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How was propaganda used in World War One?
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How was propaganda used in World War One?
Last modified: Sunday, 31 May 2026, 4:28 PM
How was propaganda used in WW1?
What is propaganda?
Propaganda is information that is used to try to persuade people to think or feel a certain way.
During the war, stories were shared about bad things that Germany had done. These stories were meant to make people feel worried, angry, or scared so they would support Britain in the war.
However, not all of the stories were true. Germany also shared similar stories about Britain to persuade its own people.
This shows that it is important to think carefully about information and check whether it is true before believing it.
Why did it matter?
What the public thought about the war really mattered.
The government needed to recruit lots of soldiers and wanted people to support them.
Posters were printed that made the army look exciting.
Other posters told men it was their duty to join, that they would feel proud if they did and guilty or embarrassed if they didn't join.
How were posters used?
This famous poster used the face of Lord Kitchener to persuade men to join the army. Kitchener died when his ship hit a German mine.
Posters brought together people from different jobs and backgrounds. As well as soldiers, this poster shows a blacksmith, a munitions worker, and gentleman and a nurse.
Posters tried to persuade men to join friends and family who had already volunteered by making them feel like they were missing out.
Dramatic depictions of events were used to motivate people to join the army. 1,000 civilians died after the Lusitania, a passenger ship, was attacked by a German submarine in 1915.
Posters urged women to help the war effort. The Women's Land Army worked on farms to grow crops for people to eat.
The fear and the anger that people felt against air raids was used to recruit men for the armed services.
Women were encouraged to put pressure on their sons, brothers, husbands and fathers to join the army.
Before rationing was introduced, posters encouraged people to cut down on resources that were becoming harder to come by, like bread.
What did newspapers report?
At the start of the war, journalists were not allowed to report on what was happening on the Western Front.
Some journalists found secret ways to get there. One journalist, Basil Clarke, even hid on a train carrying French soldiers.
In April 1915, the rule changed and some journalists were allowed to visit the front line and report on the war.
People in Britain wanted to know what was happening
But the Government knew spies might read the papers. A law was passed to stop newspapers from printing information which could help the enemy or make British people feel unhappy about the war.
Most journalists were strongly patriotic
They wrote stories in a way that made the British and their allies look successful. If the Army or Navy had done well in battle, the story would be on the front page with a bold headline.
Newspapers carried a list of officers and men killed in battle
Local papers would list those in their area who were dead or missing. It all made very sad reading since so many soldiers and sailors were young men.
How did reporting change?
In August 1916, a famous film about The Battle of the Somme was shown in cinemas across Britain.
Some parts of the film were acted, but most of it showed real events from the war.
About one million people watched the film in the first six weeks after it was released.
For the first time, people at home could see soldiers in the trenches, guns being fired, and injured soldiers.
The film helped people learn what life was really like on the front line.
Although some scenes were sad and upsetting, many people were glad they could finally see what was happening during the war.
A French cameraman films a wounded Scottish soldier at the Somme in 1916.
