Censorship and Propaganda in World War I: A Comprehensive History

This book demonstrates how people were kept ignorant by censorship and indoctrinated by propaganda. Censorship suppressed all information that criticized the army and government, that might trouble the population or weaken its morale. Propaganda at home emphasized the superiority of the fatherland, explained setbacks by blaming scapegoats, vilified and ridiculed the enemy, warned of the disastrous consequences of defeat and extolled duty and sacrifice. The propaganda message also infiltrated entertainment and the visual arts. Abroad it aimed to demoralize enemy troops and stir up unrest among national minorities and other marginalized groups. The many illustrations and organograms provide a clear visual demonstration of Demm's argument.

EBERHARD DEMM is a retired professor of German Civilization at the University Lyon III. He also taught at the Universities of Alberta at Edmonton, Amsterdam, Paris X and Paris XII, and, as a visiting professor, at Heidelberg, Berlin (Humboldt and Freie Universität) and Riga. He has published widely on the First World War, Wilhelmine Germany and Alfred Weber.