The Home Front

How were civilians affected by World War 1?

Aim: How did people feel about World War One? Did these attitudes change?

Connection • When World War One was declared, there was an outburst of joy in Parliament Square. • By 1916, these attitudes towards War were beginning to change.

Recruitment • Women’s organisations tried to boost recruitment • White feathers were given to men as a sign of their “cowardice” • The Mother’s Union urged its members to get their sons to join up

Recruitment • Initial recruitment used posters, leaflets, etc. to build an army quickly • What is the message of this poster?

• How would this poster encourage men to join the army?

Recruitment • Initial recruitment used posters, leaflets, etc. to build an army quickly • What is the message of this poster?

• How would this poster encourage men to join the army?

Recruitment • Initial recruitment used posters, leaflets, etc. to build an army quickly • What is the message of this poster?

• How would this poster encourage men to join the army?

Recruitment – What is this telling you?

Recruitment of volunteers to the army, 1914-15

Recruits (thousands)

500 400

1914 1915

300 200 100 0

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Month

Conscription • Voluntary recruitment was decreasing, but the demand for troops was increasing • Voluntary recruitment didn’t share the burden between all parts of society • Conscription introduced in 1916 • All men aged 18-40 had to register • They could be called up to fight at any time

Conscription • Conscientious objectors opposed the war for political or religious reasons • They refused to fight, and were imprisoned – or executed – for doing so • Others helped the war effort, but not through military action – Field hospitals – Stretched bearers

Propaganda and Censorship • All news was tightly controlled (censorship) • Reports aimed to: – Maintain morale – Encourage civilians to support the war effort – Create hatred and suspicion of the enemy

• Newspapers, radio broadcasts, films and even board games were used

Propaganda and Censorship • The film, The Battle of the Somme, was filmed in 1916 • The Battle was a disaster for the British Army – Failed objectives – Enormous causalities

• What can the film tell an historian about the use of propaganda in WW1?

• http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=52J5_Es8O60

Propaganda and Censorship • The film, The Battle of the Somme, is seen by historians as a propaganda triumph • People at home felt they could see how their efforts were helping the troops • Although it showed some casualties, it also showed advancing troops, helping morale

Propaganda and Censorship

• The film, Britain’s Effort, was created in 1917 • What was its purpose?

• http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id

Propaganda and Censorship • It is hard to measure how effective propaganda was • BUT – Support for the war was reasonably constant • Only really changed with the enormous causalities at the Battle of the Somme in 1916

– People read lots of newspapers, and watched the films, so they were being exposed to it

The Brown Family’s Four War Christmas • What is happening in each frame?

• Explain why these things are happening, based on what you know about life on the Home Front