Our Guns Speak the Language Hitler Understands - But We Need More Guns

A large close-up of a sweat-streaked soldier in a steel helmet speaks in a balloon, 'Hours count now... for God's sake give us more guns!', above a photograph of a gun crew in the desert. The urgent plea from a front-line figure (testimonial) and the implied cost of delay (fear appeal) carry the argument; the poster gives no production figures.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Fear appealTestimonial

Date

1940

Period

Second World War

Made by

Department of Munitions and Supply (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, Labor

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, expired)
Department of Munitions and Supply, Canada, c. 1940-1945. U.S. National Archives, RG 44.

HOURS COUNT
NOW....FOR
GOD'S SAKE
GIVE US MORE
GUNS!

OUR GUNS SPEAK
THE LANGUAGE HITLER
UNDERSTANDS-

BUT WE NEED MORE GUNS

THIS MESSAGE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MUNITIONS AND SUPPLY