As Great Britain was about to enter the worlds First World War, there was an explosion of political posters that called the citizens of England to arms against the enemy. These posters depicted men fighting, which in turn gave the reader a sense of pride in their country. This was one way that the soldiers of Great Britain were called to arms. However, were women in Great Britain called to arms? In fact, they were. Propaganda posters, targeted at women, gave women opportunities to help their husbands win the war against the Germans. Due to the loss of men to the army, employers found themselves in need of women workers. Women were also needed to perform jobs in the army that would help the British win the war. Finally, in order to finance the war effort, propaganda posters urged women to by war bonds for their country. In these ways, women were called to arms by the British government to help defeat the Germans in the First World War.
As a result of the British entering World War I, there was a need of new soldiers to serve in the army. Therefore, men were forced to leave their jobs and families and fight in the British army. This put employers in a difficult position. Due to the decrease in the work force, business owners were forced to find new labor. This opened the door for women. Since women could not join the army, they had to find other ways to help out with the war. They also still needed money to care for their children so they were forced to try to find jobs.
This primary source poster from Great Britain depicts a soldier leaving his job to his wife. The caption underneath the photo says “I leave the land to you”. This gives women the feeling that it is their duty to take care of their husband’s job while he is off fighting in the war. This is one way how women were called to arms in the war.
This second primary source photo is a flyer that calls for 10,000 women to work on a farm. This is more evidence to show that women were needed to replace men in jobs due to the war.
In the actual war, men were needed for fighting on the front lines. This left other jobs within the army that needed to be filled. These positions were perfect for women who could not partake in the actual fighting. Nevertheless, they would still be helping the British win the war.
This poster from Great Britain during the war calls for women to work as clerks in the British Army. It says that they will be serving in France with the army. There is also a picture, which shows two women dressed in army clothing coming off a ship ready to do what they can do to help. This poster showed women that they could help their husbands win the war against the Germans.
This second poster shows a women acting as a nurse helping the wounded men from the war. This was another way that women could directly help with the war effort. The poster states “Do your bit NOW”. This calls women to arms and gets them to feel as if they are helping win the war.
To help finance the war, the British government introduced war bonds. War bonds were a type of savings bond used by a nation to help fund a war. They were sold by the British government and were used to help pay off the cost of a war. For women who could not work or help in the army, war bonds were the perfect way for women to help the war effort.
This primary source photo depicts Joan of Arc holding a sword. The caption reads “Joan of Arc saved France, save your country buy war savings certificates”. This poster calls for women to buy war bonds to help finance the war. As an incentive, the poster describes how Joan of Arc helped win a war for France. If Joan of Arc could do it, anyone could do it. Just buy a war bond and help your husband win the war. This was a great way for women at home feel as if they were taking part in the war effort.
World War I was a great opportunity for men to fight for their home country and defend their rights as citizens of Great Britain. Political posters called men to arms against the Germans and fight on the front lines. Women on the other hand, could not fight in the war but had to watch their husbands leave and possibly never return. How were women called to arms in during this time of war? Political posters described many ways in which women could help their husbands win the war. Due to the loss of men, employers were in need of women workers to help keep their businesses running. Women were desperately needed as clerks and nurses in the British army during the war. In these ways, women were called to arms to help their country defeat the Germans in the First World War.
Bibliography
Celeste, Eric. "A Summons to Comradship." 1999-2002. Institue of Museum and Library Services.
Spielvogel, Jackson, J. Western Civilization. Sixth Edition. United States: Thomson Wadsworth, 2006.
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