The First World War greatly affected the lives of civilians in those countries participating in the war. Not only were men conscripted to join the army, women were being recruited to take over the jobs that were left by men who joined the army.
Women of war:
- Nurse the wounded
- Provide food and supplies to the military
- Serve as telephone operatorshyphen “Hello Girls”
- Entertain troops with songs, dances, lectures, dramatic reading and poetry
- Work as journalist
- shamed men into war-British recruiting posters told young men that women would reject them if they were “not in khaki”, and told young women that men who refuse to fight and die for them were not worthy of their affections
Hence, this can be seen as a move to total war because even women – who usually remained at home to take care of the household chores – were used to fight the war by providing support and motivation for the army.
Despite conscription, some men were exempted:
- men above 41 years if age
- widowed men with children
- married men
However, by 1918, men up to the age of 51 were eligible for conscription, even those who were married and had a family. This is also a move to total war as the army was trying to recruit as many men as possible to aid in the war effort.
Total War in WWI 