Propaganda Postcards
of World War I
Thanks to
http://www.ww1propagandacards.com/
for all images and
information
Role of Postcards during WWI
Postal cards were a universal medium of
communication at a time when the only avenues
of mass communication were printed
newspapers, journals, books, posters and the
mail.
 Postal cards were immensely popular and the
economic mainstay of a vast and diverse printing
industry throughout western Europe.
 Postcards were cheap, inexpensive to send,
ubiquitously available and endlessly creative in
the message their pictures conveyed.

Role of Postcards (Cont.)
Because they were a major means of
communication, postcards were produced to
communicate the full range of human thought
and intent: from humor to nostalgia to joy to
hate.
 In times of war there is a distillation of belief and
motivation and emotion that is clearly reflected
in the cards.
 They are not merely snapshots of a world at war.
They are virtual windows into the minds and
hearts of millions who fought that war on the
battlefields and the home front as well.

Central Powers:
Celebrating Alliances
In a time of war, belligerents always seek to boost
civilian and soldier morale and cooperation by
emphasizing that their nation does not fight alone.
 Their nation's fate, and power, are favorably enhanced
because of alliance and association with the people and
leadership of other nations.
 The imperative to highlight and celebrate the alliance
between Germany and Austria-Hungary was especially
felt in Germany from the earliest days of the war as the
two Central allies were immediately and simultaneously
facing the three great empires of Russia, Great Britain
and France.
 There were three types of images used by the Central
Powers propagandists to symbolize the wartime alliance:

1- The royal heads of state




Germany's Kaiser (emperor)
Wilhelm II (middle aged with
upswept moustache).
Austria-Hungary's Kaiser
(emperor) Franz Josef I (old
man with white side
whiskers).
Ottoman Turkey's Sultan
Mehmed Rechad V (middle
aged, clean shaven with white
moustache (later also with
beard) and fez).
Bulgaria's King (czar)
Ferdinand I (older man with
full beard).
2- National flags and coats of arms
3- Soldiers (and children dressed as
soldiers) in stereotypical uniforms
Germany's helmet with a spike
on the top (till mid-1916)
 Austria-Hungary's vertically
conical hat with a small visor
 Ottoman Turkey's brimless fez
 Bulgaria's flat topped field cap
with wide brim

Primary symbols used in propaganda to
represent the Allied Powers members
Persons of the Heads of State (Kings,
Prime Ministers and Presidents primarily Great Britain, France, Russia,
Belgium, Italy and later the USA)
 National flags (all Allied Powers)
 Soldiers of each countries in their
distinctive uniforms (primarily Great
Britain,France, Russia, Belgium, Italy and
later the USA)
 Animals, flowers, naval motifs

Canada, 1916
London, 1915
“For Honor!
For the
Liberty of
the World!”
London, 1916
“United
against the
Barbarians”
“Towards
Victory”
USA, 1917
Discussion Questions
How are the images of both the Allied and
Central Powers similar?
 What is the implication of this similarity?
 How are these postcard images different
from the images of war portrayed in All
Quiet on the Western Front?
 Why are the images different?

Anti-War Propaganda
Postcard or Recruitment Poster
Assignment
Work with a partner to:
– Create a slogan that reflects the
realities of war as experienced by
Paul and his friends
– Draw a literal or symbolic image to
represent the slogan or illustrate your
point