Total War and the Home Front

Total War As the war continued it became what is known as Total War. - called for complete mobilization of resources and people - The lives of all citizens were impacted Masses of men had to be organized and supplies had to be manufactured and purchased for years of combat. Due to this an increase in government powers occurred - manipulation of public opinion also increased to keep the war effort going.

The Home Front: Government Powers Little thought went into long- term wartime needs - Leads to the governments acting quickly To meet the needs of war: more men and supplies, governments expanded their power European countries expanded their power by: starting a draft - tens of millions of young men were drafted

Government Power continued Expanding power over economies - capitalistic systems were put aside temporarily - set up price, wage, and rent controls - rationed food supplies and materials - regulated imports and exports - took over transportation systems and industries In order to mobilize the resources of their nations, European nations set up planned economies- systems directed by government agencies

Government Power Political leaders viewed all citizens as part of a national army dedicated to victory The believed it was a national effort to win the war Everyone contributed, even those at home

Manipulation of Public Opinion By 1916 public enthusiasm about the war began to dwindle - due to the long years, and growing casualties Waring governments fought back against the growing resentment in several different ways Germany, Austria- Hungary, and Russia used force to subdue their people Other democratic states expanded police powers to stop dissent - Great Britain- passed the Defense of the Realm Act - allowed the government to arrest protestors and traitors - Newspapers were censored and sometimes suspended

Manipulation of Public opinion Governments made use of propaganda to continue support for the war At the beginning governments had no problem convincing citizens of other nations crimes As the war dragged on governments started to use desperate propaganda tactics to convince people to support the war

Women during the Great War WWI created new roles for women Women were allowed to take over jobs that were predominately male due to the men leaving for war Jobs that were once considered “beyond their capacity” were now given to them Such jobs included: - chimney sweeps - truck drivers - farm laborers - factory workers in heavy industry

Women during the Great war These jobs, however, were not secure Men and women both believed these new jobs for women were only temporary - jobs would go back to men once the war was over After the war governments quickly removed women from those jobs they were encouraged to do In Great Britain 650,000 women were unemployed by 1919 Those who had jobs had their wages lowered

The impact Wartime Women In some countries the role of women during wartime had a great impact on women’s rights The right to vote was given to women in Germany, Austria, and the United States shortly after the war ended In Great Britain Women were given the right to vote in 1918 Upper and middle class women gained more freedoms - young women from these classes began to take jobs, have their own apartments, and became more independent