Content note: Caricature of a Japanese officer (exaggerated teeth and features) and a German officer, both shown whipping workers; printed as issued. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Show-down: only work can make US strong!
Home-front work-incentive poster: caricatured figures of a Japanese officer (buck teeth, rising-sun cap badge) and a German officer (swastika armband, toothbrush moustache) crack whips over a line of bent workers in front of a factory. Below, text asks whether the two leaders can drive their people harder than Americans will work. The enemy is drawn as an overseer; the slogan puns 'US' on an Uncle Sam hat.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1942
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Griswold-Eshleman Co. (copyright holder and lithographer as printed); sponsor not named
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Mixed
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Labor, Home front, War and the military
- 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)
Griswold-Eshleman Co.. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1740 (NAID 515411).
Text on the object
SHOW- DOWN HERE IS THE SHOWDOWN: Can Hitler and Hirohito drive their people to work harder than we are willing to work? There is no one in America to drive us. We must drive ourselves. What is your answer, fellow workers? -only Work can make US STRONG ! [imprint: COPYRIGHT 1942 BY THE GRISWOLD-ESHLEMAN CO. LITHO U.S.A.]
