As the United States entered into a second world war in the wake of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the Philippines, a patriotic fervor swept the nation, and cigarette advertisements were draped in red, white, olive drab, and navy blue. As in World War I, tobacco companies promoted cigarettes as a battlefield necessity, a reward for valor, a comfort for loved ones at home, a reward for valor, and a pleasure shared by soldiers and sweethearts. Many cigarette advertisements also included a patriotic pitch to buy War Bonds.
“Please–PLEASE–…HE CAN’T BUY CIGARETTES IN A FOX-HOLE”
Advertisement by American Legion Post 195, Henderson, Texas, for a fund to send cigarettes to our soldiers overseas.
Henderson Daily News
July 25, 1943
“WON’T YOU BUY HIM A SMOKE? HE IS ASKING FOR SO LITTLE AND GIVING SO MUCH — OUR FIGHTING MEN Need Cigarettes”
Advertisement by American Legion Post 195, Henderson, Texas, for a fund to send cigarettes to our soldiers overseas.
Henderson Daily News
August 1, 1943
“DOCTOR of the Purple Heart!“
Advertisement by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for Camel cigarettes
The Journal of Osteopathy
November 1945
“The Purple Heart — awarded to persons wounded in action against the enemy.“
“THE GUNS are silent once more. For the men with the guns, the war is over. But for the thousands of medical men in the service, the war still goes — their ‘war in white’ in behalf of the wounded, the wearers of the Purple Heart. Doctors that they are, of medicine and morale, they well know how much a cigarette can mean to an invalid soldier. And servicemen that they are, as well, they know what a big favorite Camels have been, and are, with men in the service.”
“a Perfect Evening“
Advertisement by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company for Chesterfield cigarettes
The Tobacco Leaf
September 8, 1945
“In Nassau at the Duchess of Windsor’s UNITED SERVICES CANTEEN WHERE OUR SOLDIERS AND OUR ALLIES MEET
Chesterfield is the Smoker’s Choice”
Advertisement by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company for Chesterfield cigarettes
LIFE Magazine
1943
“They Deliver More Pleasure”
Magazine advertisement by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company for Chesterfield cigarettes
Circa 1943
“One for All, With the downright Smoking Pleasure they all want”
Advertisement by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company for Chesterfield cigarettes
LIFE Magazine
1944
“FOR YOUR FIGHTING MAN BUY MORE BONDS
Head and Shoulders
OVER OTHERS…
ASK FOR CHESTERFIELD”
Mailer with advertisement by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company
1944
“Women’s Auxiliary Flying Squadron: With us IT’S CHESTERFIELD”
Mailer with advertisement by Liggett & Meyers Tobacco Company
1943
“‘I’d walk a mile just to hand him these Camels!’ … Send him Camels, First in the Service”
Advertisement by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
The Saturday Evening Post
March 6, 1943
“‘Nothing like this in the Army (Except the Camels)'”
Magazine advertisement by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Circa 1943
“Same girl… Same smile… Same cigarette”
Magazine advertisement by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for Camel cigarettes
Circa 1943
Tobacco and War (8 pages)
A booklet for the employees of the American Tobacco Company that poses the question, “Is Tobacco Important on the Home Front?” and encourages readers to “Remember! Every time you help to put together a cigar, a cigarette, or a pack of smoking tobacco–it means money for Uncle Sam [more than $250,000,000 in taxes in 1942], money to build a mighty force to crush the Axis!”
1943
“SPECIAL
BUY A CARTON OF RALEIGHS
FREE FOR EVERY CARTON YOU BUY DURING AUGUST WE WILL SEND TWO PACKS OF RALEIGH CIGARETTES TO A FIGHTER OVERSEAS AS YOUR GIFT”
Retail store poster by Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation for Raleigh cigarettes
Circa 1943
“SPECIAL OVERSEAS ORDER FORM OR RALEIGH UNIOIN MADE CIGARETTES”
Envelope with order form by Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
Circa 1943
“Our Fighters are on every front….Remember them with Raleighs”
Flyer by Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company for posting on bulletin boards at “industrial, fraternal, and civic groups” for the opportunity to buy discounted Raleigh cigarettes to send to military personnel overseas.
Circa 1943
“WE GIVE U.S. WAR STAMPS FOR RALEIGH & KOOL CIGARETTE COUPONS”
World War II retail store sign.
Circa 1943
“The best daily reminder that members of American labor Unions are behind them 100% is to keep a constant daily flow of UNION LABEL RALEIGH cigarettes to our soldiers, sailors, marines, and coastguardmen…THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS BUY MORE WAR BONDS AND SHARE OUR SMOKES.”
Letter from I.M Ornburn, Secretary-Treasurer of the Union Label Trades Department of the American Federation of Labor to the members of Anerican Labor Unions
Circa 1943
Letter of reply from G.G. Blaisdell, Zippo Manufacturing Company to Army Captain Leon Blum, MD noting that the company would send him one of its war model cigarette lighters with its compliments
September 18, 1944
Instructional pamphlet accompanying Zippo wartime cigarette lighter
Package of cigarettes given to soldiers in World War II
Canadian Red Cross
Circ 1943
Package of Liggett and Myers Tobcco Company’s Chesrerfield cigarettes given to US soldiers during hte Korean War
1953
“It isy constant prayer that God may sustain and shield you, men of our armed forces…”
Message by New York City’s Cardinal Spellman on back of package of Chesterfield cigarettes given to a soldier in the Korean war
1953