Recruitment, conscription, censorship, propaganda Flashcards
How many infantry divisions did the British have in August 1914?
6
What were the branches of the British army in 1914?
British Expeditionary Force (small, professional, regular) and British Territorial Army (part-time reservists)
How many did the British government expect would voluntarily enlist each month?
100,000
Between early August-September, how many men enlisted during the ‘August Madness’?
500,000
Who founded the Pals Battalions?
Lord Derby
What was an indication of declining British enlistment numbers by mid 1915?
22,000 men enlisted in a month
What was the first measure taken after enlistment numbers declined in 1915?
Physical requirements, such as height requirements, were relaxed; age increased from 30 to 40
What was the Derby Scheme, and was it successful?
National register; upon being called up, men were requested to voluntarily enlist
When was conscription first introduced?
Military Service Act 1916 (January)
Who was conscription first introduced for?
Single men 18-40, excluding clergymen, Irishmen, those working in essential industries, etc.
When were conscription laws modified?
Military Service Act 1916 (May)
What were conscription laws modified to?
Included all men, married or single
How many conscientious objectors registered over the course of the war?
16,000
What were the potential consequences of conscientious objection?
Court martial and could be gaoled
How many conscientious objects were gaoled at least once throughout the war?
16,000
What was the age range for German conscription before the war?
Every 17-45 year old male liable for service
During August 1914, how many army divisions were there in Germany?
94
Was the system of German recruitment effective?
Upon commencement of hostilities, martial law. Reservists and new armaments quickly added–highly effective
What was the size of the German army by 1916?
Peacetime size of 800,000–>5.8 million by 1916
What was the impact of DORA on censorship?
Almost unlimited ability to suppress and control information
Which organisation controlled information, including that provided to the press, during early war in Britain?
Secret War Propaganda Bureau
From February 1917-1918, which government department controlled war information in Britain?
Department of Information
Which departments did the Department of Information amalgamate?
Foreign Office News Department, Neutral Press Committee
From February 1918 onwards, which government department controlled war information in Britain?
Ministry of Information
Who was the Ministry of Information headed by?
Lord Beaverbrook, newspaper tycoon
At the height of the war, how many letters were censored per day?
375,000
How were soldiers censored on the war front?
Mail censored to varying degrees by regimental officers-details of value to the enemy; forbidden to keep diaries, but some men did so illicitly
How was information censored in Germany?
German War News from the military only. Information from the front tightly controlled; news of peace moves, international movements to broker peace etc. censored
How was information about casualties conveyed to the German people?
Casualty figures extensively falsified from 1916. Death figures not published.
How did the British attempt to create an impression of the impartiality of their propaganda?
Used commercial companies such as the Oxford University Press to make publications such as pamphlets appear impartial
What were the main purposes of British propaganda?
Maintaining home front morale, promoting voluntary enlistment, attacking those not seeming to sufficiently support the war effort, promoting anti-German feeling and the war as a moral crusade
What was a main feature of German propaganda?
Many artists from conservative middle class–poster themes often deeply rooted in romantic/mediaeval legends
What was one of the main failures of German propaganda?
Failure to connect with many ordinary citizens-use of elitist figures (intellectuals, military authorities) to transmit message
What was one of the primary differences between German and British propaganda?
Germans did not need to promote recruitment
What was one of the primary purposes of German propaganda?
Justify German actions-encirclement; argued that invasion was a defensive response
