WW II Poster: He's Watching You

Download a larger version:
642x894 pixels (257KB file).

Download fee: 25 cents [Help/FAQ]

This striking poster was designed in 1942, early in World War II, by artist Glenn Grohe for the Office of Emergency Management. It shows the menacing, shadowy figure of a German soldier peering directly at the viewer. It was intended to motivate adherence to wartime rules about secrecy in the industrial sector.

However, a 1942 government survey of the American public revealed that the poster was often misunderstood. Many people perceived the stylized German helmet as the Liberty Bell, while some factory workers mistakenly believed "he" to be the "boss." Because of this type of issue, the U.S. Office of War Information was created in June 1942 to review and approve the design and distribution of government war posters.

It has been noted that the figure closely resembles Darth Vader, the sinister character in Star Wars, whose appearance may have been influenced by this poster.

The lower left of the poster has a U.S. Government seal and the words "Division of Information, Office for Emergency Management". The original size was 40 x 29 inches.

Today in WW II: 4 Feb 1941 The United Service Organization [USO], a nonprofit, charitable corporation chartered by Congress, is created to entertain American servicemen and women. More ↓

4 Feb 1945 Yalta Conference between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin [Feb 4-12].
4 Feb 1945 Supply truck convoy from India, en route since 12 January via the reopened Burma Road, arrives in Kunming, China.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.