on them to put it where it hurts most! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/canada-explosives-power-that-wins-wars-1939/)

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