Thread: Selling war bonds

It takes cash to fight a war - and all America's expertise in razzle-dazzle was recruited to help find funds.

To raise money for the national effort, the United States government issued war bonds, which were sold in banks and offices. War stamps were put on sale too, at schools, drugstores and newsstands. Costing five or ten cents, the stamps were collected especially by children who glued them into a special book which, when filled, could be traded in for a bond. Buying bonds and stamps was considered a patriotic duty, and the campaign pulled no punches: a poster of the time showed a dying GI with the legend: 'He gives his life - you only loan your money.'

Patriotic appeal: A serviceman buys bonds from actress Evelyn Keyes in Los Angeles, 1944.

Hollywood stars were recruited to promote bond sales. Comedian Jack
Benny auctioned his fiddle and pinup girl Betty Grable auctioned her stockings. Hedy Lamarr offered a personal kiss to anyone who bought a $25,000 bond, while Abbott and Costello were among those who made propaganda films explaining the principles behind the campaign. 'Hey, Abbott, what are the stamps for?' 'For defence.'
'You mean, you put the stamps on de fence? And to whom do you mail defence?'
'You don't understand ... You see, when you buy a defence stamp or defence bond you're saving your money by lending it to Uncle Sam. See, Uncle Sam needs that money to build ships and planes and tanks.' 'And what?' 'Tanks.' 'You're welcome.'

A poster issued in the same year when the December war-bond drive surpassed expectations, netting over $15 billion.

The drive to sell bonds had its casualties: Greer Garson fainted from nervous exhaustion during one drive, and Carole Lombard was killed in a plane crash while on a tour selling bonds. But the results were impressive. American families contributed $135 billion in war bonds. And they gave more still through increased taxation, which included a five per cent 'Victory Tax' added to the income revenue. On the whole, people gave willingly in the 'Taxes to beat the Axis' campaign, as they did in the war-bond drive. With higher wages and shortages of goods, there was spare cash around.

New Yorkers line up in May 1941 to buy Defense Stamps and Bonds on their first day of sale.



Posters and rallies hammered out slogans to promote sales.

I think this is the same Bonds scheme Ira Hayes and the other survivors from 'The Flag' on Iwo Jima were 'Volunteered' into.:yeah:

'Sure is Kelly, and the big film opens here this Friday.

Funny how the circle turns around: a modern-day big hollywood star - Clint Eastwood - whose parents bought war bonds, makes a movie about how the warbond drive helped to ruin the lives of soldiers like Ira by turning them into celebrities, like the film stars, which they were not comfortable with. Add to this the fact that no big Hollywood stars have been cast in the new film...


It's a timely reminder of the ONLY reason we need celebrities in the first place - to sell stuff. (Not that the bonds were not worth buying mind.) Hopefully it will be a damned good movie aswell, and worth buying !

I can appreciate the need to fund a war, but really come on, the US criticised the Germans for their insidious propaganda, but a dying GI to sell stocks? wow....