World War One: propaganda and trench warfare
I can explain why propaganda about World War One was so effective, and understand the differences between this wartime propaganda and the realities of trench warfare.
World War One: propaganda and trench warfare
I can explain why propaganda about World War One was so effective, and understand the differences between this wartime propaganda and the realities of trench warfare.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Wartime propaganda was used to encourage recruitment and persuade the population that war was necessary.
- Wartime propaganda promoted the idea that fighting would bring glory upon soldiers.
- Much of World War One was fought in trenches.
- Conditions in trenches were appalling: the mud, rats, shelling, gore and inactivity traumatised many soldiers.
- Much war literature attempts to evoke conditions in the trenches.
Keywords
Propaganda - communication which is designed to influence its audience; the information is often misleading
Trench warfare - a type of war fought on land; deep ditches are dug and occupied by each warring side
Wilfred Owen - a British soldier and poet (1893-1918) best known for his poems about World War One
Symbolise - when something is used to represent something else; trench warfare has come to symbolise World War One
No man's land - the area of land between enemy trenches; a dangerous place where soldiers were often killed
Common misconception
Trench warfare was fighting characterised by intense and constant action.
Trench warfare was characterised by intense periods of action, but also long periods of inaction which could be demoralising, boring and harrowing.
Equipment
You need access to a copy of the story ‘Propping Up the Line’ by Ian Beck from the 2014 Orchard Books collection ‘Stories of World War One’ edited by Tom Bradman.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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