Regeneration Hall: This section was not part of the original concept of the building, it was added by the architect himself. Through a narrow window one can see the Peace Tower, and any slight change in position will make this view disappear. This is a symbolic metaphor for how difficult peace is to achieve and how easily we lose sight of it. Plaster statues in Regeneration Hall were created by the same artist who created the Vimy Memorial. The eerie sound in this portion of the building is the recording of the wind that used to come through the steel girders before the roof was put on. A tour of war veterans came through Regeneration Hall, heard this strange sound of the wind and they were very moved by it. The museum officials decided to record the sound and run it continuously. One of the world’s best collections of military vehicles and artillery are exhibited in the LeBreton Gallery. Furthermore, it features an important collection of uniforms, medals and other artifacts. In addition to these permanent exhibitions and commemorative places, the Canadian War Museum houses special exhibitions. One of the main reasons I went to visit this museum was to see an exhibition called Weapons of Mass Dissemination: The Propaganda of War.

The psychological aspects of warfare, and in particular the tools and techniques of propanda to mobilize and incite the general population to participate in war have always fascinated me. I could have spent hours in this part of the Museum alone, and this collection has been one of the most fascinating exhibitions I have visited in my entire lifetime. The term “propaganda” itself is defined as the “organized dissemination of information to influence thouths, beliefs, feelings and actions”.

The exhibition was originally developed by the Wolfsonian-Florida International University and highlights visual propaganda tools used in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Holland. Propaganda posters date back to the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Spanish Civil War.

Numerous colourful posters from different countries illustrate the powerful impact of war-time propaganda and its powerful impact on the masses. Emotional headlines, bright colours and strong symbolism evoke powerful feelings fear, anger, pride and patriotism. Here are a few examples of how nations engaged in war use propaganda posters: