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