Why British Men Joined the British Army in 1914 When Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, Europe exploded. The Austro-Hungarian Empire invaded Serbia; Russia sends troops to the borders with Austria and Hungary. Germany declares war on Russia and France and marches into Belgium, while Britain declares war on Germany and its allies. Although Britain already had a well-trained professional army, it was too small to stand a chance against the enormous German army which was more than three times larger. As a result of this Lord Kitchener immediately undertook a recruitment drive inviting all men aged between 19 and 30 to join the British Army. There was a huge response: in August and September 1914 736,000 Britons volunteered for the army. In this essay I will explore the reasons why the response was so successful early in the war. Most men went to fight out of a sense of patriotism, honor, and duty. They loved their king and their country so much that they felt it was worth dying for. They thought it was a matter of honor and duty to fight for the British Empire if a foreign force threatened it. The propaganda helped reinforce the British portrayal of Germans as evil and sadistic. Every single atrocity committed by the Germans was reported at home. When an American passenger ship was sunk by German ships, many people were shocked, their idea of ​​war was something that only involved soldiers and not civilians or traders. This inspired people to volunteer in hopes of finding a way to get revenge. Things that happened in industrial cities like Scarborough, where the hot German... middle of paper... If he doesn't think you and your country are worth fighting for, do you think he is WORTHY of you?. The allure of the uniform and travel to different countries also attracted many men. Men who had never been through the nearest town or city were looking for the chance for an adventure. And especially because everyone expected the war to be over by Christmas, for some it felt like a holiday. Patriotism, honor, duty as well as pride in one's city played a considerable role in explaining why men volunteered. Propaganda pushed men to enlist as a way to get revenge for all the deaths committed by the Germans in places like Scarborough. Women also played a vital role in convincing men to volunteer, particularly the Order of the White Feather who shamed men in public by labeling them scoundrels..