Trench foot poster,World War II. Trench foot is a condition caused by prolonged exposure to damp,cold and unsanitary conditions. Affected feet (top right) would swell,smell,and develop sores and gangrene. If untreated,amputation might be needed. It was so-named because it affected soldiers in the trenches in World War I,but it was also a problem during World War II. This poster,published between 1943 and 1945,instructs soldiers to keep their feet dry and clean to avoid this condition. Published for US soldiers by the Office for Emergency Management,Office of War Information |