---
title: Personal Cleanliness
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-personal-cleanliness-games-1939/
description: A split figure shows a soldier half in uniform and boots on a black ground and half as a bare yellow figure under a shower on green.
section: Collection
---

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3. Personal Cleanliness

[![Personal Cleanliness, 1939 UK poster: A split figure shows a soldier half in uniform and boots on a black ground and half](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-personal-cleanliness-games-1939.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-personal-cleanliness-games-1939.jpg)

# Personal Cleanliness

A split figure shows a soldier half in uniform and boots on a black ground and half as a bare yellow figure under a shower on green, beneath the headline 'Personal Cleanliness'. The footer, 'You owe it to yourself, your comrades, your efficiency', ties the individual's hygiene to the group's standing (identity fusion, a loose fit).

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Identity fusion](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/identity-fusion/)

## Text on the object

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

```
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF · YOUR COMRADES · YOUR EFFICIENCY

A. GAMES R.E.
PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY LOWE & BRYDONE PRINTERS LTD., LONDON, N.W.10. 51-1502.
P.R.2 No.45.
```

[← Paraffin Economy: Use Less and Waste None](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-paraffin-economy-1939/) [Plan and Grow for Winter: Winter Fruits from Overseas Have Now to be Replaced by These →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-plan-and-grow-for-winter-1939/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Our job is to beat the Hun. Vote Union Government (Canada, 1917 election)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/our-job-is-to-beat-the-hun-union-government-1917/) (Canada · 1917 · Name-calling, Identity fusion). Content note: Ethnic slur ('Hun') for Germans in the slogan.
- [Julistus (Proclamation): Red Guard committee denies rumours and orders rumour-spreaders arrested](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/punakaarti-julistus-huhut-1918/) (Finland · 1918 · Identity fusion)
- [Salzburg 20-Kronen "Anschluss" voucher (1921)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/salzburg-anschluss-voucher-20-kronen-1921/) (Austria · 1921 · Identity fusion)
- [The Bombay Chronicle, article on a foreign-cloth bonfire (July 30, 1921)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/bombay-chronicle-cloth-bonfire-1921/) (British India · Jul 30, 1921 · Identity fusion, Glittering generalities)
- [L'Unione Sarda, 24 March 1929: 'Il voto di oggi, è atto di fede' (plebiscite day front page)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/unione-sarda-plebiscito-front-page-1929/) (Fascist Italy · Mar 24, 1929 · Identity fusion, Glittering generalities)
- [Zwei SA-Männer bringen ein Hitler-Plakat an (Mecklenburg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sa-maenner-kleben-hitler-plakat-mecklenburg-1932/) (Weimar Republic · Jun 21, 1932 · Identity fusion). Content note: Photograph of SA men in uniform with swastika armband putting up a Hitler election poster, 1932.
- [Hitlerjugend, Deutsches Jungvolk: Altmetallsammlung](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hj-altmetallsammlung-jungvolk-1933/) (Nazi Germany · 1933 · Identity fusion). Content note: Deutsches Jungvolk boys in uniform collecting scrap metal, 1933.
- [Marine-HJ werben für den Bau von HJ-Heimen (Handwagen mit Plakat)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/marine-hj-werbung-hj-heime-1933/) (Nazi Germany · 1933 · Identity fusion). Content note: Hitler Youth members in uniform with swastika armbands and flags promoting the building of Hitler Youth homes.