Total War Propaganda

The propaganda used during the Great War both shows the impact of “total war” on their societies and economies and addressed the demands of a modern, industrial war. In the beginning, before “total war” began, people were almost eager for war; there was no real memory of a long destructive war, so the idea of it could be romanticized. War could be associated with nationalism and demonstrating your manhood, national pride, and overall power over other nations (that you believe to be less than your own). The idea of war before the period of total war, could be categorized as optimistic, but that all changes when people realize that warfare has changed dramatically since the last big war in Europe. The mobilization of the army, a plan that all …show more content…
They used guilt inducing propaganda, such as “Be honest with yourself. Be certain that you so-called reason is not a selfish excuse”, and “4 Questions to Men who have NOT Enlisted”. This type of propaganda were designed to make the British think and act on the fact that whatever they could be doing in Britain is not as important as helping the war efforts. Even a simple sign saying “Who’s absent? Is it You?” makes the viewer feel guilty for not helping, letting down his fellow soldiers, and almost experience personal sin for not helping your great nation. The other countries focused more on the necessity of the common people to contribute to the war efforts. One propaganda stated “We are saving you, YOU save FOOD; well fed soldiers WILL WIN the war” which appeals to the emotion of responsibility, leaning towards responsibility to your nation and how your efforts of rationing food will help your ever glorious country win. This also extends to the farmers, for them to work as hard as possible because “the cities are starving”. Also the responsibility to family, both current and future, is utilized, which hits feelings more personal than to the country. Lastly, the responsibility to your fellow workers and to “man up” is presented in propaganda showing women doing their part in the war by making …show more content…
The intended audience is the French bureaucratic government, and it was attempting to access the public sentiment about the war. This document reflects the demands of the societies that are fighting it, and the feelings of the people are growing more and more irritated. People are tired of the war, “that heavy losses have been sustained without any appreciable gains, that all further offensives will be both bloody and in vain”. It is important that the state acquires a sense of what people are thinking, because the “decline in morale” may cause a revolt. The government is pressured to ration food, so that enough goes to the soldiers, but this reduces the amount of food in cities. They are also pressured to control the public’s view and opinion of the war, especially because more and more soldiers are taking leave and returning home, where they can tell a much different story of the war than what is in the media. This universal circumstance caused all the major governments to censor letters from the soldiers to home, which demonstrates the high concern. This report also addresses the challenges of the peasanty. “They are tired of their continuous over-exertion in the fields … of the very heavy burden of the requisitions” and “they are growing more and more suspicious and indifferent to the idea of collective effort and mutual solidarity”. The