Recruitment Impact on British Home Front
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How significant was the impact of recruitment into the armed forces on the British Home Front? Explain your answer.
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The recruitment of soldiers into the armed forces had a significant impact on the British Home Front during World War I. Initially, Britain relied on a volunteer army, with over 3 million young men enlisting in Kitchener's Army. This surge in recruitment was fueled by a wave of patriotism and enthusiasm for a quick victory against Germany.
Recruitment efforts were further supported by various tactics such as the formation of Pals Battalions and the use of government propaganda. The suffragette movement also played a role in the recruitment campaign. However, the failures at Gallipoli and the devastating losses suffered by the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 led to the introduction of conscription for all men between the ages of 18 and 41, including married men.
The impact on the home front extended beyond just military recruitment. Women were offered employment opportunities in munitions factories, farming, and auxiliary forces, as the male workforce was depleted. The introduction of the Defense of the Realm Act (DORA) gave the government powers over censorship, imprisonment without trial, and other measures to ensure wartime efficiency.
The home front also faced food shortages due to unrestricted submarine warfare and rationing was introduced in 1918 to manage the scarcity of goods like sugar and meat. These measures, along with inflation, led to the emergence of a black market. The morale of the population was affected by the high casualty and fatality rates among soldiers, changing societal attitudes towards women, and anti-German sentiment.
Additionally, the government gained increased control over industries like coal and munitions, and protected occupations were introduced. The Home Front also experienced civilian deaths as a result of German shelling and bombing.
Overall, the impact of recruitment into the armed forces was significant, affecting various aspects of life on the British Home Front during World War I.
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How significant was the impact of recruitment into the armed forces on the British Home Front? Explain your answer. Yes Britain relied on volunteer army until 1916; Kitchener's Army recruited over 3 million volunteers, mainly young men, some who lied about their age; in 1914 huge increase in patriotism and enthusiasm for a quick war against Germany over by Christmas; use of Pals Battalions; recruitment propaganda used by government; role of Suffragettes in recruitment campaign; failures at Gallipoli and destruction of BEF at Somme led to conscription in 1916 for all men between 18–41 including married men; conscientious objectors – 16 000 of which 1500 refused any form of war work, mainly on religious grounds (e.g. Quakers); employment opportunities for women due to male recruitment mainly munitions factories but also farming, auxiliary forces, etc. No More significant – DORA gave government powers over press censorship, imprisonment without trial, reduced licensing hours and British Summer Time to increase working day over the year; food shortages due to unrestricted submarine warfare in 1915 and in 1917; led to increase in the amount of farming land and Women's Land Army created; rationing introduced in 1918 for sugar, meat and later other goods like butter; led to inflation and black market; impact on morale due to casualties and fatalities; changing attitudes to women – some win vote in 1918; anti-German feeling; increased government control of some industries (e.g. coal and munitions); some protected occupations introduced; civilian deaths due to German shelling and bombing, etc.