Above: Propaganda encouraging Australian women to fight on the home-front
australian propaganda
During World War Two, the Australian Government used propaganda as a means to advertise the needs and requests of the armed forces. The propaganda was aimed at different audiences and covered topics including, joining the forces, buying war bonds and a broad range of ideas targeting those 'fighting' on the home front.
Types of Propaganda
In my opinion, there were five different types of propaganda imposed on Australian's, these include:
Join The Forces:
Such propaganda was created to encourage and influence Australian men to join the war effort by fighting in the army. To encourage this the poster would be constructed in a number of ways to influence the reader, such ways include:
Such propaganda was created to encourage and influence Australian men to join the war effort by fighting in the army. To encourage this the poster would be constructed in a number of ways to influence the reader, such ways include:
- Making the poster rather patriotic which would put a sense of pride in the reader
- Scaring the reader into joining for if he didn't join the country would be invaded by the Japanese
- Making the reader feel guilty for not joining when 'everyone' else was
Buy War Bond:
This propaganda was designed for those on the home front and was asking the reader to provide funding for the war effort so that arms and various supplies could be purchased.
This propaganda was designed for those on the home front and was asking the reader to provide funding for the war effort so that arms and various supplies could be purchased.
Talk Less:
Propaganda influenced by talking less was designed to tell Australians on the home front that they should not talk about any sensitive information involving the armed forces, included the location of soldiers and the plans of the army for it may slip into the hands of the enemy. I believe that this would have been effective propaganda for it is often human nature to talk to much, however, with the constant reminder of this people would have been thinking twice about what they were saying.
Propaganda influenced by talking less was designed to tell Australians on the home front that they should not talk about any sensitive information involving the armed forces, included the location of soldiers and the plans of the army for it may slip into the hands of the enemy. I believe that this would have been effective propaganda for it is often human nature to talk to much, however, with the constant reminder of this people would have been thinking twice about what they were saying.
Rationing:
The rationing of food, clothes and other goods was important on the home front for by doing this it provided sufficient supplies to the troops fighting overseas. From this, government funding was saved from purchasing everyday produce to equip the soldiers with and it allowed the money to be spent on other needs of the forces such as the production of arms and vehicles. Propaganda promoting the cause of rationing would often be put up in the proximity of general stores and supermarkets in order to remind people to only take what they need.
The rationing of food, clothes and other goods was important on the home front for by doing this it provided sufficient supplies to the troops fighting overseas. From this, government funding was saved from purchasing everyday produce to equip the soldiers with and it allowed the money to be spent on other needs of the forces such as the production of arms and vehicles. Propaganda promoting the cause of rationing would often be put up in the proximity of general stores and supermarkets in order to remind people to only take what they need.
Man Power Services:
On the home front, each military service ( Army, Navy and Air Force) had its own auxiliary force for women. The auxiliary forces enabled women to help the war effort by assuming the role men once would have done including farming and factory working, some even assumed roles in anti aircraft defence units. Propaganda was created to encourage women to join such forces and this was done in three main ways, these are:
On the home front, each military service ( Army, Navy and Air Force) had its own auxiliary force for women. The auxiliary forces enabled women to help the war effort by assuming the role men once would have done including farming and factory working, some even assumed roles in anti aircraft defence units. Propaganda was created to encourage women to join such forces and this was done in three main ways, these are:
- Making the poster rather patriotic which would put a sense of pride in the reader
- Scaring the reader into joining for if he didn't join the country would be invaded by the Japanese
- Making the reader feel guilty for not joining when 'everyone' else was