Lord Kitchener Wants You

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1914 Military recruitment poster. Caption reads "Britons: Lord Kitchener Wants You. Join Your Country's Army! God save the King."

A 1914 recruitment poster depicting Lord Kitchener, the British Secretary of State for War, above the words "WANTS YOU" was the most famous image used in the British Army recruitment campaign of World War I.^[1]^[2] It has inspired many imitations.

[edit] Origins

Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914. The poster was designed by Alfred Leete and had first appeared as a cover illustration for London Opinion, one of the most influential magazines in the world, on 5 September 1914. A similar poster used the words "YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU".^[3] It is often wrongly referred to as "BRITONS WANTS YOU".

On the outbreak of the First World War, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Herbert Asquith appointed Kitchener as Secretary of State for War.^[1] Kitchener was the first member of the military to hold the post and was given the task of recruiting a large army to fight Germany.

The poster has often been seen as a driving force helping to bring millions of men into the Army.^[4] The image first appeared in the front cover of the hugely influential London Opinion magazine on 5 September 1914, a month that had the highest number of volunteers. In response to requests for reproductions, the magazine issued postcard-sized copies, and the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee obtained permission to use the design in poster form.^[2] The Times recorded the scene in London on 3 January 1915; "Posters appealing to recruits are to be seen on every hoarding, in most windows, in omnibuses, tramcars and commercial vans. The great base of Nelson's Pillar is covered with them. Their number and variety are remarkable. Everywhere Lord Kitchener sternly points a monstrously big finger, exclaiming 'I Want You'".^[2] Although it became one of the most famous posters in history,^[2] its widespread circulation did not halt the decline in recruiting.^[2]

[edit] Original versions, all designed by Alfred Leete

The 5 September 1914 London Opinion magazine cover that inspired the posters. The caption reads "Your Country Needs YOU"
The "Britons (Lord Kitchener) Wants YOU" poster dating from September 1914
Another version of Kitchener poster with the caption "Your Country Needs YOU", dating from September 1914

[edit] Imitations

The image of Lord Kitchener with his hand pointing directly at the viewer has inspired numerous imitations:

British World War I recruiting poster featuring the national personification, John Bull, c1915. "Who's Absent? Is it YOU?"
United States, 1917. J. M. Flagg's Uncle Sam recruited soldiers for World War I and World War II. "I Want YOU for U.S. Army"
United States, World War I. Daughter of Zion (in Yiddish): "Your Old New Land must have you! Join the Jewish regiment"
Reichswehr recruitment poster by Julius Ussy Engelhard, 1919. "You too must join Reichswehr"
Russian White Army recruitment poster, 1919. "Why aren't you in the army?"
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic recruitment poster by Dmitry Moor, 1920. "Did You Volunteer?"
Soviet Union poster, 1927. "You, if you are not yet a member of the cooperative – sign up immediately!"
Brazilian Constitutionalist Revolution recruitment poster, 1932. "You have a duty to fulfill. Ask your conscience!"
Brazilian Integralism poster, 1937. "Brazil needs you! Without Integralism there is no Nationalism"
Soviet Union poster by Dmitry Moor, 1941. "What have you done to help the front?"
United States home front poster. "Are YOU doing all you can?"
Waffen-SS recruitment poster, 1944. "You Too! Your comrades await in the French Division of the Waffen-SS"
United States 1985 Smokey Bear poster. The "Only You" refers to his famous quotation, "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires"