Case Study: Conscientious Objectors in WW1 & 2 Flashcards
Conscription (must enroll into the army) in WW1.
-1916 Military Service Act passed which introduced conscription.
-Compulsory service in the armed forces.
- Became illegal to avoid taking an active part in the war.
-March 1916 all unmarried men 18-41 were called up to join the armed forces.
-1918 age limit was raised to 1951.
Conscientious objectors in WW1.
-Some men refused to fight conscience wouldn’t allow them to.
-Became known as the COs
-Refused for religious
reasons/political reasons.
-People who refused to support called absolutists.
-Most absolutists thought violence was immoral and others refused to carry weapons but were prepared to help in other ways.
-They became stretcher-bearers, ambulance drivers or other support work.
Tribunals.
-The military service act allowed people objecting to join the army (conscience clause).
-Ask for exemption on the grounds of conscience.
-16500 men requested this, they appeared before a special court (called a tribunal) to judge their claims.
-They were not always fair:
-Held locally and the judging panel was selected by local authority.
-Members of the panel were too old to be called up but had clear views about other people’s duty to fight.
Treatment of COs.
-Many absolutists were imprisoned.
-Some faced solitary confinement.
-Some were sent to France, the front line and if they refused to fight they were sentenced by military court.
-Small number sentenced to death.
-PM intervened to stop this and reduced the punishment to 10 years in prison.
Why were COs treated so harshly?
-Casualty rates so high, they wanted to stop pacifist ideas from spreading.
-Needed to recruit a lot of men.
-Was presented as a man’s duty-refusing was unmanly and traitorous.
-Harsh punishments were publicised to put people off.
-Most people had friends/family killed in war.
-Some COs and families isolated, received hate mail or white feathers as a sign of cowardice.
Changes in treatment if COs during WW2.
-COs offered alternative work such as farm work.
-Prison used as a last resort.
-People expected to support the war and used lots of propaganda to build support.
-Those who actively campaigned against war would find themselves in court.
Changes in social attitudes.
-During WW2 official attitudes to COs were quite different from WW1.
- People asked to unite against Hitler who persecuted minorities.
-Could be seen as hypocritical to punish COs.
-Public opinion still hostile to those who didn’t fight.
-Some COs were verbally abused or attacked in public.
-Others lost their jobs-employers did not like their actions.
