Content note: A poster showing the head of a scowling, spiked-helmet caricature of the German Kaiser sealed inside a canning jar labelled Kaiser Brand Unsweetened, as issued. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Win the Next War Now: Can Vegetables, Fruit and the Kaiser, Too
A pictorial poster shows a jar holding the head of a scowling, spiked-helmet German figure labelled 'Kaiser Brand Unsweetened' beside jars of tomatoes and peas, with a sabre lying across the scene. The headline tells home gardeners to can produce 'and the Kaiser too' and to write for a free book. The tell is the pun that turns home canning into a symbolic act against the enemy ruler.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1918
- Period
- First World War
- Made by
- National War Garden Commission (Washington, D.C.)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- NGO
- Regime
- Wilson Administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, War and the military
- Event
- World War I
- Regime
- Wilson administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 4 (U.S. Food Administration), World War I Posters (NAID 512439), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- NARA Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision
National War Garden Commission (Washington, D.C.). National Archives and Records Administration, 4-P-150.
Text on the object
WIN THE NEXT WAR NOW CAN Vegetables Fruit AND the Kaiser too Tomatoes Peas Kaiser Brand Unsweetened Write for Free Book to National War Garden Commission WASHINGTON, D.C. Charles Lathrop Pack - President P. S. Ridsdale - Secretary (c) 1918 - NATIONAL WAR GARDEN COMMISSION J. Paul Verrees [tiny printer's imprint at lower right, as read: GATCHEL & MANNING, ENGRAVERS, PHILA.]
