Propaganda and Perceptions of Germany

Prior to the outbreak of the First World War Germany was viewed in Britain with a mixture of admiration and, increasingly, fear. This was built upon during the war by propaganda designed to show the population of Britain the undesireable qualities of their enemy and thus provide a reason for the necessity of British participation and encouragement to join the armed forces or contribute on the Home Front.

Much of the propaganda centered on a few aspects which came to be seen as central to the German character: cruelty towards prisoners and civilians, ruthlessness in their military operations such as Zeppelin raids and submarine warfare, a disregard for laws and international conventions and Germany's supposed desire to conquer Europe and expand her colonial empire, threatening Britain at home and abroad.

First World War propaganda poster 'The Freedom of the Seas from the Hun Point of View'. - 1996.100.467 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

The Freedom of the Seas from the Hun Point of View

First World War propaganda poster 'The Freedom of the Seas from the Hun Point of View'. - 1996.100.467 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

First World War propaganda poster 'Red Cross or Iron Cross' - 1996.100.11 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Red Cross or Iron Cross

First World War propaganda poster 'Red Cross or Iron Cross' - 1996.100.11 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

First World Watt propaganda poster 'How the Hun Hates!', published in 1915. - 1996.100.35 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

How the Hun Hates!

First World Watt propaganda poster 'How the Hun Hates!', published in 1915. - 1996.100.35 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

First World War propaganda 'Irishmen Avenge the Lusitania!' published by the Central Council for the Organisation of Recruiting in Ireland in 1915. - 1996.100.20 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Irishmen Avenge the Lusitania!

First World War propaganda 'Irishmen Avenge the Lusitania!' published by the Central Council for the Organisation of Recruiting in Ireland in 1915. - 1996.100.20 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

First World War propaganda poster 'The Scrap of Paper', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1914. - 1996.100.196 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

The Scrap of Paper

First World War propaganda poster 'The Scrap of Paper', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1914. - 1996.100.196 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

First World War propaganda poster 'Remember the Lusitania!', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1915. - 1996.100.36 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Remember the Lusitania!

First World War propaganda poster 'Remember the Lusitania!', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1915. - 1996.100.36 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

First World War propaganda poster 'What a Red Rag is to a Bull', published by the British Red Cross Society in 1918. - 1996.100.38 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

What a Red Rag is to a Bull

First World War propaganda poster 'What a Red Rag is to a Bull', published by the British Red Cross Society in 1918. - 1996.100.38 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

First World War propaganda poster 'Remember Scarborough!', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1915. - 1996.100.202 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Remember Scarborough!

First World War propaganda poster 'Remember Scarborough!', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1915. - 1996.100.202 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

First World War propaganda poster 'German Cruelty to British Prisoners', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1915. - 1996.100.208 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

German Cruelty to British Prisoners

First World War propaganda poster 'German Cruelty to British Prisoners', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1915. - 1996.100.208 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

First World War propaganda poster 'Germany's Latest Crimes' - 1996.100.333 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Germany's Latest Crimes

First World War propaganda poster 'Germany's Latest Crimes' - 1996.100.333 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

First World War propaganda poster 'Remember Belgium', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1915. - 1996.100.487 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Remember Belgium

First World War propaganda poster 'Remember Belgium', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1915. - 1996.100.487 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

First World War propaganda poster 'What Germany Covets' - 1996.100.335 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

What Germany Covets

First World War propaganda poster 'What Germany Covets' - 1996.100.335 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

First World War propaganda poster 'The Freedom of the Seas from the Hun Point of View'. - 1996.100.467 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. First World War propaganda poster 'Red Cross or Iron Cross' - 1996.100.11 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. First World Watt propaganda poster 'How the Hun Hates!', published in 1915. - 1996.100.35 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. First World War propaganda 'Irishmen Avenge the Lusitania!' published by the Central Council for the Organisation of Recruiting in Ireland in 1915. - 1996.100.20 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. First World War propaganda poster 'The Scrap of Paper', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1914. - 1996.100.196 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. First World War propaganda poster 'Remember the Lusitania!', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1915. - 1996.100.36 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. First World War propaganda poster 'What a Red Rag is to a Bull', published by the British Red Cross Society in 1918. - 1996.100.38 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. First World War propaganda poster 'Remember Scarborough!', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1915. - 1996.100.202 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. First World War propaganda poster 'German Cruelty to British Prisoners', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1915. - 1996.100.208 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. First World War propaganda poster 'Germany's Latest Crimes' - 1996.100.333 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. First World War propaganda poster 'Remember Belgium', published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in 1915. - 1996.100.487 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. First World War propaganda poster 'What Germany Covets' - 1996.100.335 ©McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.