The Home Front

The Great War also had an impact on those on the Home Front, where the demands of modern warfare transformed the lives of the young and the old, women and children.

One of the biggest changes was experienced by women across Europe and North America, Australia and New Zealand. Before 1914 most jobs were virtually closed to women. The war would change that. Meanwhile governments intervened in every area of daily life: in Britain the Defence of the Realm Act banned bonfires and whistling for taxis, carrying cameras and feeding the birds. Russia would even go as far as banning vodka. And in America the Sedition Act outlawed disloyal language, threatening people's right to criticise the government.

Propaganda and censorship became a feature of daily life as governments attempted to hide the awful truth of the war from those on the Home Front. Censorship also slowed down the postal service but soon people had greater worries than delays to the post. Food shortages led to queues, then riots and rationing, then starvation.

In addition, zeppelins and the first long-range bombers brought terror and destruction from the air, and saw London come under attack for the first time in 900 years.