"Propaganda was used in World War One as in any war - and the truth suffered. Propaganda ensured that the people only got to know what their governments wanted them to know. In World War One, the lengths to which governments would go to in an effort to blacken the enemy’s name reached a new level.
To ensure that everybody thought in the way the government wanted, all forms of information were controlled. Newspapers were expected to print what the government wanted the reader to read. In fact, though this would appear to be a form of censorship, the newspapers of Britain, effectively controlled by the media barons of the time, were happy to play ball. They printed headlines that were designed to stir up emotions regardless of whether they were accurate or not."
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http://www.ww1propaganda.com *This is a link to a website that has many examples of World War I propaganda posters
Beginning of the Use of Propaganda
"Each of the nations which participated in World War One from 1914-18 used propaganda posters not only as a means of justifying involvement to their own populace, but also as a means of procuring men, money and resources to sustain the military campaign."
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| The United States used women to persuade people into joining the navy because it showed that if women were to join then they could too. |
"In countries such as Britain the use of propaganda posters was readily understandable: in 1914 she only possessed a professional army and did not have in place a policy of national service, as was standard in other major nations such as France and Germany."
"Yet while the use of posters proved initially successful in Britain the numbers required for active service at the Front were such as to ultimately require the introduction of conscription. Nevertheless recruitment posters remained in use for the duration of the war - as was indeed the case in most other countries including France, Germany and Italy."
"However wartime posters were not solely used to recruit men to the military cause. Posters commonly urged wartime thrift, and were vocal in seeking funds from the general public via subscription to various war bond schemes (usually with great success)."
"Interestingly, for all that the U.S.A. joined the war relatively late - April 1917 - she produced many more propaganda posters than any other single nation."
American vs. British Propaganda
On the left is an example of British propaganda used during World War I, and on the right is an example of American propaganda. Both posters contain many similarities because they are both directing their audience towards their citizens. Both posters contain images of important national figure that had a major impact of the people of both Britain and America. The images are similar because both figures are pointing saying how they want you to join the army and how their country depends on your help.
British Propaganda
"Britain, in the beginning of the First World War, was incredibly weak. She only possessed a small number of professional troops to send towards the warfront after they entered the war in the August of 1914. Since the British were probably the weakest power to fight in the Western front, it was important for them to search for ways to receive recruits. The British government did not issue drafts to force men into the army or threaten anyone to join by use of deadly force. They found a more subtle way that could increase the number of soldiers they had. In order to urge the British people to fight in the war, the government decided to spread propaganda around like a contagion."
"Some posters made men who did not volunteer to join the war feel guilty that they turned their backs against their nation’s army. Others motivated the people to contribute money and goods. Women were influenced by these posters to help serve as the replacements of the men in their jobs as they went to war, working in factories and nurses most of the time. Articles were also written to solidify British nationalism and portray the enemy as horrible as they could. These articles usually spoke about British success [and enemy failures] in an emphasized way that they blocked out anything that showed the British army in the negative sense."
 https://worldwaripropaganda.wordpress.com *link to more information on propaganda American Propaganda
"Although the United States was the last nation to enter World War I on April 2nd, 1917, Americans had no problem getting everyone almost everyone involved. Artists used propaganda posters to motivate Americans, young and old, to contribute to the role of the Untied States in the war.
The thought of glory, fame, and heroism was one of the main motivators for men. Propaganda often hinted signs of heroism, convincing them that after the war was over, they would be known as heroes. If this wasn’t enough to encourage young men to join the army, artists also used women as a motivator. Women were shown as pretty young girls, who beckon the men to join and fight alongside with them. Another way of having men join the army was by depicting the enemy as bloodthirsty monsters by characterizing the monsters with something the enemy would have. Several propaganda posters often displayed pictures of monsters attacking the people of the United States. This enraged American citizens, and provoked them into joining the army."
Works Cited
Duffy, Michael. "Propaganda Posters- Introduction." First World War. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2015. "German World War I Propaganda Posters." Lawyers, Guns & Money. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. "Introduction to World War I Propaganda." World War I Propaganda. N.p., 24 Jan. 2011. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. <https://worldwaripropaganda.wordpress.com>. "Propaganda and World War One." History Learning Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2015. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ propaganda_and_world_war_one.htm>. "World War I Propaganda Posters." Learn NC. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2015. <http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/ww1posters/6203>. "World War 1 Recruitment Poster." Children's Lives. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. <http://childrenslives.connectinghistories.org.uk/engine/resource/ default.asp?theme=10&originator=%2Fengine%2Ftheme%2Fdefault.asp&page=&records=&di rection=&pointer=498&text=0&resource=2246>. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEzx9fWmfv4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROWm80BIs_c |
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