Soviet posters of World War II

The Soviet posters of World War II are works of art and reflect elements of the Soviet cultural heritage. Such posters have often been displayed at special stands. Military posters differed as to the quality of performance, and form. Some posters were rude caricatures, while others were paintings on military subjects or photographs and had been popular with explanations about what is happening or poetic commentary, or with the quote from the works of Vladimir Lenin or Joseph Stalin.

Motherland is calling!
Motherland is calling!

Together with radio and newspapers the Soviet posters of World War II were the means of agitation and propaganda during the war, affecting the consciousness and the mood of people with the aim of encouraging them to political, labor, or other activities.

The poster was one of the most important genres of Soviet art in the Great Patriotic War. Also, as in the Civil War, this art experienced flourishing; moreover, many artists worked in both periods – World War I and World War II.

Fascism is hunger, fascism is terror, fascism is war.
Fascism is hunger, fascism is terror, fascism is war.

Soviet posters of World War II produced in many Russian cities

During the war posters produced in many Russian cities – Moscow, the siege Leningrad, in Gorky, Ivanov, Krasnoyarsk, Murmansk, Penza, Rostov, Saratov, Sverdlovsk, Kuibyshev, Tyumen, Khabarovsk, Tomsk, Chelyabinsk and others. Posters were created in the republics, especially Armenia and Georgia. In 1944, in the halls of the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, there was an exhibition of Armenian poster, where stood the name of the artists – Mariam Aslamazian (“Blood for blood!”), Engraver Hakob Kojoyan, posters by Vasily Suryaninov, Gahiryan. Georgians released a large series of posters “Bayonet and pen” (R. Samerdzhiev, Sh Beritashvili), Muscovites also took part in it – Kukryniksy, Boris Efimov, Julius Ganf. Posters were produced in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Hello to the fighters against fascism
Hello to the fighters against fascism

Part of the Soviet propaganda posters of WWII were created by a group of artists under the name “TASS Windows”, which became the reincarnation of the Civil War “Okna ROSTa” (Window of ROST). Such images were reproduced using stencils and usually hung on special stands in Moscow and other cities. It was a special kind of Meiling poster created by not printing, but manually applying adhesive inks on paper through the stencil. Comparing with a printed poster, colorful TASS posters had more freedom. Another important property – mobility, instant reaction to this or that event.

Most famous posters:

You kept us alive
You kept us alive
We drink water from our native Dnieper, we will drink from the Prut, Neman, and Bug. Let's cleanse the Soviet land from the fascist evil spirits
We drink water from our native Dnieper, we will drink from the Prut, Neman, and Bug. Let’s cleanse the Soviet land from the fascist evil spirits
Let's get to Berlin
Let’s get to Berlin
To the west
To the west
Soviet posters of World War II. On enemy land, forward to victory
On enemy land, forward to victory
Soviet posters of World War II. More metal, more weapons
More metal, more weapons
Soviet posters of World War II. I am waiting for you, warrior-liberator
I am waiting for you, warrior-liberator
Soviet posters of World War II. Heroes partisans well done
Heroes partisans well done
Soviet posters of World War II. Red Army Warrior - Save
Red Army Warrior – Save
Soviet posters of World War II. Fascism is the worst enemy of women
Fascism is the worst enemy of women
Soviet posters of World War II. Under the banner of Lenin - forward for the homeland, for our victory
Under the banner of Lenin – forward for the homeland, for our victory
Soviet posters of World War II. Our powers are innumerable
Our powers are innumerable
Soviet posters of World War II. Defend the city of Lenin
Defend the city of Lenin
Kill to death. Soviet posters of World War II
Kill to death
Soviet posters of World War II. We will mercilessly destroy the enemy
We will mercilessly destroy the enemy
Defend Moscow. Soviet posters of World War II
Defend Moscow
Soviet posters of World War II. Join the ranks of the people's army
Join the ranks of the people’s army
Harvest to a single grain
Harvest to a single grain
We will restore farm buildings
We will restore farm buildings