“Please Keep the Bombs Away” Poster

One of the exhibits at the Heritage Museum in Hudson is this colorful World War II propaganda poster. A young girl clutches her doll while looking anxiously toward the sky as military aircraft fly overhead. Beside her are the words, “Please Keep the Bombs Away! Let’s Go, Everybody—Keep ‘Em Firing!” It is a powerful reminder that the war was fought not only on distant battlefields but also in the hearts and minds of families at home. The poster was produced in 1942 by the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors as part of a nationwide campaign to encourage Americans to increase wartime production.

During World War II, thousands of American factories that had once manufactured automobiles, refrigerators, and household goods were transformed into wartime industries. Companies like General Motors stopped producing civilian automobiles and instead built tanks, aircraft engines, artillery, ammunition, and countless other supplies needed by Allied forces. The slogan “Keep ‘Em Firing” reminded factory workers that every hour on the assembly line contributed directly to the success of soldiers, sailors, and airmen overseas. 

What makes this poster especially effective is its emotional appeal. Rather than depicting combat, it focuses on a child. The message is clear: by working harder, buying war bonds, conserving resources, and supporting the war effort, Americans could help ensure that the horrors of bombing remained far from their own communities. Unlike many countries in Europe and Asia, the continental United States was never subjected to widespread aerial bombing during the war. The poster encouraged Americans to recognize that this security depended upon the continued production of the equipment needed to defeat the Axis powers. 

This poster reveals how governments and private industry worked together to inspire a nation. Every image, slogan, and color was carefully chosen to motivate ordinary citizens to contribute to a common cause. Whether serving in uniform, working in a factory, rationing gasoline and food, or purchasing war bonds, Americans were reminded that everyone had a role to play.