---
title: 'Workers: Lend Your Strength to the Red Triangle (Y.M.C.A.)'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/workers-lend-your-strength-ymca-1918/
description: A muscular worker in an undershirt strains against a block marked with the YMCA red triangle, while an older man in a YMCA-badged uniform watches
section: Collection
---

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3. Workers: Lend Your Strength to the Red Triangle (Y.M.C.A.)

[![Workers: Lend Your Strength to the Red Triangle, 1918 US poster: A muscular worker in an undershirt strains against a block](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/workers-lend-your-strength-ymca-1918.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/workers-lend-your-strength-ymca-1918.jpg)

# Workers: Lend Your Strength to the Red Triangle (Y.M.C.A.)

A muscular worker in an undershirt strains against a block marked with the YMCA red triangle, while an older man in a YMCA-badged uniform watches and a soldier with fixed bayonet advances in the smoke behind. The slogan 'Help the Y help the fighters fight' presents a donation as the home worker's share of the front-line effort. The tell is the equation of manual labour with fighting, which invites the donor to see himself inside the war effort.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

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

## Text on the object

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

```
WORKERS

YMCA

LEND YOUR STRENGTH
TO THE RED TRIANGLE

HELP THE "Y" HELP THE
FIGHTERS FIGHT

UNITED WAR WORK CAMPAIGN-NOVEMBER 11 to 18

Gil Spear
```

The first letters of 'WORKERS' are partly overlapped by the figure's cap; the word is read as printed. 'Gil Spear' is the artist's signature.

[← Window Display Suggestions for Food Conservation Week, November 21 to 28](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/window-display-suggestions-food-conservation-week-1917/) [World Relief Week Meetings, December 1 to 7: Now Save to Avert Anarchy Over There →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/world-relief-week-hunger-breeds-madness-1918/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [A Little American's Promise](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/a-little-americans-promise-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Transfer)
- [All Together! Enlist in the Navy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/all-together-enlist-in-the-navy-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Bandwagon, Identity fusion)
- [Members of U.S. Food Administration: America Has Promised to Feed the Hungry Millions of Europe, Waste Nothing](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/america-food-pledge-20-million-tons-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion)
- [Do Your Duty. Join the U.S. Marines. Help Them Defend America on Land and Sea](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/do-your-duty-join-the-us-marines-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Glittering generalities, Identity fusion)
- [50-50 (The Job of Beating Up the Hun)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/fifty-fifty-service-series-11-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Name-calling, Identity fusion)
- [Food Will Win the War: Member of United States Food Administration (Pledge Card)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/food-will-win-the-war-member-pledge-card-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Bandwagon)
- [Hit the Bull's Eye! Are You on This List? Get Your Name in the Circle: It's the Ring of Liberty](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hit-the-bulls-eye-ring-of-liberty-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Bandwagon, Identity fusion)
- [I Am a Soldier of the United States (Service Series No. 12)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/i-am-a-soldier-of-the-united-states-service-series-no-12-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Glittering generalities)