public opinion (WW1)

• What examples are there of opposition to the war?

  • The Russian Revolutions of 1917
  • The German Revolution, 1918 and collapse of home front. Mass public protests in key German cities such as Hamburg, Berlin and Munich showed the Kaiser that he had lost the support of the public and was a leading reason for his abdication and Germany’s subsequent surrender from the war
  • Despite some opposition, was widespread public support for war in Britain, eg. public purchases of war bonds and donations to The Times to buy motor ambulances. No major strikes/protests- enabled gov. unlike in Russia and Germany
• How did states try to maintain enthusiasm for the war? Why was this important?

  Censorship of the press was common to avoid negative reports of the war. In Britain, the Defence of the Realm Act was passed just 5 days into the war which gave the state powers to do almost anything that would help with the war effort
• What was included in DORA?

  • Passing laws without major discussions/votes

  • Censorship of newspapers and correspondence to and from the trenches was introduced to maintain morale and keep troop movements secret

  • Striking was outlawed to protect production of goods in the

  factories

  • The working day was extended in many sectors and wages were either lowered or kept at the same level. The aim was to increase production without increasing expense
• What did DORA ban?

  • talk about naval or military matters in public places

  • spread rumours about military matters
• What did people react to DORA like?

  At first, the public accepted the need for increased security

  and control over areas seen as vital to the war effort
• Impact on nature?


  It made it more difficult for a negotiated peace to be possible –

  therefore helping to prolong the conflict. Warfare became more unrestrained - eg increased attacks on civilians, use of gas, mistreatment of minority groups, disregard for life/resources.