Social Studies 11 Canada’s Wartime Propaganda

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

If You Don't Need It... Don't Buy It The ultimate superfluous purchase, a white elephant, reminds citizens to be mindful of extravagance, and to exercise frugal spending habits. In contrast to many later posters, it uses humour to convey its message The ultimate superfluous purchase, a white elephant, reminds citizens to be mindful of extravagance, and to exercise frugal spending habits. In contrast to many later posters, it uses humour to convey its message

Save Waste Bones -They Make Glue For Aircraft.. And Are Used For Explosives... Propaganda constantly encouraged Canadians to reuse and recycle so that salvaged material could be turned into war material, including explosives. Here, they are asked to save leftover cooking bones to be processed into glue for aircraft like the poster's Wellington bomber.

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

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