Content note: Admiral Nimitz quotation uses the wartime ethnic term 'Jap' for Japanese ships, as printed. This object is shown as it was published. Why
The toughest job is still ahead!
Navy industrial-incentive poster: three painted portraits of admirals, each beside a speech bubble. Admirals King, Ingersoll and Nimitz warn that the test is still ahead and that victory should not be discussed while an enemy ship floats. The footer asks war workers to meet their schedules. The technique is testimonial, with a mild fear-appeal that the war is far from won.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1943
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Navy, Industrial Incentive Division
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- War and the military, Labor, 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)
U.S. Navy, Industrial Incentive Division. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-248 (NAID 513690).
Text on the object
"The most crucial test of our combined strength is still before us" ADMIRAL ERNEST J. KING U.S.N. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF U.S. FLEET "The Battle of the Atlantic is still a 'round the clock fight" ADMIRAL ROYAL E. INGERSOLL U.S.N. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ATLANTIC FLEET "Let's not talk Victory while there's a single Jap ship afloat and fighting" ADMIRAL CHESTER W. NIMITZ U.S.N. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF PACIFIC FLEET MEET YOUR SCHEDULES...FOR VICTORY THE TOUGHEST JOB IS STILL AHEAD! [imprint: U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1943 O-555063] [imprint: OFFICIAL NAVY POSTER, INDUSTRIAL INCENTIVE DIVISION, 3-80M]
