“Soldier! Take care of me, trust me” Rare Vintage IDF poster for Weapon Care, Shamir Brothers, 1950s

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“Soldier! Take care of me, trust me” Rare Vintage IDF poster for Weapon Care, Shamir Brothers, 1950s

After the UN decision to partition Israel, acquiring weapons for Israeli Defense became a critical yet extremely complex challenge. With an arms embargo imposed by the US on the Middle East blocking legal supplies from America and Europe, Israel resorted to illicit arms procurement, mainly from the Soviet bloc. This led to a varied and outdated arsenal, causing severe logistical issues for the IDF. (It should also be noted that meanwhile, Arab armies were extremely equipped, both in the quantity and quality of weaponry).

Following the War of Independence, the IDF sought a solution by standardizing its firearms. In the 1950s, they selected the FN FAL rifle—a modern and efficient weapon successfully used by Israel until the 70s in numerous operations, including Operation Kadesh (1956), the Six-Day War (1967), and the Yom Kippur War (1973). Despite its accuracy, the rifle’s sensitivity to desert conditions required constant maintenance, leading to frustration among soldiers.

To address this and foster trust and proper care for their weapons, the Ministry of Defense launched a campaign for the soldiers. As part of this effort, the renowned Shamir brothers created the poster you see above, now newly discovered and presented here—the only known survivor from that campaign. The poster’s slogan, “Soldier! Take care of me, trust me,” encapsulates the intricate narrative of Israel’s early military history, reflecting the battles fought to build and defend the nascent state.