Marketing is a substantially powerful influence in the world. It is often underestimated and forgotten about, as it is such a routine thing in our daily lives. However, I would like to alleviate people with an example on the more extreme side of the marketing spectrum: Propaganda during WW2.

During World War II, wartime propaganda and advertisements were escalated to one of the greatest heights in history. It played a significant role during the war, as it helped accelerate development of the war hastened tensions between countries. Moreover, as the Axis and Allies engaged in battle, it was important for both sides to motivate their populations on the home front and increase production.

Propaganda targeted everyone in the population and capitalised on people’s fears. The advertisement objectives varied in the different countries, but focused on psychological and situational factors. They convinced people that they were in immediate danger and that war was necessary by stimulating nationalism and taking advantage of their fears.

Propaganda involved encouraging people to buy war time bonds to support their soldiers, women to get a job and support the war at home, and to conserve materials, such as, oil, paper, and grease.

The ads above illustrate who their target audiences were and stimulate emotions with pictures of children and mentions of their husbands. These psychological factors are very powerful and easily target specific individuals. The extreme situational factor of war also contributed to the influential power of the ads.