Total War (Britain and Germany)

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

Britain

Germany

Civilians tolerated/supported limitations on their freedoms and democratic rights in the interest of victory

Defence of the Realm Act (DORA)

Nationalised Coal Mines

Censorship of newspapers, books, letters

introduced daylight savings

restrictions on alcohol consumption

God Save the King became mandatory after all theatre/cinema performances

Protective Measures

rents pegged to 1914 prices

Restrictions on everyday activities - prohibited loitering, flying kites, keeping pigeons, whistling for taxis, owning binoculars

10pm lights out curfew

national campaign to reduce alcohol consumption - drinking hours reduced

more authoritarian than Britain - conscription introduced

1916 - National Service Law introduced, gave the government ability to direct all men into any part of economy/military

THE ECONOMY

all production focused on war effort - created shortages that had to be managed through rationing

Britain

Germany

Ministry of Munitions established in 1914

Given power to requisition raw mateials

5 new departments established - shipping, labour, food, national service, food production - each had substantial power of the economy

food shortages - biggest cause of complaint for citizens, led to birth of the 'queue'

Government appointed a 'Food Controller', appealed for less consumption of meat, in 1918 prices were fixed to avoid profiteering

rationing greeted eagerly in 1918, royal families ration card publicised in newspaper

income tax increased from 2.5% to 12.5%

RECRUITMENT AND CONSCRIPTION

August 1914: Walter Rathenau placed in charge of War Raw Materials Department (KRA) - aim = centralise control of raw materials .

also set about synthesising materials to replace imported resources

neglect of food production led to shortages being more sever than those in Britain, made worse by Allied blockade

1916: 'turnip winter' - turnips one of few available products, bread rationed

government introduced mobile soup kitchens

By 1918 there was starvation in Germany

1916 Hindenburg program led to many men being moved from agriculture to war industries/the military

poor harvests worsened situation

Britain

Germany

did not have conscription prior to war, only had small BEF, as such recruitment was a major issue when war broke out

5 August '14: Kitchener appointed Secretary of State for War, became face of recruitment ("Your King and Country Need You"

called for 100,000 unmarried men, then widened age bracket and called for married men.

By late Sept 1914, 750,000 men had enlisted (shows support for war)

Still not enough to meet needs, women targeted to pressure men (white feathers symbolising cowardice)

Conscription introduced Jan 1916 in Military Service Bill

All single men and childless widowers 18-40 years called up for service

By May 1916 all men became liable for immediate conscription

Saw the emergence of conscientious objectors

'special exemptions' awarded at tribunals to decide genuine conscientious objectors

  • 13,000 sent to gaol
  • 15,000 joined non-combatant corps

conscription already a common practice, accepted even during peacetime

G had large, already trained standing army

need increased, meaning agriculture suffered

2,466,357 volunteers, 2,503,000 conscripts

CENSORSHIP

PROPAGANDA

externally, focused largely on gaining US support for war, hope to bring them each side

Internally used to maintain morale, inspire patriotism, hatred of enemy, self-sacrifice, accpetance of losses and ecourage service

Britain

Germany

Recruitment: targetted eligible young men and those who may influence them. By Sept 1915 54 million recruitment posters had been printed

War Funding: encouraged investing in war bonds

Anti-German Propaganda: atrocity stories spread (exploitation of sinking of the Lusitania), demonisation "Huns", the world contained human beings and Germans (acc Rudyard Kipling)

Practical Messages ie not to waste food or go on strike

Morale Boosting: as war continued the need to boost/maintain morale grew (eg pass on positive news from front)

War Funding: needed desperately (eg Berliners paying to hammer nails into statue of Hindenburg

Anti-British Propaganda: "Hymn of Hate", "God punish England" motto engraved on jewellery, knives etc

Morale Boosting: Made national hero out of Hindenburg, soldiers depicted in heroic posers

Britain

Germany

1914 Defence of the Realm Consolidation Act: gave right to regulate reports likely to interfere with the success of the armed forces, made prosecution against persons committing such offences legal

Government funded paintings/films/cartoons were highly staged, excluded the bloodier/grimier details

headlines often lied (eg first day of Somme labelled 'A very satisfactory First Day')

By 1918 casualty figures no longer published

High Command maintained even tighter control on info

early victories (eg Russia) highlighted

Kaiser not told good news, misinformation fed to the people (eg when Leipzig blown up by allies it was reported it collapsed due to snow

control bred cynicism and concealed real state of affair from political leaders