Merchant Marine lapel pin

Independent Union of Marine & Shipbuilding Workers of America pin

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Red, white and blue pin, 1943.

Anti-Axis pin calling for the extermination of Axis rats

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Anti-Axis pin-back button distributed in the United States during World War II. The button compares the leaders of Germany, Italy, and Japan to rats and calls for their extermination. The name under the Japanese face, referred to as Togo, may refer to Shigenori Tōgō, who was Minister of Foreign Affairs at the beginning of the war. The name may also be a misspelling of Tojo, a reference to Hideki Tojo who was Prime Minister of Japan during the war and a more popular target of American propaganda. After the Japanese surprise attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and Germany’s declaration of war four days later, a wave of American patriotism and anti-German, Italian and Japanese sentiment swept through the country. Much of this was manifested through pieces of ephemera such as posters, buttons, pins, cards, toys and decals. Often such pieces would depict unflattering or caricatured images of the Axis leaders along with a call to action for the public to aid in their defeat. This sentiment continued in America until the end of the war.

1942-1943 Quota F.O.E pin

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United Gas, Coke and Chemical Workers of America pin

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State of Washington British American War Relief Association pin

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Victory pin

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A.E.F. 77th Division pin

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Pin, "Don't Buy Silk or Goods made in Japan"

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302nd Engineers 77th Division pin

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Victory pin

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"V" for Victory pin

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British War Relief Society (BWRS) pin

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Maritime Federation pin

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"Remember Pearl Harbor" pin

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Production for Victory pin

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Kick 'em in the Axis pin

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"Remember Pearl Harbor" pin

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Hitler Wanted for Murder pin

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Anti-Nazi pin-back button distributed in the United States during World War II. The pin falsely claims that Adolf Hitler’s real name is Adolf Schicklgruber (misspelled on the pin as Schickelgruber). An assertion which was originated by Hans Habe, a Viennese Jewish writer. The claim was based on the last name of Hitler’s father, who was born Alois Shicklgruber. Before Hitler was born, Alois changed his name and it became Alois Hitler. The motif of Hitler’s “real” name was likely an attempt to ridicule the leader and belittle him to the public. Buttons of this type came in various sizes, ranging in diameters from under 1 inch to 3.5 inches. The Adolf Schicklgruber motif was also used on other ephemera, such as posters. After the Japanese surprise attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and Germany’s declaration of war four days later, a wave of American patriotism and anti-Axis sentiment swept through the country. Much of this was manifested through pieces of ephemera such as posters, buttons, pins, cards, toys and decals. Often such pieces would depict unflattering or caricatured images ridiculing the Axis leaders, along with a call to action for the public to aid in their defeat. This sentiment continued in America until the end of the war.

National Defenders of U.S.A maneuvers badge

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"Keep Em Bombing" airplane shaped pin

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Wing pin with maple leaf and acorn

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Remember Pearl Harbor button

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"America First" license plate attachment

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