Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
Explosives: The Power That Wins Wars. Give the Boys That Power!, 1939 Canada poster: A photograph shows a depth-charge

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

TransferGlittering generalities
Date
1939
Period
Second World War
Made by
Department of Munitions and Supply for Canada
Region
North America
Country
Canada
Medium
Poster
Issuer type
State
Regime
Mackenzie King Government
Leader
William Lyon Mackenzie King
Audience
Domestic public
Purpose
Mobilize or secure compliance
Themes
War and the military, Home front
Event
World War II
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 Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
Rights
Public domain (Canadian Crown copyright, 50 years from publication, expired)
Department of Munitions and Supply for Canada, c. 1939-1945. National Archives and Records Administration (NAID 44267601, 44-PF-608).

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

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