---
title: 'Patriotic Service League: The Third Line of Defense'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/patriotic-service-league-the-third-line-of-defense-1917/
description: A large American flag rises over the Capitol and a crowd with raised arms, under the heading 'The Third Line of Defense'.
section: Collection
---

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3. Patriotic Service League: The Third Line of Defense

[![Patriotic Service League: The Third Line of Defense, 1917 US poster: A large American flag rises over the Capitol and a crowd](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/patriotic-service-league-the-third-line-of-defense-1917.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/patriotic-service-league-the-third-line-of-defense-1917.jpg)

# Patriotic Service League: The Third Line of Defense

A large American flag rises over the Capitol and a crowd with raised arms, under the heading 'The Third Line of Defense'. The text invites viewers to join the league and 'Confound Prussia!', fusing membership with national identity and using 'Prussia' as a shorthand label for the enemy.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Identity fusion](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/identity-fusion/) [Name-calling](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/name-calling/)

## Text on the object

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

```
PATRIOTIC SERVICE LEAGUE
THE THIRD LINE OF DEFENSE
JOIN TO-DAY and CONFOUND PRUSSIA!
HEADQUARTERS OF THE LEAGUE 509 FIFTH AVENUE (42nd ST.)
or 2745 BROADWAY (105th ST.) NEW YORK
ERIE LITHOGRAPH CO., [illegible] N.Y.
```

The printer's imprint at the foot reads 'Erie Lithograph Co.' with a New York place line; the box number and a small number at lower right are too small to read confidently. A small 'P' mark at lower left is not transcribed.

[← 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/) [Armia Polska we Francyi (Polish Army in France), recruiting poster by W. T. Benda, 1917 →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/polish-army-france-recruiting-benda-1917/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [A Little American's Promise](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/a-little-americans-promise-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Transfer)
- [All Together! Enlist in the Navy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/all-together-enlist-in-the-navy-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Bandwagon, Identity fusion)
- [Members of U.S. Food Administration: America Has Promised to Feed the Hungry Millions of Europe, Waste Nothing](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/america-food-pledge-20-million-tons-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion)
- [Do Your Duty. Join the U.S. Marines. Help Them Defend America on Land and Sea](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/do-your-duty-join-the-us-marines-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Glittering generalities, Identity fusion)
- [50-50 (The Job of Beating Up the Hun)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/fifty-fifty-service-series-11-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Name-calling, Identity fusion)
- [Food Will Win the War: Member of United States Food Administration (Pledge Card)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/food-will-win-the-war-member-pledge-card-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Bandwagon)
- [Hit the Bull's Eye! Are You on This List? Get Your Name in the Circle: It's the Ring of Liberty](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hit-the-bulls-eye-ring-of-liberty-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Bandwagon, Identity fusion)
- [I Am a Soldier of the United States (Service Series No. 12)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/i-am-a-soldier-of-the-united-states-service-series-no-12-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Glittering generalities)