1. War on the Home Front

2. Total War
By 1917, Europe had lost more men in battle than in the previous 300 years combined
Governments in Europe devote everything to war effort
Total War: countries devoted all their resources to the war effort

3. Total War Wartime governments took control of the economy
Governments told factories what to produce and how much
Nearly every able-bodied civilian was put to work
Positives: no unemployment, women in the work force

4. Rationing Goods were in short supply Governments turned to rationing
People could buy only small amounts of items that were also needed for the war effort
Eventually covered a wide range of goods (butter to shoe leather)

5. Propaganda Governments suppressed antiwar activity, sometimes forcibly
Governments censored news about the war
Leaders feared that honest reporting would turn people against the war

6. Propaganda
Propaganda—one-sided information designed to persuade, to keep up morale, and support the war
As more died, each side had to build confidence in victory and increase hatred of enemy
made enemy seem inhuman
controlled the press

7. "There's Room for You" Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, London 1915

10. "Only the Navy can Stop This" New York: U. S
"Only the Navy can Stop This" New York: U. S. Navy Publishing Bureau 1917

13. THE HOME-FRONT Evolution in the portrayal of women.
Shifted from one of women as victims to a more positive image:
As care givers.
Factory workers in jobs formerly held by men.

14. Parliamentary Recruiting Committee
London 1915

15. "Four Years in the Fight" Lucien Hector Jonas
United War Work Campaign USA 1918

16. USA
1918

17. The Frenchwoman in War-Time.
Artist: G. Capon - France 1917

18. USA 1918

19. USA
1918

20. Women and the War B/C of Total War governments turned to women
Thousands of women replaced men in factories, offices, and shops
Women built tanks and munitions, plowed fields, paved streets, and ran hospitals
They also kept troops supplied with food, clothing, and weapons

21. Women in the War
Women also experienced the war first hand, working as nurses on or near the front lines.
Most left the workforce after the war, but people’s view of women’s capabilities were changed

23. The Collapse of Russia Many Russians welcomed war in 1914
but soon saw terrible toll, stories of disaster and poor leadership
food shortages at home
March bread riots in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) led to a revolution and the overthrow of the czar

24. The Collapse of Russia
provisional government set up with a promise to continue war
Allies looked to new leaders to strengthen will to fight
Allies needed Russia to keep Germany busy on Eastern Front
but morale was low: many soldiers left front and returned home

25. Russian collapse, France threatened
second revolution (led by Lenin, who was brought back in to Russia by Germany) followed by civil war
Treaty of Brest – Litovsk signed (march 1918), withdrew Russia from war
very harsh; Russia lost 25% of land and population
Germany now free to fight only on Western Front
Paris threatened again