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One sheet "Defense Needs Rubber: Save Your Tires" American propaganda poster issued in 1941.Historical ContextThe Organization: The poster was produced by the U.S. Office for Emergency Management (Division of Information) right around the time the United States was entering World War II.The Crisis: Following Japan's military expansion into Southeast Asia, the United States was abruptly cut off from over 90% of its natural rubber supply.The Policy: Because military gear like heavy artillery, tanks, trucks, gas masks, and boots required immense amounts of rubber, tires became the very first commodity rationed on the U.S. home front beginning in January 1942.Graphic DesignThe artwork deliberately juxtaposes civilian conservation with frontline military operation. It uses an oversized vehicle tire tread as a framing device for a heavy military tractor pulling a massive, multi-wheeled artillery piece to visually show drivers that their personal tires shared the exact same resources needed to move the army forward. |
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