Home Front

Home Front. The life of the people in Britain during World War I.

Home Front

Throughout the war, the British government used propaganda and controlled the economy to maximize Britain's effort in the war. During the war, the English way of life was changed significantly by the war. Factories started to make ammunition and military equipment. Growing accustomed to the harsh life of a citizen during the war, people were able to support their military behind the scenes. Through all this, the English people persevered and continued to help the war fronts in WWI.

Total War: WWI is an example of a total war,because it involved a complete mobilization of resources and people. This influenced the lives of citizens, creating a home front. WWI became known as the Citizen's War regarding the creation of the home front.

Munitions workers (factory workers that produced ammunition for the war) were a crucial part of WWI, providing artillery for the two fronts. The industry also created jobs for thousands of the unemployed - by 1918, there were nearly one million women that worked in engineering and munitions. Munitions are any equipment or weapon that were used in the war.

Liberty bonds used in the United States.

Economy

During WWI, the economy was reformed temporarily, making it possible for the government to be able to access the country's full resources for military support. The government increased their influence over the economy, temporarily setting aside free-market capitalistic systems and set up price, wages, and rent controls to accommodate to the living conditions during the war. They also rationed food and materials, regulated imports and exports, and took over the transportation systems and industry. In effect, the Europeans set up a planned economy to utilize their full resources. Not only did they change the economic system, they created many work forces where women were able to participate and help support the war. Women were able to earn double the money than men at that time. These reforms were able to make a big impact on living standards including poverty and health. This caused an improvement of many of the nation’s poorest citizens. Liberty bonds were war bonds that were sold to support an allied country in the war. The United States were able to introduce the idea of financial securities to citizens for the first time. Each time a citizen bought a bond, that money was used for funds.

Government's Reaction

Since the war costed a lot of money for the British, the government had to take action to keep the country on its feet. The British government took control of the economy. They did this by putting all resources into the war effort, controlled imports and exports, and rationed food and materials. The British government also controlled the media by putting into place the DORA act (Defense of the Realm Act). This stated that the government could arrest protesters, newspaper were censored, and publication could be suspended.

During the war, propaganda was used to convince people to join the war effort. Propaganda is a way of advertising or persuading someone or something into buying or doing something, typically using bias. The British people's excitement and confidence were boosted from this. However, as the war progressed, morale steadily decreased.


The rationing of sugar and meat was implemented in in 1918, after German submarines sunk ships carrying foodstuffs headed for Britain. Flour, butter, margarine, and milk followed suit as they were the next items to be doled out sparingly. Even the King and Queen weren't exempt - everyone was given special ration cards, which could be used at certain shops. Anyone caught breaking the rules and taking more than they were allowed could be fined or even jailed. In other countries, things were even worse. Many civilians in the Ottoman Empire starved from the poor ration distribution system there. In Russia, there were riots over the rationing, especially in Urban areas, which later lead to the Russian Revolution.


Effects of Home front


  • Big impact (The war) on living standards including poverty and health, improving many of the nation’s poorest citizens.
  • Women gained profile and rights in society
  • The home front idea was a great social leveler and acted as a stimulus to wider social reforms
  • Organized labor were strengthened by the role they played in negotiating the pay and conditions of their workers in manufacture and production for the nation’s wartime benefit.
  • Many women after the war lost their jobs because the men came back from fighting
  • The government increased its power and influence over the country and economy to support the war.
  • Due to women munition workers, women earned more money than men.
  • Government increased influence over the economy, temporarily setting aside free-market capitalistic systems and set up price, wages, and rent controls. They also rationed food and materials, regulated imports and exports, and took over the transportation systems and industry. In effect, the Europeans set up a planned economy to utilize their full resources.
  • DORA or Defence of the Realm Act allowed the government to arrest protesters as traitors, censor the newspaper, and suspending publications to control their people.
  • Women’s role during the war may have increased their social status.
  • Many epidemics including influenza spread throughout countries killing millions. In fact, during the course of WW1, more people died of influenza than enemy fire (when factoring in civilians deaths).
  • When British soldiers arrived home, many experienced a form of PTSD, commonly called being "shell shocked"

Bombing During Home Front

  • Germany's aerial bombings against Britain was the first ever sustained strategic bombing campaign in history
  • The bombing caused 4,743 casualties and around £2.9 million worth of damage
  • In the span of two years, 59 Germans bombs hit British ground
  • The bombings were carried out by Zeppelins, which at the time were large hydrogen balloons. They were also used to transport civilians of the upper class. Now, Zeppelins consist of helium due to the instability of the hydrogen when exposed to air.


Witness to a Zeppelin attack by Germany on Great Britain:

“The whole street seemed to explode. There was smoke and flames all over, but the worst of it was the screams of the dying and the wounded and mothers looking frantically for their kids.”

Mabel Bastable, an eye-witness at Silverton (A factory that exploded in Britain)

“There were shouts of “fire”, well you could not miss it, the whole place was lit up. We were all outside looking. I went upstairs to get a shawl. Suddenly I was downstairs and the house was on top of me. It’s funny but I can’t really remember hearing the explosion…..our house was blown down right enough. We don’t go up to Silverton again….I didn’t go to school again. There was no school, no house, so there was no point.”



Picture of a Zeppelin.

Lasting impact on Women

During the war, women played an important role in the home front. Since the war was finally over, women had returned to their normal way of living, pushed out of their temporary jobs in the war due to the return of men from the war. The role of women in WWI affected society's view of them. Although some countries still refused to face the fact that women were the number one supporter in the war and see them as an individual. In other countries, women retained their value as a citizen and were granted complete rights. The war also pushed women to join suffrage movements larger than before the war. The war helped women find their voice in society and launched a women's right's campaign that would reshape society.

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