The 1940’s-1950’s was an era in which the world began to change dramatically. It was the point in time where the second world war occurred, several years after the first world war, which originally involved the five great powers (Austria-Hungary, Germany, France and The British Empire during the years of 1914-1918.
To this day, the second world war was one of the largest wars in modern history, and it was a war that was fought on an epic scale. It began in 1939 after the Nazis, led by Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland, and eventually took control of most of continental Europe. Later toward the end of the war, the development of such items as nuclear weapons were coming into place. The USA bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan in 1945 being the first, and only instance in which a nuclear weapon has been used in conflict. This act brought the Second World War to a conclusion shortly after, when the Japanese surrendered to the allied powers. The development of nuclear weaponry, as well as the increasing development of nuclear weapons by other nations, paved the way for the start of the cold war, a time where political suspicions arose, notably between the United States, and the communist Soviet Union.
To this day, the second world war was one of the largest wars in modern history, and it was a war that was fought on an epic scale. It began in 1939 after the Nazis, led by Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland, and eventually took control of most of continental Europe. Later toward the end of the war, the development of such items as nuclear weapons were coming into place. The USA bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan in 1945 being the first, and only instance in which a nuclear weapon has been used in conflict. This act brought the Second World War to a conclusion shortly after, when the Japanese surrendered to the allied powers. The development of nuclear weaponry, as well as the increasing development of nuclear weapons by other nations, paved the way for the start of the cold war, a time where political suspicions arose, notably between the United States, and the communist Soviet Union.
The cold war was an era in history dating from after the end of the second world war, to the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. It was never technically a conflict, but more of an escalation of
hostile suspicion after the war. Some notable countries involved in the so called 'war', include Russia, and the United States. It lasted between the years of WW2, to around the collapse, and dissolution of the Soviet Union, in 1989.
Going into a brief history of the Cold War now, in the following paragraph.
After the end of World War II, it was decided that the allied powers would break Germany up into zones, notably one side was governed by America, and the other by the Soviet Union. Initial attempts to govern Germany as a united task between the US and the Soviets failed. By 1948, Germany consisted of two separate states, the East and the West.1
The communist soviets sealed their zone off from the democratic side, and this led to the creation of the Berlin wall. A physical divide between the two zones of Germany. This wall was reflected in the media, in terms of art, film, and music. An example can be found in the pop song "99 Luftballons" by artist Nena. (See embedded link below2), as well as figure 2.
The writing background stems from the theme of anti-nuclear protest. Another example is graffiti that could be found on the wall. In figure 1, (below), there is an example of how the wall became a canvas for protest.3
hostile suspicion after the war. Some notable countries involved in the so called 'war', include Russia, and the United States. It lasted between the years of WW2, to around the collapse, and dissolution of the Soviet Union, in 1989.
Going into a brief history of the Cold War now, in the following paragraph.
After the end of World War II, it was decided that the allied powers would break Germany up into zones, notably one side was governed by America, and the other by the Soviet Union. Initial attempts to govern Germany as a united task between the US and the Soviets failed. By 1948, Germany consisted of two separate states, the East and the West.1
The communist soviets sealed their zone off from the democratic side, and this led to the creation of the Berlin wall. A physical divide between the two zones of Germany. This wall was reflected in the media, in terms of art, film, and music. An example can be found in the pop song "99 Luftballons" by artist Nena. (See embedded link below2), as well as figure 2.
The writing background stems from the theme of anti-nuclear protest. Another example is graffiti that could be found on the wall. In figure 1, (below), there is an example of how the wall became a canvas for protest.3
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| Figure 1 |
The Soviet Union were developing nuclear weapons in the years after ww2, alongside the Americans. both sides tried to stay one step ahead of each other, in the event that nuclear war would break out. The escalation of the tensions closely reached conflict at certain points, one of them known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.
on the 16th of october, 1962, photographs taken from altitude showed an array of soviet union soldiers occupying a nuclear missile site. The soviets were already known about their involvement in sending weaponry to communist Cuba.
The USA during the era of the Cuban missile crisis had a stockpile of over 25000 nuclear weapons, whilst the soviet union had much fewer than America. However, an open nuclear conflict would still have been incredibly devastating, and a conflict that both sides wished to avoid4.
For the research task, this part of the text will focus on the usage of illustration, graphics and posters during the second world war. The graphic arts were used in the war on both the allied front, as well as by the axis powers. It was used to promote such things as propaganda. Propaganda was seeped into society in many ways. This propaganda was presented in various forms, ranging from film, animation, illustrations, graphics and poster campaigns etc5.
on the 16th of october, 1962, photographs taken from altitude showed an array of soviet union soldiers occupying a nuclear missile site. The soviets were already known about their involvement in sending weaponry to communist Cuba.
The USA during the era of the Cuban missile crisis had a stockpile of over 25000 nuclear weapons, whilst the soviet union had much fewer than America. However, an open nuclear conflict would still have been incredibly devastating, and a conflict that both sides wished to avoid4.
For the research task, this part of the text will focus on the usage of illustration, graphics and posters during the second world war. The graphic arts were used in the war on both the allied front, as well as by the axis powers. It was used to promote such things as propaganda. Propaganda was seeped into society in many ways. This propaganda was presented in various forms, ranging from film, animation, illustrations, graphics and poster campaigns etc5.
Below, is a well known example of a flyer, used by Great Britain just before the war, designed to keep British morale high. (figure 26 )
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| Figure 2 |
This poster pre-dated the famous, “Keep calm and carry on” posters, and it is worth noting that they were never distributed, however after discovery in 2000, they are now very well known in modern day popular culture, after being reintroduced as a ‘fashion statement’.
In comparison, there was also graphic propaganda being produced by Nazi Germany at the same time.
the piece below is an example of a Nazi propaganda piece,
This piece (figure 37) which states the message "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" (translated into English saying "One People, One Empire, One Leader", is an example of how the Nazis used propaganda to glorify their party, and motivate the masses to support, and be loyal toward hitler in his cause. It could be argued that this piece is trying to bring Germans together, and this can be supported in the message extract, "One People".
In comparison, there was also graphic propaganda being produced by Nazi Germany at the same time.
the piece below is an example of a Nazi propaganda piece,
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| Figure 3 |
Another propaganda piece that was used as propaganda by the Nazis, is of the figure below, (figure 48).
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| Figure 4 |
References Used:
1. Wright, E. (1984) An Illustrated History of the Modern World. Pg: 431, London: Reed International Books
2. Video: URL: (internet) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQYQTFudrqc, Viewed: 9:35pm 16.3.14
3. Figure: 1 (internet) URL: http://caroundtheworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/wall.jpg, Viewed: 4:49pm 13.3.14
4. (internet) URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/coldwar/kennedy_cuban_missile_01.shtml, BBC, Viewed: 11:08am 11.3.14
5. Samuels, C. (2013) Propaganda: World War II Sourcebook. Pg: 4, London: Wayland Books.
6. Figure 2: (internet) URL: http://www.thehistoryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/yourcourage.jpg Time viewed: 1:31pm (15.2.14)
7. Figure 3: "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" Samuels, C. (2013) Propaganda: World War II Sourcebook. Pg: 13, London: Wayland Books.
8. Figure 4: "He is to blame for the war", Artist: Hans Schweitzer, c1943, Luckert, S. and Bachrach, S. (2009) State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda. Pg:135, New York: W.W.Norton & Company.
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