Content note: Cartoon caricature of a Japanese officer with exaggerated teeth and glasses, as printed in 1940s U.S. wartime propaganda. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Tell it to the Marines
Cartoon poster: a faint, heroic Marine with bayonet labelled 'The spirit of Wake Island against overwhelming odds' stands behind a small, grimacing, fist-raising Japanese officer drawn as a caricature with exaggerated teeth and glasses. The officer's speech balloon claims 'America can be invaded and we'll dictate peace in Washington'. The poster uses name-calling by caricature and the Marine's courage as a general virtue, set against an invented enemy boast.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1942
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Issuer not printed (imprint code MCPB); cartoon signed Plaschke
- 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
- War and the military, Home front
- 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)
Issuer not printed. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-84 (NAID 513545).
Text on the object
"TELL IT TO THE MARINES" THE SPIRIT OF WAKE ISLAND AGAINST OVER[illegible]WHELMING ODDS AMERICA CAN BE INVADED AND WE'LL DICTATE PEACE IN WASHINGTON [signature: Plaschke] [imprint: MCPB 98344 3-19-42 500]
