How did propaganda affect others?

Propaganda played a major role in WWI because it shaped people's views on the war. When the United States entered the war they created the Committee on Public Information, which was an official propaganda agency. The committee spread propaganda through postcards, posters, newspapers, pamphlets and movies.

It can be concluded that Australian propaganda posters utilised six different aspects to appeal to men to enlist. These included:

1. Appealing to their patriotism by summoning people to 'rally around the flag' and reminding them of their duty to the Empire and the British
   
   


2. Utilising a gender approach which made men feel they needed to enlist to prove their sporting aptitude, courage and masculinity.
   
   


3. Inviting peers and family to place pressure and shame on men for not applying in order to make them feel ashamed and cowardly.
   



4. Encouraging a spirit of adventure and a desire to see the world by using a recruitment poster which places emphasis on a physical, sport-like side of war.
   
   


5. Self-interest, including a chance to have a secure job which was relatively well paid.
   
   


6. Exaggerating the hatred and fear of the Germans by allowing people to think that they might attack their friends and families.
   

Although, propaganda omitted important facts from the posters. These omissions gave people a false impression of what war was really like. The propaganda intentionally neglected to mention the realities which the soldiers had to endure, such as a rationed, unvaried diet, adverse climatic conditions, physically arduous training and, most importantly, the substantial risk of injury and death.

Propaganda was the best way to shape the opinions of people all over the world. Regardless of whether people agreed with the morality of propaganda in recruitment and conscription campaigns, it cannot be denied that it was utilised as an effective and powerful instrument in World War I.

References:

• http://www.hullwebs.co.uk/content/l-20c/conflict/ww1/posters/propoganada-posters.htm



• http://www.skwirk.com.au/p-c_s-14_u-42_t-47_c-139/propaganda/nsw/history/australia-and-world-war-i/recruitment-and-conscription

First Person Post

Dearest Kitty,

What am I doing? I don’t want to do this. But there are posters everywhere saying that I should. I don’t want to disappoint my family and friends. Especially Ma.

But this subject is too gloomy for us to go over, dearest sister, for I simply had it to “get it out of my system” as Mr. Morgan’s serving boy would say, back at home. Oh, how I miss Kithvale.

It was a lucky break that I nearly had a turn for the worst in my health; I am not fit to enlist yet.

Everything is so changed, Kitty. A week ago we were all so happy and now I just can’t find myself at all. I’m lost. You would walk down the street, from where I board, and you would see various posters of shapes and sizes. There’s one in particular, that I despise the most. “Today the German Monster threatens the World with Bloodshed Slavery and Death” it says boldly. A scene of a thunderstorm with a large beast in a German helmet, crushing the earth. I shall not say no more.

I do not believe this war will end in one or two months. Do you think a war for which Germany has been preparing for twenty years will be over in a few weeks, Kitty? And do you know what will happen if she conquers? Australia will be a German colony. I don’t see why we should fight England’s battles; she’s quite able to fight them herself.

I don't mince the matter to myself. It's a relief to own up even to you, Kitty. I wouldn't confess it to anybody else. But I hate the whole thing ­the horror, the pain, the ugliness. War isn't a khaki uniform or a drill parade, ­everything I've read in old histories haunts me. I lie awake at night and see things that have happened ­see the blood and filth and misery of it all. And a bayonet charge! If I could face the other things I could never face that. It turns me sick to think of it ­sicker even to think of giving it than receiving it ­to think of thrusting a bayonet through another man.

Before this war is over, every man and woman and child will feel it­, ­feel it to your heart's core. You will weep tears of blood over it. The Pied Piper has come ­and he will pipe until every corner of the world has heard his awful and irresistible music. It will be years before the dance of death is over­ years.

But I would not have myself stay, when the others have gone, when I think it is my duty – I would not have myself so selfish and small-souled.

Someday, the Piper will come over the hill up there and down Kithvale, piping merrily and sweetly. And I will follow him – follow him down to the shore, down to the sea, away from you all. I don’t think I’ll want to go – it will be such an adventure – but I won’t. Only I’ll HAVE to – the music will call and call and call me until I MUST follow.

Forever yours,

Kenneth B


References:
- The Piper, by L.M.Montgomery

Film Analysis

Click here to view the following video:

This video shows us a sample of propaganda in a different form of media. Propaganda was generally seen as posters but in this example we see propaganda as a short movie. The movie shows us a scene of thunderstorm followed by a large beast with a German helmet (helmot) (0:00 – 0:27). The beast is crushing the earth which is suggesting to those of age that if we do not join the war, soon the German war troupe will destruct earth. This is followed by a piece of persuasive text, “Today the German Monster threatens the World with Bloodshed Slavery and Death”.
There was also an interview of Albert Powis (US Marines 1917 – 1918) and Karl-Hedding Oldekop (German Infantry 1914 – 1918) who talks about propaganda.

Australia and Propaganda

During the World War I period, propaganda was used by the government as a mean to attract young men to participate in the war. There were two types of propaganda: Conscription propaganda and Recruitment propaganda. It was a form of media that is aimed at influencing young men to become future soldiers. Various forms of media such as posters were very influential in relation to recruitment.


Recruitment posters were used to make young men feel that they should be a part of the war. The propaganda posters were very effective and enabled countries such as France, Germany and Italy to recruit many members for their army.


There were many categories in which these propaganda posters covered. These forms of media were cleverly presented in a way that utilised gender approach, included peer pressure, encourages the spirit of adventure, exaggerated the hatred and fear of the Germans and appeals to patriotism.

Some propaganda posters hoodwink us and contort and conceal the true facts.





For example, the following recruitment propaganda poster includes the use of peer pressure and gender approach. This poster is well thought out because the use of gender approach is very strong. The slogan, “We Can Do It!” influences them to join because if a woman can do it they can too. Giving the female large biceps is also an effective feature.

World War I - The Background Story

If you are new to the First World War - or are rusty after many years since history class - the reasons for the so-called 'Great War' can be shrouded in confusion. The Second World War was rather more straightforward: no questions there who did what and who was at fault. But the First World War? I believe many students would find this topic rather boring compared to the Second. But its just gonna have to wait its turn.

World War I was, let's say, a huge argument, lasting from 1914 to 1918, which involved nearly all the biggest powers of the world. It involved two opposing alliances - the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance. The countries of the Triple Entente included France, British Empire and Serbia. The countries of the Triple Alliance included Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.World War I was triggered on 28 June 1914 by the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria (heir to the throne of Austria and Hungary) and his pregnant wife Sophie. The assassination was planned by a Serbian terrorist group, called The Black Hand. The man who shot Franz Ferdinand and his wife was a Bosnian revolutionary named Gavrilo Princip. This quickly led to a full-scale war as Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Both country's allies became involved in the war, and soon most of Europe became involved.

The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War I, were over 35 million. There were over 15 million deaths and 20 million wounded ranking it among the deadliest conflicts in human history.

By the end of the war the four empires — the Russian, the Ottoman, the German, and the Austro-Hungarian had collapsed because of the war.