Propaganda during

World War I
What is propaganda?

Propaganda: information, especially of a biased or misleading

nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.
Activity: Analyze This Piece of Propaganda

What does the text on the poster say?

Describe description on Lord Kitchener’s face, the

gesture he is making with his hand, the text on the
Poster, the colours and sizes of the text, who is
Kitchener addressing, the feelings he is trying to
Arouse in the British population, etc.?
Context

First war in which, MASS MEDIA and PROPAGANDA played a significant role in
keeping the people informed on what occurred at the battlefields.

The first war in which governments produced propaganda as a way to target the
public and alter their opinion.
Context

Presented a highly cleansed, partisan view of fighting.

*ADD VIDEO*
Media and Censorship

The media expected to take sides.

Initially, both sides were prohibited to take photos or film.

Self-justification and Assigning Blame

Countries engaged in a media battle, attempting to avoid blame for causing the
war and casting blame on other countries through publications of selected
documents.

For example: The German White Book (1914), containing 36 documents.

Atrocity Propaganda

This propaganda exploited sensational stories of rape, mutilation, and murder of prisoners by the
Germans filled the Allie press.

For example, the German and the Austro-Hungarian soldiers were depicted as inhumane savages
and barbaric.
Atrocity Propaganda (Continued)

It was used in wars to ensure that people learned what their governments
wanted them to know.

All forms of information were controlled.

Newspapers were expected to print what governments wanted readers to read.

Atrocity Propaganda (Continued)

The goal was to stir up emotions, regardless of whether or not they were
accurate.

Most infamous headlines included: “Belgium child’s hands cut off by Germans”
and “Germans crucify Canadian officer.”
Use of Patriotism and Nationalism

Patriotism: feeling of attachment and commitment to a country, nation, or

political community

Nationalism: loyalty and devotion to a nation

Two most important themes of propaganda.

Use of Patriotism and Nationalism

For example: In 1914, the British Army was made up of professional soldiers and
volunteers, so the government could rely heavily on propaganda as a tool to
justify the war to the public eye (i.e. recruitment).

Another example: “Your Country Needs You”

More Examples of Patriotism and Nationalism

-uncle sam (PUT MORE EXAMPLES)

Propaganda as a Weapon

The major foreign ministries prepared propaganda designed to reach public

opinion in other countries, ESPECIALLY neutral powers.

Nonmilitary propaganda into neutral countries war was designed to build support
for the cause or undermine the support for the enemy.
Four Main Issues of Wartime Diplomacy

1.Propaganda campaigns to shape news reports and commentary.

2.Defining and redefining the war goals (which became harsher as the war went
on)

3.Luring neutral powers (Italy, the Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria and Romania) into
the coalition by offering slices of enemy territory.

4.Encouragement by the Allies of nationalistic minority movements within the

Central Powers (especially Czechs, Poles, and Arabs).
Women and Propaganda

Each country depicted women and family differently to promote war.

For example, the British said the women and their families were threatened by
the enemy, specifically the German Army.
Women and Propaganda

For example, in the Ottoman Empire, the United States, and other countries,
women were encouraged to enter the workforce.
Activity: Create Your Own Propaganda

Task: You will create your own piece of propaganda (video, radio/voice recording,
photo, drawing, etc..) focusing on a specific World War I topic.

Use the examples I have shown as an example!