Transcript Slide 1

Propaganda
and
Censorship
in WW1
Why did the initial enthusiasm
for the war die away?
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Recruitment figures
fell the longer the
war continued.
Christmas came and
went, and the war
was still going on.
Overall in 1914 the
Allies lost nearly
400,000 men. Two
thirds of the original
army had been
destroyed!
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The Government’s response
Conscription
The fall in the number of recruits
meant that in May 1916 conscription
was introduced.
All men aged between 18 and 41 now
had to join the army unless they were
working in essential industries.
DORA
Under The Defence of the Realm Act
(DORA) (1914) the government was
given great powers of propaganda
and censorship.
Censorship is deleting unwelcome
facts. From 1915 newspapers and
letters from the front were heavily
censored in order to preserve morale,
and there was a strict rule that no
photograph could be published which
showed a photo of a dead British
soldier.
Propaganda is putting spin on events.
The poster propaganda campaign
was led by Lord Kitchener (right), the
Secretary for War.
Discussion point:
What are the
similarities and
differences between
these propaganda
posters?
Propaganda – pictorial
TIP: Consider who they
are aimed at and the
emotions they appeal
to.
Propaganda – written
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"As the German soldiers came along the
street I saw a small child, whether boy or girl
I could not see, come out of a house. The
child was about two years of age. The child
came into the middle of the street so as to
be in the way of the soldiers. The soldiers
were walking in twos. The first line passed
the child; one of the second line stepped
aside and drove his bayonet with both
hands into the child's stomach, lifting the
child in the air on his bayonet, and carrying
it away on his bayonet, he and his comrades
still singing".
Propaganda – written
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Source A
When the fall of Antwerp became known, the church bells were rung in
Cologne.
From the German newspaper Ksche Zeitung, August 1914.
Source B
According to the Ksche Zeitung, the clergy of Antwerp were compelled to ring
the church bells when the fortress was taken.
From the French newspaper Le Matin, August 1914.
Source C
According to what The Times has heard from Cologne, via Paris, the
unfortunate Belgian priests who refused to ring the church bells when
Antwerp was taken have been sentenced to hard labour.
From the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, August 1914.
Source D
According to information which has reached the Corriere della Sera from
Cologne, via London, it is confirmed that the barbaric conquerors of Antwerp
punished the unfortunate Belgian priests for their heroic refusal to ring the
church bells by hanging them as living clappers to the bells with their heads
down.
From Le Matin, August 1914.
What can you infer from the changes in this story?
Directions: Poster or Postcard
Activity
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Chose either Allied Forces or the Central
Forces
Create a poster that demonstrates one of
the following 1) support for the Red
Cross, 2) Women’s roles in wartime, 3)
financial support through the purchase of
war bonds, 4) fear of the opposing forces,
5) savagery of the opposing forces, 6)
patriotism for your country and loyalty to
the cause.
Resources
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http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/
www.ww1-propaganda-cards.com/