Poster, 'He Offers His Life'

item details

NamePoster, 'He Offers His Life'

ProductionC.M. Banks Ltd.; printing firm; June 1943; Wellington

Classificationpolitical posters

Materialspaper, printing ink

Materials SummaryThree colour block printed text over a colour line block process image (photomechanical)

Techniquesphotomechanical processes

DimensionsOverall: 510mm (width), 765mm (height)

Registration NumberGH014040

Credit lineLoan from Mr C.H. Andrews, 1967

Overview

This is a fund-raising poster designed and printed in World War II.

Design
The poster is an emotionally charged call for New Zealanders to give money to the war effort. Its intention is to remind civilians of the sacrifices that were being made on their behalf by armed forces overseas. This particular message is achieved through guilt and a noble image of a pilot - 'He Offers His Life!'

Loans
After 1940, the National Savings Committee raised substantial annual internal loans based on voluntary public subscription to pay for the war. Many New Zealanders lent their money to the government, to be repaid after the war at modest interest rates. Most of the loans were called 'Liberty Loans' (this particular poster advertised the '3rd Liberty Loan' of 1943).

Significance
Nearly half of the country's war spending was covered by internal borrowing. New Zealand had no outstanding overseas debt as a result of World War II. Posters such as this made intense appeals, often through guilt, to New Zealanders' sense of patriotism and sacrifice.