First World War Propaganda By Mr RJ Huggins

Introduction The following slides all contain propaganda posters taken from the First World War. Each poster has its own message which aimed to provoke an emotional reaction in the people reading them. Some posters are designed to recruit people, others to get people to try and save resources that were important for the war effort.

Introduction  The people who read them had a very old fashion sense of what it was to be a man or a woman.  Propaganda highlights only the facts that the government wanted people to know or believe.  Some of the facts used in propaganda are either made up or based on half truths. It is important to remember the following points when looking at these posters:

Introduction  By continuously repeating certain facts or ideas, the people who make propaganda, hope that the public will eventually begin to believe them. So you must look carefully at each poster and use your knowledge and skill as a historian to unlock its secrets!

Task 1  Who is it aimed at?  What is the message of the poster?  Which emotions: fear, love, honour, revenge or hate is the poster trying to provoke? We will then debate the answers to these questions during a class discussion after which you will write up your results. Study each poster and ask yourself the following questions:

Source A  Who is it aimed at?  What is its message?  Which emotions is trying to provoke?

Source B  Who is it aimed at?  What is its message?  Which emotions is trying to provoke? Extra: What is the name of the man wearing the Union Jack shirt?

Source C  Who is it aimed at?  What is its message?  Which emotions is trying to provoke?

Source D  Who is it aimed at?  What is its message?  Which emotions is trying to provoke? Extra: Which jobs were men not allowed to leave to join up?

Source E  Who is it aimed at?  What is its message?  Which emotions is trying to provoke?

Source F  Who is it aimed at?  What is its message?  Which emotions is trying to provoke? Extra: What was the name of the secret German plan to invade France which went through Belgium?

Source G  Who is it aimed at?  What is its message?  Which emotions is trying to provoke?

Source H  Who is it aimed at?  What is its message?  Which emotions is trying to provoke? Extra: Using your knowledge, is this an accurate image of conditions in the trenches?

Source I  Who is it aimed at?  What is its message?  Which emotions is trying to provoke? Extra: Who are the men in the background watching the German Nurse?

Source J  Who is it aimed at?  What is its message?  Which emotions is trying to provoke? Extra: What happened to the length of skirts that women wore during the war? Why?

Source K  Who is it aimed at?  What is its message?  Which emotions is trying to provoke?

Source L  Who is it aimed at?  What is its message?  Which emotions is trying to provoke? Extra: Why was there a shortage of food in Britain during the First World War?

Task 2 Using what you have learnt from these slides try and write a dictionary entry that explains what the word ‘Propaganda’ means. You may wish to include the following words: Biased, Facts, Exaggerate Truth You have 5 minutes!

Task 3 Design a Propaganda poster of your own that is aimed at either:  Recruitment  The Home Front

The End Please reviews to: By Mr Huggins Downloaded from