Original Item: Only One Available. The U.S. War Department published Newsmaps throughout the second World War. The names and configurations of the responsible sub-agencies changed several times during the war. Notes on many of the Newsmaps indicate that they were distributed by both the Army and the Navy. The poster is in fair shape but does have some folding tears from being stored like this for so long.

During most of the war, Newsmaps typically featured maps of the world and of local areas seeing fighting, brief summaries of military action during the week, and photographs of troops and materiel. The earliest Newsmaps were printed on one side only. However, beginning with volume 1, no. 5, most Newsmaps had a second side which provided recognition cues for tanks, ships, and planes; information about enemy organization, equipment, and uniform insignia; strategies for defeating or evading enemy weapons; detailed maps; highlights of service achievement; or inspirational posters or photo montages. As hostilities came to a close, Newsmap content switched to revelations of enemy atrocities, and to information on the peace process and reconstruction efforts around the world. Side two content on these later Newsmaps often focused on preparation for the return to civilian life.

This newsmap is one of the later ones published and focused on preparing soldiers returning to civilian life. The message features a “National Security” type message and talks about how millions depend on the silence of military matters.

The image is of the end of an M1 Garand Rifle with a bayonet and the words LET THIS DO YOUR TALKING just below it. The message is self explanatory, do not risk leaking information to the enemy. In the upper right hand corner is a text box titled SILENCE MEANS SECURITY and contains the following message:

When a man stands ready
To fight–to his last drop of
Blood–to his last breath of
Life–he doesn’t do much
Talking. He lets his weapon
Do that for him.
And, later, he doesn’t talk
about where he has been–
or when–or what he did–or
saw. He knows that the
safety of millions depends
on his silence!

This is a lovely poster and comes ready for further research and display.

Concerns about national security intensify in wartime. During World War II, the Government alerted citizens to the presence of enemy spies and saboteurs lurking just below the surface of American society. "Careless talk" posters warned people that small snippets of information regarding troop movements or other logistical details would be useful to the enemy. Well-meaning citizens could easily compromise national security and soldiers' safety with careless talk.

“Words are ammunition. Each word an American utters either helps or hurts the war effort. He must stop rumors. He must challenge the cynic and the appeaser. He must not speak recklessly. He must remember that the enemy is listening.”

- Government Information Manual for the Motion Picture Industry Office of War Information