Propaganda Tricks – Good and Bad: The Posters of the Mobile Visual Instruction and Propaganda Section of the South African Union Defence Force from January to July 1945

Abstract

This article begins to address the lack of research on South African poster propaganda from the Second World War by offering an account of the posters produced by the Mobile Visual Instruction and Propaganda Section of the South African Union Defence Force (UDF) from January to July 1945 in Rome, Italy. The article proceeds by providing the context for the posters, followed by an analysis of the three main poster categories; health, education, and entertainment and recreation. The article argues that the posters align with a view of advertising as a form of propaganda because they employ a variety of appeals, symbols and statements to persuade the audience to act in ways which would safeguard their health; to educate them to become liberal, democratic citizens and to keep up their morale so that they would remain loyal to the UDF. The analysis of the posters shows the use of both rational and emotional appeals to persuade the audience. It is argued that the use of these appeals as well as the conception, production and style of the posters were closely linked to commercial advertising practices of the time.