Case Study 6: Conscientious Objectors Flashcards
What is a conscientious objector?
A person who has a religious, moral or political objection to war.
What does conscription mean?
A system where people are required to join a country’s war effort by law.
When was conscription imposed on men in WW1?
From 1916, all men aged between 18 and 41 had to enlist.
Why did some men refuse to fight in WW1?
- Many held the christian belief: ‘thou shalt not kill’
- Some believed this was a disagreement between the ruling class, so they shouldn’t be forced to fight
- Some disagreed with the aims of WW1
What is an absolutist?
Conscientious objectors (COs) who was completely against the war and even refused to help with non-combatant roles.
What is an alternativist?
Those who who were not prepared to fight but did support the war effort in other ways.
How many men refused to fight in WW1?
16,000.
How did conscientious objectors have to make their objections to the authorities for fighting in WW1?
They had to present their reasons at military tribunals (special courts) made up of military officers to decide if the CO was genuine.
How many men were given exemption on the grounds of conscience by the authority?
400.
What happened to the alternativists?
They were given non-combatant roles such as ambulance drivers.
What happened to the men who refused to accept the decision at the tribunal?
A few were sentenced to death, some were imprisoned or given brutal treatment and hard labour.
How were conscientious objectors treated by the public in WW1?
Majority of the British people supported the war effort and so were hostile to COs. Some members of the public accused COs of cowardice and physically attacked them.
How did organisations treat COs in WW1?
- COs were attacked in newspapers
- Some were dismissed from their jobs
- The Order of the White Feather encouraged women to hand out white feathers to COs, to symbolise their cowardice
- Negative propaganda towards COs
When was conscription for WW2 introduced?
1939.
How were conscientious objectors treated differently by the government?
Tribunals continued but did not include ex-soldiers on the panel that made decisions.