Shoot Ships to Germany and Help America Win, Schwab

A dazzle-camouflaged cargo ship under way fills the top panel, above a block of text addressed to shipyard workers and signed 'Schwab'. The text says the yard's ships carry food, clothing and munitions 'Over There', and asks each worker whether he is giving the best that is in him. The tell is testimonial plus personal appeal: the director's name stands behind the slogan, and the closing questions place the worker beside the soldier.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Testimonial Bandwagon

Date: 1918
Period: First World War
Made by: United States Shipping Board, Emergency Fleet Corporation (Charles M. Schwab)
Region: North America
Country: United States
Medium: Poster
Issuer type: State
Regime: Wilson Administration
Leader: Woodrow Wilson
Audience: Domestic public
Purpose: Mobilize or secure compliance
Themes: War and the military, Labor, Home front
Event: World War I
Regime: Wilson administration
Leader: Woodrow Wilson
Source: Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
Source: U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 4 (U.S. Food Administration), World War I Posters (NAID 512439), retrieved October 3, 2026
Rights: NARA Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision
United States Shipping Board, Emergency Fleet Corporation (Charles M. Schwab). National Archives and Records Administration, 4-P-45.

Text on the object

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

Shoot Ships to Germany and help AMERICA WIN—Schwab

At this Shipyard are being built ships to carry to our men "Over There"—Food, Clothing, and the Munitions of War.

Without these ships our men will not have an equal chance to fight.

The building of ships is more than a construction job—it is our chance to win the war.

He who gives to his work the best that is in him does his bit as truly as the man who fights.

Delays mean danger.
Are you doing your bit?

Are you giving the best that is in you to help your son, brother, or pal who is "OVER THERE"?

UNITED STATES SHIPPING BOARD EMERGENCY FLEET CORPORATION
ISSUED BY PUBLICATIONS SECTION, EMERGENCY FLEET CORPORATION, PHILADELPHIA
[printer line under the picture, small: THOMSEN-ELLIS CO. BALTIMORE NEW YORK]
[artist's mark at top right of the picture, red, small: illegible]

The imprint lines are very small and read with some uncertainty; the artist's mark at the top right of the picture is illegible.