Can anyone explain that American poster to me?

Discussions on all aspects of the United States of America during the Inter-War era and Second World War. Hosted by Carl Schwamberger.
Post Reply
georgy
Member
Posts: 8
Joined: 08 Nov 2002, 01:35
Location: Israel

Can anyone explain that American poster to me?

#1

Post by georgy » 07 Jul 2003, 15:46

Sorry if this is not the correct place, I had no idea where to post it.


Thanks
Georgy
Attachments
ww1647-83.jpg
ww1647-83.jpg (45.94 KiB) Viewed 1435 times

User avatar
sylvieK4
Member
Posts: 3089
Joined: 13 Mar 2002, 18:29

#2

Post by sylvieK4 » 07 Jul 2003, 16:22

During World War II, and occasionally today, American families display little banners with one star representing each family member in the service. These banners were often seen in windows of the family home so neighbors would know of the family's contribution to the war effort. A blue star represented a family member in the service, but a gold star represented a family member who died while serving in the war.

The poster depicts a dog that has lost his master, as the unworn sailor uniform he is with suggests, and the gold star on the banner confirms.

The text "Because somebody talked" indicates that the sailor was killed because people spoke openly about ship movements and this information was overheard by spies who told America's enemies who in turn destroyed the ship. It is a spin on the saying "Loose lips sink ships."


georgy
Member
Posts: 8
Joined: 08 Nov 2002, 01:35
Location: Israel

Thanks + another one

#3

Post by georgy » 07 Jul 2003, 19:34

Thanks for the good explanation.
Another one i'd like to understand, what does v-mail mean?

FYI, both these poster are taken from http://www.library.northwestern.edu/gov ... i-posters/, where there are few hundreds of ww2 american posters. I find it very interesting.

Georgy
Attachments
ww1647-79.jpg
ww1647-79.jpg (41.66 KiB) Viewed 1411 times

User avatar
Tom Houlihan
Member
Posts: 3983
Joined: 06 Oct 2002, 06:53
Location: MI, USA
Contact:

#4

Post by Tom Houlihan » 07 Jul 2003, 21:32

As I understand v-mail, you would send the letter through regular post. The Army would then photograph all the letters, putting them on microfilm. The film was then sent overseas, where it was then blown up to normal size for reading. It saved a lot of space that way on the transports.

georgy
Member
Posts: 8
Joined: 08 Nov 2002, 01:35
Location: Israel

#5

Post by georgy » 07 Jul 2003, 22:45

it is amazing how they saved space on roads , transports, and were calling the people the save every intch of steel , wood , and rubber for the war effort.
Was v-mail obligatory or optional?
My guess is that it was optional, bacause otherwise they didn't have to concince people to use it.
Georgy

User avatar
Tom Houlihan
Member
Posts: 3983
Joined: 06 Oct 2002, 06:53
Location: MI, USA
Contact:

#6

Post by Tom Houlihan » 07 Jul 2003, 22:55

I couldn't tell you if it was mandatory, optional, just accepted. I thought it was just something that was done, whether people wanted it done or not, just for efficiency.

User avatar
Andy H
Forum Staff
Posts: 15326
Joined: 12 Mar 2002, 21:51
Location: UK and USA

#7

Post by Andy H » 10 Jul 2003, 01:43

I thought V-Mail stood for Victory-Mail?

Andy H

Caldric
Member
Posts: 8077
Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 22:50
Location: Anchorage, Alaska

#8

Post by Caldric » 10 Jul 2003, 01:51

Yes as far as I know it was Victory Mail. Sounds like so high-tech stuff for WWII.

http://www.merkki.com/dson5.htm#vm

User avatar
Greg K.
Member
Posts: 733
Joined: 27 Oct 2002, 06:23
Location: Bakersfield, Calif U.S. of A.
Contact:

#9

Post by Greg K. » 11 Jul 2003, 06:47

heres a poster that i have that was used during the USA -V- Japan.
as you can see they were put into factorys so to keep the employees from waisting things. this one was used in a Cable Plant. as you can see what was printed on the back...pretty weard...

greg
Attachments
flag10.jpg
flag10.jpg (36.24 KiB) Viewed 1299 times
flag9.jpg
flag9.jpg (43.34 KiB) Viewed 1299 times

Post Reply

Return to “USA 1919-1945”