Content note: Japanese enemy figure drawn in a racial caricature of the period (bared teeth, exaggerated features) beside a caricature of Hitler. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Give 'em the old 1-2: 1-Load 2-Unload all cars promptly
A pink-and-black railway freight car in boxing gloves knocks down two caricatured enemy figures: one with a toothbrush moustache and forelock, one a grimacing figure with bared teeth drawn in the racial caricature style of the period. The sheet equates prompt loading with a punch at the enemy; the technique is name-calling by caricature.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1944
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Office of Defense Transportation (artist Fred Cooper)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- War and the military, Home front, Economy and finance
- 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. Office of Defense Transportation. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-878 (NAID 514383).
Text on the object
Give 'em the old 1-2 1-LOAD 2-UNLOAD ALL CARS PROMPTLY Your Government says "Every hour saved in freight-car turnaround time means more cars available for the Victory March to Berlin and Tokio!" [signature: FRED COOPER] [imprint: U. S. OFFICE OF DEFENSE TRANSPORTATION] [imprint: U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1944-O-608225]
