The Home Front

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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




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