Our part in the war effort
Text poster of the Office of Defense Transportation with an 'Essential Transportation Worker, Officially Approved, ODT, Keep 'em Rolling' emblem showing an eagle, a truck, a car and a bus. The block of text says automotive transportation is 'absolutely essential to the winning of the war' and ends with a director's signature. The official seal and the war-winning claim carry the request to keep vehicles and tires in service.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1941
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Office of Defense Transportation
- 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
- 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)
Office of Defense Transportation. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1487 (NAID 515152).
Text on the object
OUR PART IN THE WAR EFFORT ESSENTIAL TRANSPORTATION WORKER OFFICIALLY APPROVED ODT OFFICE OF DEFENSE TRANSPORTATION KEEP 'EM ROLLING AUTOMOTIVE TRANSPORTATION is absolutely essential to the winning of the war. GOODS must reach their destinations and WORKERS must get to their jobs - on time. SERVICE MEN, in maintaining and conserving both vehicles and tires, are performing a most important function in the Nation's war effort. [signature: Joseph B. Eastman] DIRECTOR OFFICE OF DEFENSE TRANSPORTATION [imprint: LITHO IN U.S.A.]
