This war poster uses a combination of guilt and nationalism to get citizens to go to the air raid shelter. It translates something like:
“It depends on you too!
Anyone who, out of curiosity or laziness, fails to go to the air raid shelter during an air raid alarm shows not courage, but reckless irresponsibility.
Anyone who disregards blackout regulations at home or at work endangers their fellow citizens and puts lives and property at risk.
Anyone who, during an Air Raid Alarm, lacks the required discipline, consideration, and willingness to help, shows that the fate of others means nothing to them.
Everyone must follow the command of the hour: maintain calm and order! Only in this way can the valuable assets of the German people be protected.
Every act of negligence endangers the community!
I know only one good German, and that is a disciplined German!
Every violation of air raid regulations is a betrayal of the community.
It depends on you too!”
The large black text at the top bellows “Auch auf Dich kommt es an!”, which translates to “It depends on you too!” which is a phrase that sounds almost encouraging until you realise it’s really saying “If something goes wrong, we’ll be blaming you.” The message beneath is something of a masterclass in guilt-laden discipline as if you don’t go to the air raid shelter, it’s not bravery but some sort of sub-optimal “irresponsible recklessness”. Forgetting to close your blackout curtains? That’s not carelessness, it’s practically sabotage. In the world of wartime Leipzig, leaving a lamp on made you not just a bad neighbour but a potential traitor to the Nazi regime.
I’m not suggesting that British posters were always cuddly and friendly on this matter, but this one (Image: Imperial War Museum Art.IWM PST 13891) seems typical of a rather softer style than the German shouty style.