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WWI

See the posters that lured the 'Lost Generation' to war

A selection from the Library of Congress’ 1914-1920 collection.

THE FIRST WORLD War changed the nature of how conflicts were fought across the globe forever.

As technology made weapons more deadly, trench warfare became outdated and battlefields turned into mass graves. As horrific reports were transmitted back across the Atlantic, serious propaganda was needed to ensure Americans continued to support a war which would see thousands lose their lives (later to be become known as the Lost Generation)

The Library of Congress has compiled a collection of more than 1,900 posters created between 1914 and 1920 which tried to encourage men to enlist and women to help in any way they could.

Sheep clubs for boys and girls, knitting drives and some unapologetic, emotional blackmail (your money or his life?) all feature in Business Insider’s selection of posters which illustrate the US war effort:

See the posters that lured the 'Lost Generation' to war
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  • A Call to Duty

  • A football-like chant?

  • Ambulance Services also needed people

  • Buy buy buy

  • Are you bored? Look over here

  • Become a hero, just like him

  • Blackmail

  • Buy, buy, buy

  • Enemies are the devil

  • Give give give

  • Lured by prestigious placements

  • Men with guns

  • Sheep club

  • Sox

  • The Comforter

  • The enemies are the Germans

  • Women were targeted as well

  • Unapologetic emotional blackmail

-Additional reporting by BI

See more from the Library of Congress collection>

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