"Unless we can divide these two fellows – we're sunk!" Artist unknown, Date unknown

Catalogue ref: INF 3/322

An inter-Allied unity of strength poster, depicting British and American sailors raising their pints together in a pub, whilst Hitler and Goebbels lurk despairingly in the background as they say: ‘Unless we can divide these two fellows – we're sunk!' The play on words is clever, with the idea that German shipping (U-boats in the main) would be sunk by the British and American navies.

The poster was probably in response to the American entry into the war when the United States navy and coastguard formally took over escort duties for convoys across their half of the Atlantic. This significantly reduced the burden on the British and Canadian navies and contributed greatly to final victory over the ‘Wolf packs'.