- Magazines in the Front Lines
Gettings News on the War
French and Scots soldiers reading copies of 'the War Illustrated'
Soldiers in the front lines and those on active service were almost always starved for news about the war. Odd as it might seem, those in the thick of things were usually amongst the least informed.So it is no wonder that troops eagerly sought out whatever reading material they could get their hands on, even if their own candid opinion of what newspapers and -magazines printed was not often very flattering.
News editors for their part, looking for a heart-felt human-interest angle or just to fill up an empty space, liked to use photos of soldiers reading copies of their publications. What better endorsement could there otherwise be ? If gallant defenders of the country thought it worth their while to read said publications, how could civilians think otherwise ? Handing out (unsold) copies of magazines to soldiers in the front lines, could be made to go a long way, publicity-wise.
Here are a number of photographs taken from various newsmagazines, both Allied and Central Powers, showing grateful soldiers eagerly reading those very same publications. It is more than obvious that most of these photos were posed, often in a comical manner. Others may have been taken by comrades and sent to the publishers, perhaps in hope of obtaining some free samples.
- left : a bit of fun - French soldiers reading German newspapers and magazines thrown over the trenches
- right : French soldiers in hospital reading a copy of 'the Graphic'
