Propaganda and Recruitment Strategies

in WWI ™Hersh Khatri, Raphael Galvez , Lukas Fan

Videos

Videos

Sample Posters

Posters - Psychological Effects

TEXT IMAGERY

- They draw the reader in using language that is direct and inviting

- Iconic action of the finger pointing directly to the reader makes the message feel even more personal

- Rhetorical questions make the reader question themselves and their national pride, it puts pressure on them to join the army

- Made-up Iconic figures such as John Bull and Uncle Tom to symbolize the idea of patriotism as they become staples for recruitment posters

- The use of personal pronouns: ‘YOU’ draws the reader’s attention and makes the message very personal

- The expressions that the figures depict are serious and creates a bold statement in which the message is serious and that the reader is important

- Words such as ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ makes the reader feel important

- Small stylistic imagery: In the first poster the line in the background has some spaces in it, intended for the reader to join. In the second, patriotic colours are used to draw the reader in. And in the last poster the simple facial expression and clothing make the message that more serious

Message that was conveyed to young men

The Belief:

• The message conveyed to young men was that if they went to war, they arrive back at their country like celebrities and they would be honored. Also, messages of men coming back from war and getting girls was a large factor into persuading younger men to join the army.

• The lifestyle if the men went would be better than staying at home and also the difficulty they are put through is very minor.

• The belief conveyed to the public crowd of young men about war would be that there are no negative attributes for them if they went. The only negative images or words would be based upon or put onto the enemies, which gives a message that those actions to the enemy will never happen in reality to the men who join

Differ from reality:

• When it was time for the men to come home, they would expect a hero’s welcome in a grand gesture. However in reality, the people back in their home country would not want to talk about the delicate topic of the war. Often than not they do not acknowledge the men as heroes. The pride and patriotism depicted in the posters was not the message that they received coming back from the harsh reality of war.

• The reality of war would be a lot different as the message conveyed will never involve death or negative attributes about the war.

• The difficulty and complication level of the situations in reality would be a lot different and more difficult than stated by the images and words in posters and flyers.

What values did they promote?• When recruiting soldiers for the national army, the could

would go to extreme measures to make sure that they had the maximum amount of soldiers that they could have on the front line of the war.

• Through their posters and radio messages to the public, they would promote values such as when you are fighting for your country, you are becoming a man, and fulfilling your duties to the country.

• Also, they tried to persuade the young teenagers who signed up that you will be known as a hero if you fight for your country and also when you return home after your time at the front line, everyone will think you have done your country proud and that all the girls will fall for you and want to be with because you have fought in the war. The governments tried to persuade the people that fighting for your country is the most masculine and manly thing you could do.

Campaigns Campaigns were all the different types of recruitment which was needed at that time. (e.g. Men for army, Women for labor, etc.)

•For the campaigns, it wasn’t just for the army. The campaigns would be made for other positions in war.- Regular Army → Men would be enrolled for an average of 7 years, there would be certain restrictions- Special Reserve → A part time military service, the men would be sent to anywhere for example air,

water and land to take over someone elses position in the army- Territorial Force → A part time military service, they are to serve their homeland- National Reserve → The nations reserved military units

Verse Published in Newspapers