For Service In Civilian Defense

For Service In Civilian Defense is a c. 1943 World War II recruitment poster by Bates for the American Civilian Defense. The poster displays the various Civilian Defense logos associated with different amounts of volunteer hours. This poster was created during the Second World War and was intended to enlist skilled volunteers to provide support for various local and federal department responsibilities at home.

Civil Defense was an international movement aimed at promoting aid during wartime and natural disasters as well as distinguishing non-combative volunteers. The American Civil Defense was established in May, 1941 by the Department of the Army, whose purpose was primarily search and rescue and public service. By July, 1942 40% of Americans were involved in Civil Defense duties. The effort encompassed all ages, including children who helped as plane spotters. Civil Defense had previously been established during World War I under regional control and had disbanded at the war's conclusion. For its reformation during World War II, President Roosevelt created a federal office known as the Office of Civil Defense under New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia. This included new divisions, such as The Civil Air Patrol (CAP), which commissioned civilian pilots to patrol the coast and borders and to engage in search and rescue missions. The Civil Defense Corps was also established to train and organize approximately 10 million volunteers to fight fires, decontaminate after chemical weapon attacks, and to provide first aid.

During the Cold War, the Office of Civil Defense was responsible for organizing educational material in relation to the Russian nuclear threat. In 1979, many offices of the Civil Defense were absorbed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In 2002. FEMA became part of the Department of Homeland Security, which continues a major focus on emergency response to natural disasters and terrorism.

This is an Original Vintage Poster; it is not a reproduction. This poster is conservation mounted, linen backed, and in excellent condition.We guarantee the authenticity of all of our posters.