WW22+Recruitment

=Recruitment, conscription, censorship and propaganda in Britain and Germany=

= Recruitment and Conscription in Britain =

Focus questions:
 * Why was there a need for recruitment campaigns in Britain?
 * What methods were used to encourage men to enlist?
 * How successful were they?
 * When and why was conscription introduced?


 * Voluntary Enlistment**
 * There was no conscription in Britain at the start of the war.
 * Britain had a relatively small standing army (20 divisions – about 200,000 men) and territorials (reserve army). Most of the BEF were killed or wounded in the first battles of the war.
 * A strong recruitment drive was launched with Lord Kitchener as the figurehead, and recruitment committees throughout Britain, e.g., the London Parliamentary Recruitment Committee.
 * Very successful – 1.34 million volunteers by the beginning of 1915 and over 3 million by the end of the year. This army became the basis for what became called Kitchener’s Army or the New Army.
 * Volunteers were encouraged to join up with friends from work or from a club or town. These became known as Pals battalions.
 * Physical standards: 168 cm and 19-30 years of age.
 * By mid-1915, the number of volunteers began to fall: 22,000 per month. Standards were lowered: 157 cm and 19-40 years of age.


 * Techniques for recruiting soldiers**
 * Recruitment propaganda developed new tactics: influence of women, shame
 * Recruitment drives were held at football matches, in music halls, even in churches.

**Your King and Country Want You** We've watched you playing cricket and every kind of game, At football, golf and polo you men have made your name. But now your country calls you to play your part in war. And no matter what befalls you We shall love you all the more. So come and join the forces As your fathers did before. Oh, we don't want to lose you but we think you ought to go. For your King and your country both need you so. We shall want you and miss you But with all our might and main We shall cheer you, thank you, bless you When you come home again. (by Paul Rubens, 1914) “The veteran theatrical performer Vesta Tilley often performed the song at recruitment rallies; men who declined to enlist at the end of these were invariably handed white feathers by children chosen for the task.” http://www.firstworldwar.com/audio/yourkingandcountrywantyou.htm //Listen to a recording by **Edna Thornton**// media type="file" key="Edna_Thornton_-_Your_King_And_Country_Want_You.mp3" width="240" height="20"


 * Derby Scheme**
 * May 1915 Lord Derby appointed Director of Recruitment: Derby Scheme to encourage recruitment. All men 18-41 were registered and asked to enlist when required. Enlistment was voluntary. By the beginning of 1916 there were still over 2 million eligible men who had not enlisted.
 * Conscription**
 * **Military Service Act** – Jan 1916: all single men 18-41. Came into effect 2 March. There were exemptions.
 * Military Service Act (revised) – May 1916: all men 18-41.
 * The Military Service Act was revised three more times. In April 1918 it extended conscription from 17-51 years of age.
 * **Conscientious Objectors**: had to prove their objection to war. If they failed and did not join up they could be imprisoned. Some took non-combatant roles, e.g. stretcher bearers. Absolutists were scorned and treated harshly.

= Recruitment and Conscription in Germany =


 * Conscription was already a part of German life before the war. At the start of the war, Germany had 94 divisions and over a million reserve troops.
 * July 1914 – martial law was imposed: Germany was divided into 24 districts, each under the total control of a general.
 * There was great enthusiasm at the start of the war and many recruits voluntarily joined up.
 * Censorship of the press allowed Germany to present the war in a favourable light encouraging recruitment.