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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.
Don't Take "Short Cuts"
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Don't Take "Short Cuts"

Artifact IDMO 2005.13.28.18
Object Type 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 )
Physical DescriptionA color poster illustrating the wrong and right ways to walk in an open field without leaving visible tracks. On a brown background is a large illustration of two soldiers walking in a field with a red arrow pointing to one soldier as "WRONG" as he crosses through the field diagonally, and another arrow pointing to the other soldier as "RIGHT" as he goes through the field by following the along a tree line and fence. White and green text below the illustration reads: DON'T TAKE SHORT CUTS" / One man's tracks can reveal / a well-concealed position.

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.
Historical NoteThis 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 StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view