Social Studies 11Social Studies 11

Canada’s Wartime Canada’s Wartime PropagandaPropaganda

Propaganda is the organized dissemination of information to influence thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and actions. The posters and photographs in this exhibition demonstrate how words and images were used in Canada in the service of war between 1914 and 1945.

All combatant nations use propaganda in wartime to encourage citizens to make sacrifices and contributions to hasten victory or endure defeat.

Governments and private organizations produce or commission posters and other items to support recruitment, promote military production, inform citizens about proper conduct, and assure people that their governments are taking appropriate action.

Propaganda PostersPropaganda Posters Like all combatant nations, Like all combatant nations,

Canada used specifically Canada used specifically targeted media and modern targeted media and modern visual design tools for visual design tools for propaganda purposes during propaganda purposes during the First and Second World the First and Second World Wars. In addition to the Wars. In addition to the posters presented here, posters presented here, radio, commercial radio, commercial advertising, and other print advertising, and other print media all became important media all became important vehicles for propaganda vehicles for propaganda messaging.messaging.

If You Don't Need It... Don't Buy ItIf You Don't Need It... Don't Buy It

The ultimate superfluous The ultimate superfluous purchase, a white elephant, purchase, a white elephant, reminds citizens to be reminds citizens to be mindful of extravagance, and mindful of extravagance, and to exercise frugal spending to exercise frugal spending habits. In contrast to many habits. In contrast to many later posters, it uses humour later posters, it uses humour to convey its messageto convey its message

Save Waste Bones -They Make Glue For Save Waste Bones -They Make Glue For Aircraft .. And Are Used For Explosives...Aircraft .. And Are Used For Explosives...

Propaganda constantly Propaganda constantly encouraged Canadians to encouraged Canadians to reuse and recycle so that reuse and recycle so that salvaged material could be salvaged material could be turned into war material, turned into war material, including explosives. Here, including explosives. Here, they are asked to save they are asked to save leftover cooking bones to be leftover cooking bones to be processed into glue for processed into glue for aircraft like the poster's aircraft like the poster's Wellington bomber. Wellington bomber.

Get Your Teeth Into the JobGet Your Teeth Into the Job

This poster relies on humour This poster relies on humour to get across the message to get across the message that hard work will ensure that hard work will ensure victory. Hitler is caught up a victory. Hitler is caught up a tree while a beaver, tree while a beaver, emblematic of Canada, cuts emblematic of Canada, cuts it down. Demeaning it down. Demeaning caricatures and cartoon caricatures and cartoon images of enemy leaders images of enemy leaders were standard features of all were standard features of all sides' propaganda efforts. sides' propaganda efforts.

Careless Talk Brings Tragedy in Careless Talk Brings Tragedy in WartimeWartime

This poster describes This poster describes a chain of indiscreet a chain of indiscreet conversations that conversations that results in the results in the destruction of a train. destruction of a train. The soldier told his The soldier told his fiancée what time his fiancée what time his troop train was troop train was leaving, she in turn leaving, she in turn told her father, who told her father, who recounted the news at recounted the news at his club where a spy his club where a spy was present, who then was present, who then spoke to the saboteur. spoke to the saboteur.

Few German spies are known to have operated in Canada during the war, and there were no acts of sabotage, but the risk was real. German submarines operated in Canadian waters throughout the war, depositing a weather station and, on at least one occasion, a spy along the east coast

Victory BondsVictory Bonds