---
title: 'Guard Against VD: Venereal Disease'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/guard-against-venereal-disease-1939/
description: A bold typographic poster pairs 'VD, Venereal Disease' with an outlined soldier silhouette and the words 'Keep straight, keep sober'.
section: Collection
---

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3. Guard Against VD: Venereal Disease

[![Guard Against VD: Venereal Disease, 1939 UK poster: A bold typographic poster pairs 'VD, Venereal Disease' with an outlined](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/guard-against-venereal-disease-1939.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/guard-against-venereal-disease-1939.jpg)

# Guard Against VD: Venereal Disease

A bold typographic poster pairs 'VD, Venereal Disease' with an outlined soldier silhouette and the words 'Keep straight, keep sober'. The closing line, 'You owe it to yourself, your womenfolk, your comrades, your country', places the individual's conduct inside widening circles of obligation (identity fusion), with disease the implied threat (fear appeal).

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Identity fusion](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/identity-fusion/) [Fear appeal](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/fear-appeal/)

## Text on the object

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

```
GUARD AGAINST
VD VENEREAL DISEASE
KEEP STRAIGHT KEEP SOBER
YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF · YOUR WOMENFOLK
YOUR COMRADES · YOUR COUNTRY
A. GAMES R.E.
PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY LOWE & BRYDONE PRINTERS LTD., LONDON, N.W.10. 51-1502
P.R.2. No 46.
```

[← Official Instructions Issued by the Ministry of Home Security - Gas Attack](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/gas-attack-ministry-of-home-security-1939/) [Help Britain Finish the Job! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/help-britain-finish-the-job-wootton-1939/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Our job is to beat the Hun. Vote Union Government (Canada, 1917 election)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/our-job-is-to-beat-the-hun-union-government-1917/) (Canada · 1917 · Name-calling, Identity fusion). Content note: Ethnic slur ('Hun') for Germans in the slogan.
- [Julistus (Proclamation): Red Guard committee denies rumours and orders rumour-spreaders arrested](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/punakaarti-julistus-huhut-1918/) (Finland · 1918 · Identity fusion)
- [Salzburg 20-Kronen "Anschluss" voucher (1921)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/salzburg-anschluss-voucher-20-kronen-1921/) (Austria · 1921 · Identity fusion)
- [The Bombay Chronicle, article on a foreign-cloth bonfire (July 30, 1921)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/bombay-chronicle-cloth-bonfire-1921/) (British India · Jul 30, 1921 · Identity fusion, Glittering generalities)
- [L'Unione Sarda, 24 March 1929: 'Il voto di oggi, è atto di fede' (plebiscite day front page)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/unione-sarda-plebiscito-front-page-1929/) (Fascist Italy · Mar 24, 1929 · Identity fusion, Glittering generalities)
- [Zwei SA-Männer bringen ein Hitler-Plakat an (Mecklenburg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sa-maenner-kleben-hitler-plakat-mecklenburg-1932/) (Weimar Republic · Jun 21, 1932 · Identity fusion). Content note: Photograph of SA men in uniform with swastika armband putting up a Hitler election poster, 1932.
- [Hitlerjugend, Deutsches Jungvolk: Altmetallsammlung](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hj-altmetallsammlung-jungvolk-1933/) (Nazi Germany · 1933 · Identity fusion). Content note: Deutsches Jungvolk boys in uniform collecting scrap metal, 1933.
- [Marine-HJ werben für den Bau von HJ-Heimen (Handwagen mit Plakat)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/marine-hj-werbung-hj-heime-1933/) (Nazi Germany · 1933 · Identity fusion). Content note: Hitler Youth members in uniform with swastika armbands and flags promoting the building of Hitler Youth homes.