Beware he wants to know your unit's name... 1943

This original 1943 British wartime poster was designed by Gerald Lacoste to warn military personnel against discussing sensitive information. Entitled Beware, it formed part of the wider campaign against careless talk, reminding servicemen that apparently harmless details could provide valuable intelligence to the enemy.

Lacoste depicts Adolf Hitler peering from behind a heavy vertical black line. Only half of his face is visible, while his disproportionately large ear immediately identifies him as an unseen listener. The caricature is deliberately restrained, giving Hitler a watchful and sinister presence rather than presenting him as an exaggerated comic figure.

The central warning is followed by instructions never to reveal a unit’s name, destination or point of departure, whether speaking alone or among a crowd. By addressing servicemen directly, the poster transformed operational security into a personal responsibility and suggested that enemy agents might be listening anywhere.

Printed almost entirely in black against a muted buff-coloured ground, the design relies upon strong typography, empty space and Lacoste’s economical line drawing. The isolated word “Beware” commands the centre of the composition, while Hitler’s face appears to intrude from beyond the poster’s edge, reinforcing the impression of constant surveillance.

An authentic example of British Second World War information design, this poster combines military history, political caricature and remarkably effective visual communication. Its striking image of Hitler as an eavesdropper makes it a compelling acquisition for collectors of wartime propaganda, twentieth-century graphic design and Allied home-front material.

Original Poster

War 39-45 - Nazi

Caricature of Hitler - Even alone or in a crowd never mention these out loud.

Good condition, folds, small tears