---
title: Hit 'Em with Copper, Zinc, Lead
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hit-em-with-copper-zinc-lead-kirby-army-1942/
description: A miner in a helmet says 'Gosh, would I like to take a crack at those Japs!' and a gaunt Uncle Sam answers that he is doing it with every ton of ore he…
section: Collection
---

[Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)

**Content note:** Ethnic slur 'Japs' in a worker's speech bubble. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was)

[![Hit 'Em with Copper, Zinc, Lead](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/hit-em-with-copper-zinc-lead-kirby-army-1942.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/hit-em-with-copper-zinc-lead-kirby-army-1942.jpg)

# Hit 'Em with Copper, Zinc, Lead

A miner in a helmet says 'Gosh, would I like to take a crack at those Japs!' and a gaunt Uncle Sam answers that he is doing it with every ton of ore he mines. The slur names the enemy in the worker's own voice and the poster turns that anger into a production task.

## Text on the object

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

```
Hit 'em with Copper, Zinc, Lead

GOSH, WOULD I LIKE TO TAKE A CRACK AT THOSE JAPS!

YOU'RE DOIN' IT EVERY DAY-WITH EVERY TON OF ORE YOU MINE TO MAKE TANKS, PLANES AND GUNS

ROLLIN KIRBY
```

Imprint at foot reads 'U.S. Government Printing Office: 1942 O-487104' as read from the scan.

[← He's Watching You](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hes-watching-you/) ['"Honorable thanks" ABSENTEE' (Australian silkscreen poster, General Motors Holden) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/honourable-thanks-absentee-australia-1942/)

## Using the same techniques

- [Passional Christi und Antichristi: the emperor kisses the pope's foot (leaf 'Antichristus')](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/passional-christi-antichristi-emperor-kisses-pope-1521/) (Electoral Saxony · 1521 · Name-calling, Card stacking)
- [Anacoana fut pendue sans raison (engraving in Le miroir de la cruelle et horrible tyrannie espagnole)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/anacoana-hanged-miroir-tyrannie-espagnole-1620/) (Dutch Republic · 1620 · Fear appeal, Name-calling). Content note: Engraving of a hanged, bare-breasted Taino woman, burning huts and people being killed by Spanish soldiers.
- [Ondersoeckt de Geesten, ofse van den Duyvel syn, of niet (the De Witt brothers as devils)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/ondersoeckt-de-geesten-de-witt-devils-1672/) (Dutch Republic · 1672 · Scapegoating, Name-calling)
- [The Highlanders Medley, or The Duke Triumphant (A Loyal Song)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/highlanders-medley-duke-triumphant-1746/) (Great Britain · 1746 · Name-calling, Transfer)
- [The North Briton, No. XLV, 23 April 1763 (John Wilkes), opening page](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/north-briton-no-45-wilkes-1763/) (Kingdom of Great Britain · Apr 23, 1763 · Name-calling)
- [The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/revere-bloody-massacre-king-street-1770/) (Province of Massachusetts Bay · Mar 1770 · Name-calling, Card stacking). Content note: Hand-coloured engraving of bloodied dead and wounded colonists after soldiers fired on a crowd.
- [Marche du Dom Quichotte moderne pour la deffence du Moulin des Abus (March of the Modern Don Quixote in Defence of the Mill of Abuses)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dom-quichotte-moulin-des-abus-1791/) (France · 1791 · Name-calling, Transfer)
- [Sans-Culottes, feeding Europe with the Bread of Liberty (James Gillray)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sans-culottes-bread-of-liberty-gillray-1793/) (Kingdom of Great Britain · Jan 12, 1793 · Fear appeal, Name-calling)