World War I was the first modern war which involved over 30 countries from all over the world. It was also the first war with advanced technology which provided developed channels to spread media on a vast level across continents. Progressive technology was beneficial as it kept citizens informed of the events occuring in the war, however, it also opened up an entire world of warfare no one had seen before. Propaganda is information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, nation, etc. also known as indoctrination and publicity. Propaganda played a significant role in the ultimate win for the Allies in the war as it persuaded the public to think a certain way. Britain was a powerful force against the Central Powers and painted them in a negative light in newspapers and pamphlets, on the radio, and by word of mouth. The main countries affected by propaganda as a weapon were Britain, Germany, and eventually the United States. Britain wanted the United States to join and to do so used crude indoctrination against the Central Powers, especially Germany, to convince the United States to unite with them. The ultimate victory of the Allies during World War I was made attainable via Britain’s use of propaganda, a modern weapon of war, to turn the United States and it’s citizens against their common enemy, which eventually led to the social, economic, and political demise of Germany.
As the popularity of propaganda grew across Europe, it became Britain’s most powerful weapon against the Central Powers. Britain became so good at publicity because they used various media outlets to spread their harmful messages across the world. Besides newspapers, they used TV, radio, movies, and rallies. They used it as a weapon against Germany because they wanted the world to see them in the worst possible way, especially the United States. Britain knew if the United States declared war they would take the Allies side, so it was crucial for them to get involved and they believed that if Germany looked bad, the United States would be more convinced to join the war efforts. The preliminary action they took was to cut Germany’s communication ties with the United States so that Britain had the quickest way of getting news to them. The Wellington House, which began operating in September of 1914, was a secret newspaper the British used to release articles sympathetic towards Britain in addition to a newspaper complete with pictures and updates of the war. The paper printed over 250,00 copies sent all across the world (Cooke OL). Britain also used indoctrination to exploit the enemy's mistakes as stated in “Propaganda Influencing International Opinion” it reads, “British propaganda made effective use of Germany’s misfortunes or misjudgements during the war” (Cooke OL). The most important mistake the Germans made throughout the entire war was the release of the Zimmerman Note and Britain was able to use the Zimmerman Note to make anti-German propaganda tremendously worse. The United States was fed up and the scandal of the note in addition to the horrible image the British had already painted of the Germans, the United States declared war on Germany. America joining the war was significant because the Allies had just lost the Russians due to the revolutions taking place in Russia and without another strong force, the Allies were destined to lose. Without British indoctrination, the United States would not have seen Germany through a negative lens and declared war. Propaganda was a powerful weapon for the British and ultimately led to the United States joining the Allies, the turning point of the war and the beginning to the end of Germany.
Germany’s loss in World War I was primarily a result of the substantial threat propaganda posed to the country. Germany had nations working against them at every angle, but publicity had a significant impact because the public formed opinions about the war based off of misleading information. In addition, Germany was terrible at propaganda. It was not because they did not have the same resources as countries like Britain, but they were too focused on fighting a two front war (fighting takes place on 2 different fronts), they didn't spend a lot of time creating and releasing indoctrination. Amidst fighting the two front war, Germany worried that British publicity was succeeding and America was preparing to declare war. They knew that if the United States joined the war, they would lose which is why they did their best to convince America to remain neutral. Germany’s main target was France because they knew they didn’t stand a chance even attempting to combat Britain’s progressive propaganda. They circulated rumors such as French soldiers being trained to gauge out any German’s eyes, even if they are an innocent civilian; Women registering for war were actually being “registered” for prostitution; and all of the money and supplies citizens collected for the war effort went straight to the government, not the soldiers (March 245). In The History of The World War, it states “German lies had been passed as rumors; the American people came to look upon other mischievous propaganda in its true light. Patriotic newspapers in every community exposed the false reports and citizens everywhere were on their guard against the misstatements” (March 246). Once American citizens found out the truth, along with the prominent force of British indoctrination against the Germans, they were outraged and ready for war. After the United States declared and defeated them, Germany was a mess. Their leader fled the country, they were billions of dollars in debt and the citizens were suffering. Germany underestimated the major effect propaganda had on the war which ultimately costed them a victory.
The United States declaring war on Germany was a result of anti-German propaganda and once involved in the war, America used publicity at home to invoke citizens to take action for the war effort. America was making an effort to stay out of the war as long as possible because the nation was so divided between Socialists (those who wanted to remain neutral) and Isolationists (those who were pro-war). Propaganda added fuel to the lingering fire of the United States’ animosity towards Germany. After America declared war on Germany, indoctrination throughout the states began to flourish. It was being used in newspapers, pamphlets, on the radio, TV, and movies with subjects ranging from enlisting in the war to rationing food for soldiers and even celebrities talked about the war efforts. George Creel was an american journalist nicknamed “The Master of American Propaganda”, who led the expansion of propaganda across the country and took an ethical approach to the sleazy trade it had been made out to be. “While World War I propaganda is often remembered for stoking the fires of anti-German prejudice — most especially through the circulation of atrocity propaganda — Creel largely avoided this approach, ensuring that all official statements about German behavior could be proven from multiple local sources” (Cull OL). He did his best to keep it on an ethical level, however, not many followed his lead. An infamous poster drawn by Harry Hopps contained an image of a massive gorilla wearing a helmet with a helpless lady in his arms with the words “United States Army, Enlist” at the bottom. German soldiers wore tall pointy helmets (Wright) like the one illustrated in the poster thus the artist was implying that Germans are barbaric and dangerous. Hobbs wanted American citizens to see the poster and enlist to protect their nation against the crude Germans. Publicity is often used negatively but a small portion of American propaganda was positive. Posters prompted all citizens including women to do their part and make a difference for their country by gathering supplies and rationing food to send to the troops. The idea that everyone could partake in helping their country during such a difficult time created a sense of unity and hope across the entire nation. The United States used propaganda to aid war efforts at home and overseas after they declared war on Germany as a result of British propaganda.
Propaganda was the most powerful weapon of war during World War I. Countries had the ability to turn entire populations against their enemy through a radio broadcast or newspaper heading. Britain destroyed Germany’s powerful image in the eyes of the United States and their citizens which resulted in America declaring war on Germany. The United States was then able to unite their nation as citizens across the country aided in the war effort. Due to the newness, the effect of indoctrination was unknown at the time, but it paved the way for modern warfare. Propaganda played a significant role in the ultimate win for the Allies because Britain was able to gain the United States involvement in the war, which led to the eventual collapse of Germany.