---
title: '"Again the Springboard of Civilization!"'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/us-owi-alston-again-the-springboard-of-civilization-1943/
description: A helmeted soldier seen from behind, rifle with fixed bayonet in hand, stands on the North African coast facing a map of the Mediterranean.
section: Collection
---

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3. "Again the Springboard of Civilization!"

[!["Again the Springboard of Civilization!", 1943 US cartoon: A helmeted soldier seen from behind, rifle with fixed bayonet](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/us-owi-alston-again-the-springboard-of-civilization-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/us-owi-alston-again-the-springboard-of-civilization-1943.jpg)

# "Again the Springboard of Civilization!"

A helmeted soldier seen from behind, rifle with fixed bayonet in hand, stands on the North African coast facing a map of the Mediterranean, the bayonet pointing at Italy and Germany. The tell is glittering generalities: 'civilization' is invoked as a value and Africa as its springboard, while the soldier's service is placed in a long civilizational tradition.

## Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon

[Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/) [Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/)

## Text on the object

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

```
AFRICA
ITALY
SICILY
SARDINIA [partly cut off: "RDINIA"]
CORSICA [partly cut off]
FRANCE
GERMANY
YUGOSLAVIA
GR
"AGAIN THE SPRINGBOARD OF CIVILIZATION!"
Alston OWI
```

[← All He Needed Was a Little More Gas!!](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/us-owi-all-he-needed-was-a-little-more-gas-1943/) [Austin Curtis, Scientist, Successor to Dr. Carver →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/us-owi-alston-austin-curtis-1943/)

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- [Frontispiece to Eikon Basilike, The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in his Solitudes and Sufferings (Hollar, 1649)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eikon-basilike-frontispiece-hollar-1649/) (Dutch Republic · 1649 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)