During 1917, there was a window of six to eight months when all of the major players in World War I were active, which caused the two warring factions to swell considerably in size. The Triple Entente and Triple Alliance are gone, replaced by the Allied Powers and the Central Powers. (Do not get confused...the Triple Alliance is NOT the Allied Powers.) I have also included the total number of deaths and casualties for the two factions, although we are not yet at the end of the war (more on that tomorrow).
Allied Countries Involved in WWI
Central Powers Countries Involved in WWI
Both sides are now committed to what we refer to as total war (p. 767), which the text defines as a war involving a complete mobilization of all resources and people, with all citizens in the warring countries affected, regardless of how close to the battlefield they were.
In Europe, the governments expanded their powers over their own economies, creating what we call planned economies (p. 767), which are simply economies that are directed by government agencies. This was done so the maximum amount of money and resources could be funneled, either directly or indirectly, into the war effort. Governments in some countries set the prices for goods at market, controlled rent, controlled gasoline prices and rations, rationed food, and took over transportation systems such as trains and buses.
Propoganda became a huge source of government-controlled information for the people. The governments created entire advertising campaigns about the war, telling how great they were doing or how evil their enemies were. This was especially important when there were large lulls in battle or when a country's morale was dropping due to casualties on the battlefield or struggles at home.
This French propoganda poster is unique in that it shows the use of a hand grenade. Grenades were first used in World War I, so this poster is VERY up-to-date. Obviously from 1915 and designed by Parliament.
This is a German poster that is encouraging troops along the Easter Front to keep up the fight against the Russians to stop the spread of Bolshevism (communism). The text reads: "Bolshevism Means The World Will Drown In Blood". It was created by the German agency called the Association To Fight Against Bolshevism.
This American poster is kind of like the "Be All You Can Be" recruiting posters you still see sometimes today. This one is encouraging Americans to join the Air Service and serve in France...of course, not mentioning that they may be fighting in France, not just "serving".
Finally, here is one straight from Belgium. Look at the picture closely and you will see a family staring out over the ruins of a Belgian city after Germany invaded. The words are telling the people that can apply for some type of loan to help them start to rebuild. It is created by the Cooperative Alliance for War Reparations. This particular poster is from 1918, so it should be obvious that Belgium is still suffering at this time.
Allied Countries Involved in WWI
| Great Britain | Canada | United States |
| Australia | New Zealand | Russia |
| France | Greece | India |
| Italy | Serbia | South Africa |
Central Powers Countries Involved in WWI
| German Empire | Bulgaria |
| Austro-Hungary Empire | Ottoman Empire |
Both sides are now committed to what we refer to as total war (p. 767), which the text defines as a war involving a complete mobilization of all resources and people, with all citizens in the warring countries affected, regardless of how close to the battlefield they were.
In Europe, the governments expanded their powers over their own economies, creating what we call planned economies (p. 767), which are simply economies that are directed by government agencies. This was done so the maximum amount of money and resources could be funneled, either directly or indirectly, into the war effort. Governments in some countries set the prices for goods at market, controlled rent, controlled gasoline prices and rations, rationed food, and took over transportation systems such as trains and buses.
Propoganda became a huge source of government-controlled information for the people. The governments created entire advertising campaigns about the war, telling how great they were doing or how evil their enemies were. This was especially important when there were large lulls in battle or when a country's morale was dropping due to casualties on the battlefield or struggles at home.
This French propoganda poster is unique in that it shows the use of a hand grenade. Grenades were first used in World War I, so this poster is VERY up-to-date. Obviously from 1915 and designed by Parliament.
This is a German poster that is encouraging troops along the Easter Front to keep up the fight against the Russians to stop the spread of Bolshevism (communism). The text reads: "Bolshevism Means The World Will Drown In Blood". It was created by the German agency called the Association To Fight Against Bolshevism.
This American poster, quite obviously, is encouraging Americans to buy War Bonds to help fund the war, because "Bonds Buy Bullets!"
This American poster is designed to prey on a man's patriotism, asking "On Which Side of the Window are YOU?" Simply put, are you going to fight or stand around and watch as others fight for you?
This American poster was used by the Y.W.C.A. to encourage support for women who were taking over manufacturing jobs at home while the men were away fighting. Similar posters to this would be used in World War II as well.
Here is a Russian propoganda poster. The banner reads, "War Until Victory". This is from 1917.
This American poster is kind of like the "Be All You Can Be" recruiting posters you still see sometimes today. This one is encouraging Americans to join the Air Service and serve in France...of course, not mentioning that they may be fighting in France, not just "serving".
This British propoganda poster is pretty self-explanatory. This is a fund-raising poster for relief of the people of Belgium following the German invasion in 1914. This poster is from 1915.
Finally, here is one straight from Belgium. Look at the picture closely and you will see a family staring out over the ruins of a Belgian city after Germany invaded. The words are telling the people that can apply for some type of loan to help them start to rebuild. It is created by the Cooperative Alliance for War Reparations. This particular poster is from 1918, so it should be obvious that Belgium is still suffering at this time.Women
As one of the posters above shows, the roll of women during this time will greatly increase, especially in Europe where casualties are piling up. According to one source, 38% of the workforce in the Krupp Armaments factories of Germany were women. According to our text, in Great Britain, the number of women working in public transportation rose 14 TIMES during the stretch from 1914 to 1918; the number of women working in commerce (banking, etc.) doubled, and the number working in industry (manufacturing) tripled. (This of course creates a problem when the war is over, as the government will remove women from these jobs to give them to returning soldiers. Our text states that by 1919 there would be 650,000 unemployed women in Great Britan alone.)
In some countries, the War brought about positive changes for women. In Germany, Austrian, and here in the United States, women would gain the right (suffrage) to vote following the war. Women over the age of 30 could now vote in Great Britain, and they could also run for Parliament. For many women throughout the warring countries, this was the first time they had ever had the opportunity to work outside the home. Young women learned new skills and gained independence. Some were able to retain their jobs in the factories, albeit at lesser pay than the returning men, which suited many just fine, as the new freedoms they experienced were exciting and provided more opportunity than many women had ever known before.
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