This document discusses several aspects of propaganda and advertising campaigns during World War 1. It poses key questions about the war and analyzes the intent, messages, and imagery used in wartime posters. War posters aimed to recruit men, garner financial support on the home front, and promote patriotism. They often depicted the war as an opportunity for adventure or to become a better man. Posters targeted youth specifically and portrayed the war as a sport to engage and inspire young men. Imagery of women and men were used to elicit different emotions from viewers and endorse sacrificing for the war effort. The overall goal of most posters was to obtain more soldiers and resources for the war.

1. Advertising the War
Advertisement for
Sunlight Soap in
the trenches (1915)

2. The Propaganda Front:
“Selling a War”
World War I an “aesthetic war”; words and images
weapons; another “front” against enemy

3. 5 Key Questions Posed
Heather Jones, “As the Centenary Approaches: The
Regeneration of First World War Historiography” in The Historical
Journal, Vol 56 (2013)
• Why did war break out? √
• Why did the allies win?
• Were the generals to blame for the high casualty
rates (especially Haig!)?
• How did men endure trench warfare? √
• To what extent did civilian society accept and
endorse the war effort?

4. Ad Campaigns: War Posters
Intent of posters?
• How do posters make viewer feel; how do
they do this; and what does this tell us about
the Great War?
• If universal messages then what are they and
how depicted?
• How are images of women used? Images of
men?
• Think about what posters are trying to do.

5. Pitch of Posters
• Call for men and money (a constant)
• Call for help for soldiers (funds)
• Help for wounded, orphans, refugees, POWS;
women to help
Bottom line?
• Men and money needed
• Sacrifices at home must be made

6. War as Sport: Target Youth

8. War: Opportunity to Create New Man?
“Manliness meant patriotism, physical prowess,
courage, and energy as in most youth
movements, but in England fair play and chivalry
were emphasized as well. The playing fields
were supposed to inculcate masculine virtues.”
(Mosse, 60)
Argues: “Wars were youth movements, not
behind the front, at headquarters, but at the
front . . .” (63-4)

9. War as Opportunity: Target Youth

18. Indian WWI-recruitment poster
Urdu translation reads:
'Who will take this uniform,
money and rifle? The one who will
join the army.”

23. German bombardment of
Scarborough, North Yorkshire,
England, in 1915

24. Parliamentary Recruiting Committee,
St. George and the Dragon.

25. Go on soldier! And fulfill your duty! Christ, the
good shepherd watches over his flock. Our
Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your
kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as
in heaven.

27. 'French Canadians, enlist! England, the
bulwark of our freedoms, is being threatened.
Will we remain aloof? Will we prefer Prussian
militarism to the regime that has preserved
our faith, our language, our institutions and
our laws? France’s heart is bleeding. The voice
of blood speaks.'

40. Poster by James Montgomery Flagg, 1917.

43. “Everything for the War! –
Subscribe to the
5 1/2% War Loan.”

50. Subscribe to the 7th war bonds - 1917

58. U.S. propaganda poster

60. It’s complicated?
1915 American anti-war song. A hit. 1917’s popular songs in the US of A