"Ted was haunted by the war in Europe, and one evening in Manhattan he showed an editorial cartoon he had drawn to his friend Zinny Vanderlip Schoales, the brilliant, hard-drinking intellectual…. She had joined the patrician liberal Ralph Ingersoll when he launched the tabloid newspaper PM in New York with the backing of Marshall Field III. Zinny took Ted’s cartoon to Ingersoll and PM published it on January 30, 1941…"
~ Judith and Neil Morgan, Dr. Seuss and Mr. Geisel: A Biography
STOP all U.S. Progress, October 24, 1941, Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons. Special Collection & Archives, UC San Diego Library
This year I'm afraid my kiddies suspect who I reall am!, December 15, 1942, Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons. Special Collection & Archives, UC San Diego Library
Nursing an Old Grudge, October 12, 1941, Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons. Special Collection & Archives, UC San Diego Library
From 1941-1943, Geisel was the chief editorial cartoonist for the left wing New York Newspaper, PM. Here he drew over 400 political cartoons including a set of war bond “cartoons” to boost WWII morale.
One buck out of every 10!, May 2, 1942, Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons. Special Collection & Archives, UC San Diego Library
Cages cost money!, December 15, 1941, Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons. Special Collection & Archives, UC San Diego Library
Wipe that sneer off his face!, October 13, 1942, Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons. Special Collection & Archives, UC San Diego Library
Me? I'd give my life for my country, September 1, 1942, Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons. Special Collection & Archives, UC San Diego Library
Army Maj. Theodor Geisel.
"While Paris was being occupied by the clanking tanks of the Nazis and I was listening on my radio, I found that I could no longer keep my mind on drawing pictures of Horton The Elephant. I found myself drawing pictures of Lindbergh The Ostrich"
~ Theodor Geisel
In 1943, Suess decided he wanted to have a greater role in the war so he joined the US Army and was deployed to Fox Studios in Hollywood. Here he began working with the country's top filmmakers and animators to enliven typical training manuals for soldiers. He was put in charge of the 1st Motion Picture Unit and started on writing films as well as contributing to the famous Private Snafu cartoon series.
Alongside famed animation directors, Seuss created the cartoon series Private Snafu. The entertaining misadventures of the incompetant soldier was meant to educate non career soldiers of exactly what not to do. The Snafu cartoons showcased early Dr. Seuss style of writing as he started experimenting with limited vocabulary and rhyme.
Private Snafu in "Going Home" 1944. Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Chief Signal Officer.
Your Job in Germany, 1945. Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Chief Signal Officer.
In 1944, Geisel was tasked with writing an orientation film for the US Army personnel who would occupy Germany after the war. Your Job in Germany informed them of what to expect. The film advised soldiers to remain suspicious of German people. It depicts warfare as part of German culture through the use of dramatic music, quick cuts, and an unyielding narrator. The film became well recognized, as Warner Brothers created their own version titled, Hitler Lives.
"Nobody came along and put up a sign saying, This is the Battle of the Bulge. How was I supposed to know? I thought the fact that we didn’t seem to be able to find any friendly troops in any direction was just one of the normal occurrences of combat."
~ Theodor Geisel
After being promoted to major in 1944, Geisel traveled to Europe to show his film, Your Job in Germany, to high ranking generals. Wanting to see a peek at some of the actual fighting, Geisel found himself trapped behind German lines at the onset of the Battle of the Bulge. Three days later the British rescued him.
After being promoted to major in 1944, Geisel traveled to Europe to show his film, Your Job in Germany, to high ranking generals. Wanting to see a peek at some of the actual fighting, Geisel found himself trapped behind German lines at the onset of the Battle of the Bulge. Three days later the British rescued him.
"Nobody came along and put up a sign saying, This is the Battle of the Bulge. How was I supposed to know? I thought the fact that we didn’t seem to be able to find any friendly troops in any direction was just one of the normal occurrences of combat."
~ Theodor Geisel