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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Observe Blackout Discipline
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Observe Blackout Discipline

Object numberMO 2005.13.28.21
Name Poster
Maker (American, founded 1861)
Date1943
Mediumpaper, ink
Dimensionsoverall H 20 in x W 13 1/2 in (50.8 cm x 34.3 cm )
DescriptionA color poster promoting blackout discipline. On a blue background is a large nighttime illustration of two American soldiers, one of whom is lighting a cigarette while the other angrily points to the sky. An orange dotted line runs vertically from the top of the image to the soldier's match, and white text in the upper right corner says: Lighted match visible / from 3000 feet. Yellow text below the illustration reads: OBSERVE BLACKOUT / DISCIPLINE.

In the lower right corner of the poster is an illustrated emblem consisting of a helmeted German soldier's head with his eyes covered, encircled by text that states: CAMOUFLAGE BLINDS THE ENEMY.

The poster was printed by the U.S. Government Printing Office, poster no. 1943-O-554991.
Label TextThis poster is from a series of American WWII military posters titled, "Camouflage Blinds the Enemy." Used as instructional training images, the posters featured how to and how-to-not graphics and text for various camouflage techniques. See MO 2005.13.28.1-24 for posters from this series.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by the Adriance Memorial Library.
Credit LineGift of the Adriance Memorial Library
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesOriginal Posters from World War I and World War II (National Archives Identifier 739394)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
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