Little men, what now?

A stark message from Marshall Field & Company on V-E Day.

This enormous double-page advertisement/propaganda poster was drawn by Taylor Pone (signature in the lower right of the left panel) and published in the May 8, 1945 issue of the Chicago Daily News. Considering that much of the world was celebrating news of victory in Europe, the message is clear – there is no time to wait to destroy the final threat. “From this day – Forward!”

The left side presents an illustrated map of Tokyo overshadowed by the outline of an American bomber. A stereotypical representation of a Japanese soldier cowers in fear and Tokyo is shown in flames. The bombing of the Japanese capital on the night of March 9 remains the deadliest aerial attack in human history – as many as 100,000 civilians lost their lives.

The right side of the sheet shows Japanese peasants watching a fleet of B-17 Flying Fortresses following the sign to Tokyo. It is accompanied by a warning – “OUR BOYS HAVE ANOTHER WAR – SO HAVE YOU!” How they are expected to defend themselves with spades and pickaxes is left to the imagination of the audience.

A compelling instance of patriotic advertising on the home front that doubles as propaganda for the war effort.