Silence means security: be careful what you say or write
Painted night scene: a mud-streaked infantryman in helmet and pack crouches by a rock in jungle foliage, rifle in one hand, glancing back as if listening. 'Silence' and '-means security' frame the picture, with 'Be careful what you say or write' below. The danger is implied rather than shown (fear-appeal).
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1945
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- War Department, Adjutant General's Office (artist Schlaikjer)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Themes
- War and the military, Security and surveillance
- 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)
War Department, Adjutant General's Office. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1749 (NAID 515421).
Text on the object
silence - -means security BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY OR WRITE [signature: SCHLAIKJER 45] [imprint: WD Poster No. 32-2, "Recon" Security Poster. Additional copies may be requisitioned as prescribed in AR 310-200, 1 May 1943, as changed by Changes No. 2, 15 September 1943.] [imprint: U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1945--O--624527] [imprint: DISTRIBUTION: AAF (2); AGF (2); ASF (2); T of Opns (2); Def Comd (2); SvC (Dir of Intell and Sec) (5); PC&S (2); PE (Intell Off) (5); A (2); CHQ (2); D (1); B (1); R (1); Bn (1); C (1); AF (1); W (1); G (1); S (1); F (1).]
