WW II Poster: He's Watching You

WW II Poster: He's Watching You

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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: 8 Jul 1940 Tea rationing begins in Britain.  More ↓
8 Jul 1941 Jews living under German occupation in Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania ordered to wear a Jewish Star.
8 Jul 1942 US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Chester Nimitz orders invasion of Guadalcanal, Solomon islands, to seize a strategic Japanese airfield.
8 Jul 1944 US forces on Saipan mop up after surviving a 15-hour banzai charge, one of the largest ever, defesting over 3000 Japanese soldiers plus wounded and civilians who participated.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.