Volunteer, We Are Ready. 1965.

Artist: TRUONG SINGH (1934-?)
Size: 23 x 33 3/8 in./58.5 x 84.8 cm
Condition:
Printer:
Reference: Ref: Vietnam, 24
Key Words: Modern; Vietnam; Propaganda

Volunteer, We Are Ready. 1965.
"This poster is influenced by elements of Soviet propaganda design. It shows a strong, dominant figure leading his followers into the patriotic act of volunteering for the war effort. The young soldier at the front of the picture plane has his sights fixed on glory as he strides out proudly holding his enlistment paper with a determined and resolute expression. The purpose of this poster was to engender patriotism and a community expectation that the younger generation would make sacrifices for an independent and unified nation and enlist into the armed forces. In reality, many young men and women did not enlist voluntarily into the People’s Army of Vietnam. The army comprised mainly of ‘conscripts’ who were often ‘recruited’ from their rural villages and rice fields with force. They received four months of basic training before they had their intensive training in specialist areas. North Vietnamese soldiers were known for being tightly knit and an intensely cohesive force. They were strongly indoctrinated with Party dogma and developed steely determination. At the time of unification in 1975, the Vietnam People’s Army numbered one million troops" (Deborah Salter).