Soviet propaganda posters first appeared following the success of the Russian Revolution. They were used to promote the revolution, stir optimism for a new society (one that stood for literacy and improvement of health care) and to attack opponents of Lenin’s government. Very few newspapers were published during the time and therefore the posters served as a primary means of communication. During the Russian Revolution, the posters were sent to the front lines of Communist opposition cities with the warning that “anyone who tears down or covers up this poster is committing a counter-revolutionary act”.

With Stalin in charge by the 1930s, the posters began to focus more on political discipline and ambitious government programs, particularly the collectivization of land and establishment of industry. Subsequently, many produced powerful and dynamic posters with bright colors and distinct shapes. However, these were later replaced with more lifelike images. The red star - the Soviet Red Army’s symbol - was also ubiquitous, as was the hammer and sickle. The posters were used throughout World War 2 for a panoply of reasons: to promote the Russian cause, convince people to enlist and to boost citizen morale.

This poster was used in the first half of the century in order to improve social and cultural elements of the country. In the poster, a man smashes an alcohol bottle with a hammer inscribed the “Cultural Revolution.” At the time, alcohol was considered an enemy of the revolution. The poster also has a poem underneath it, which translates to the following:

You, there, don’t trifle with booze
,
D’rather thrash it

Culturally,
 Roughly,
Powerfully, wrathfully,

Smash daily,

At your every step,

Give no rest to the enemy.

In order to garner the support of Russian workers for the revolution, this famous poster used the image of the Red Army soldier questioning the viewer rather brusquely about his or her commitment to the revolution.

One of the most famous posters of WWII, this poster was created by Nina Vatolina to showcase the danger of gossiping. Written by Soviet poet Samuil Marshak, the featured verse translates to:

Keep your eyes open.
These days,

Even the walls have ears.
Chatter and gossip

Go hand in hand with

Treason.

Simple, striking and colorful, the poster was created by one of the most prominent female poster artists in the early 20th century, Valentina Kulagina.

This poster began to disseminate soon after the breakout of WWII and called on citizens to dutifully serve their country.

Alexei Kokorekin’s poster “For Motherland!” features a fatally wounded sailor throwing an anti-tank grenade in the midst of his enemies. This too was another powerful piece of artwork made to evoke a certain sense of patriotic passion among the Soviet people.

For the USSR, the first part of the war was a rather bloody and violent one. This is well-highlighted in Viktor Koretsky’s poster, which features the image of a bloody Nazi bayonet pointed at a mother with a child in her arms. The backdrop? Fire.

One of the earlier posters promoting communism and education, this piece of art translates to: “Young builders of Communism, go forth toward the new achievements in labor and education!”