This striking 1940s recruitment poster “Hier Strasbourg, demain Saïgon” was created by Pierre Baudouin to encourage enlistment in the French expeditionary forces destined for Southeast Asia. The slogan evokes a sense of continuity between the liberation of France during the Second World War and France’s military presence in Indochina, appealing to ideals of duty, continuity, and national effort. In the foreground, French troops and an armored vehicle push through dense tropical vegetation, while in the background a monumental temple face—reminiscent of Angkor—symbolizes the distant, exotic, and strategic territories of the “Extrême-Orient.” The poster belongs firmly to the visual language of wartime and colonial-era propaganda. Bold colors, dynamic composition, and heroic representation of soldiers are used to inspire confidence and resolve. The lush greens of the jungle contrast with the imposing stone monument, creating a powerful sense of both adventure and military purpose. The lettering, alternating emphasis on “Strasbourg” and “Saïgon,” connects two different fronts and eras, suggesting that the same courage shown in Europe is now required overseas. Pierre Baudouin worked within a tradition of French military and governmental poster art that aimed not only to inform but to persuade. Posters like this one were tools of communication at a decisive historical moment, reflecting both political ambitions and the complex realities of France’s post-war presence in Asia. Today, this image stands as a vivid historical document: a window into the aesthetics, messaging, and atmosphere of a transitional period marked by the end of World War II and the beginning of new geopolitical conflicts. Original Poster War - Colony - 1939-1945 - Vietnam Join the French Far East Expeditionary Forces Printed by Dureysen Good condition, one small tear
