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 for a fund by American Legion Post 195, Henderson, Texas, 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 for a fund by American Legion Post 195, Henderson, Texas to send cigarettes to our soldiers overseas.
Henderson Daily News
August 1, 1943
“Doctor of the Purple Heart!”
Advertisement for R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s Camel cigarettes
The Journal of Osteopathy
November 1945
“A Perfect Evening”
Advertisement for Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company’s Chesterfield cigarettes
The Tobacco Leaf
September 8, 1945
“In Nassau at the Duchess of Windsor’s United Services Canteen”
Advertisement for Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company’s Chesterfield cigarettes
LIFE Magazine
1943
“They Deliver More Pleasure”
Magazine advertisement for Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company’s Chesterfield cigarettes
Circa 1943
“One for All, With the downright Smoking Pleasure they all want”
Advertisement for Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company’s Chesterfield cigarettes
LIFE Magazine
1944
“For Your Fighting Man Buy More Bonds”
Mailer with advertisement for Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company’s Chesterfield cigarettes
1944
“Women’s Auxiliary Flying Squadron: With us It’s Chesterfield”
Mailer with advertisement for Liggett & Meyers Tobacco Company’s Chesterfield cigarettes
1943
“‘I’d walk a mile just to hand him these Camels!’ … Send him Camels, First in the Service
Advertisement for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s Camel cigarettes
Saturday Evening Post
March 6, 1943
“‘Nothing like this in the Army (Except the Camels)'”
Magazine advertisement for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s Camel cigarettes
Circa 1943
“Same girl… Same smile… Same cigarette”
Magazine advertisement for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s 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
“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 for Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corporation’s Raleigh cigarettes
Circa 1943
“Special overseas order for Raleigh union made cigarettes”
Envelope with order form for Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation’s Raleigh cigarettes
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
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