what is home front?
The term Home Front expresses the important reality that the outcome of the war hinged on how effectively each nation mobilized its economy and activated its noncombatant citizens to support war effort.
Civilian life transformed
As the war continued on, the response of all belligerents was to limit individual freedoms and give control of society increasingly over to military leaders. Because of the patriotism and courage alone couldn't guarantee victory, the governments of belligerent nations assumed control of the home front. Economic measure were foremost in the minds of government leaders because the war created unprecedented demands for raw materials and manufactured goods. Planning boards reorganized entire industries, set production quotas and priorities, and determined what would be produced and consumed. Government authorities established wage and price controls, extended work hours, and even restricted the movement of workers. Because bloody battlefields cause an insatiable appetite for soldiers, nations responded by extending military service. In Germany, for example, men between the ages of 16 and 60 were eligible to serve at the front. Unemployment was vanished virtually overnight.
Women's role
As men took off to go to war, Women went to work. A combination of patriotism and high wages drew women into formerly "male" jobs. The women would bob their hair and take over the management of farms and businesses left by their husbands. Other jobs found as postal workers and police officers. Behind the battle lines, most women were visible as nurses, physicians, and communication clerks. The most crucial work that women would do was the making of shells. This exposed them to severe dangers like explosions, working with TNT explosives that caused severe poisoning, etc. Upper-class women spawned a degree of deliverance from parental control and gave women a sense of mission. Working-class women was relatively minor, but they had long been accustomed to earning wages, and for them war work proved less that liberating. Most of the belligerent governments promised equal pay for equal work, but in most instances that promise remained unfulfilled. In the end, women employment was a transitory phenomenon.
Propaganda in ww1
To maintain the spirit of the home front and to counter threats to national unity, governments resorted to vilification of the enemy through propaganda campaigns. Propaganda was used to 'advertise' to go war. Propaganda played a huge role, on every side. The U.S. printed off thousands upon thousands of anti-german posters, along with having military style parades and marches through large cities. Britain, Germany, and France all did the same, except they took it a little further by indoctrinating their school children in hateful rhetoric about the enemy.Not to mention Britain used bishops of the Anglican church as agents to spread hate among their congregations and perishes. It got quite out of hand.
Uncle sam?
This poster is an example of propaganda. In this poster, Uncle Sam states 'I want YOU for U.S. army'
This means that he is trying to manipulate or peruse the men in the U.S to join the army.
This means that he is trying to manipulate or peruse the men in the U.S to join the army.
We can do it
This is another example of propaganda in World War 1. The meaning behind this poster is when the men went to fight in WWII, the women had to take their jobs in the factories. This encourages women to go out and work, supporting the United States and its economy at a time of crisis. This has undertones of feminism.