British WWII Poster: “It Must Not Happen Here”

Approximately 19-7/8 inches by 30 inches. The poster depicts the capsized French passenger Liner “Normandie” in New York Harbor in 1942. At that time the liner had been seized by American authorities when France had fallen and it was being refitted as an American troop ship to be called the “Lafayette”. During this process a welder’s torch set fore to life preservers, which then ignited wood paneling, and the fire spread, with the ship ultimately capsizing. Interestingly, the American Mafia tried to claim responsibility for the fire, and told American authorities that if they would release Mafia chief Charles “Lucky” Luciano from prison, the Mafia would then guarantee security at the Port of New York. However, formal investigations concluded that the fire had been an accident, but the initial suspicions of course were of sabotage, leading to the creation of this British poster. The poster shows edge nicks and tape stains, as well as small corner pieces missing; application of cellophane tape down the reverse side, and fold lines.