case study - conscientious objectors

• conscription in ww2 and conscientious objectors

  • the military services act of 1916 made it compulsory for all unmarried men aged 18-41 to join the armed services. it did allow exemption for people objecting to join on religious, moral or political grounds. called the conscientious objectors- around 16,000 men applied for this type of exemption.
  • men would have to petition & appear in court known as a tribunal.
  • the conscientious objectors would argue their case , tribunals made up of retired soldiers and local figures
  • accusations of an unfair hearing
• treatment

  • some conscientious objectors were given work which supported war effort but didnt fight
  • sometimes these jobs were in Britain, but others were given roles on the western front eg ambulance driver
  • the cos who refused to do the other work were ' absolutists' and imprisoned and did hard labour
  • some sent to fight on the western front, if refused, they could be sentenced to death. Most were given a 10 year sentence
  • by the end of war, 73 people died due to the harsh treatment
• why were they treated so harsh?

  • the casualties rate was so high that the gov needed the public to support conscription or risk losing the war
  • the media spread veiw of COs as a cowardly and unpatriotic.
  • si public opinion on the cos was negative
  • most had family/friends killed in the war so felt the cos were lacking responsibility
  • their harsh punishment were publicised to deter others applying for exemption
• changes in ww2

  • 60,00 people applied for exemption on the ground of conscientious objection.
  • tribunals no longer included former soliders and a greater effort was made to find cos alternative working on a farm or a munitions factory. it was only those who actively campaigned against the war could be prisoned
  • this was due to the change of attitude- in ww2 people were being asked to unite against Hitler as a tryant
  • as nazism persecuted minorities it would be hypocritical of the gov to punish cos harshly
  • despite gov attitude changing, public opinion didn't. Cos abused verbally and attacked.
• factors

  a.i.s : harsh veiws of COs from public

  church- religion was the main reason people applied for exemption from fighting

  gov- change in policy between ww1-2- more understanding shown in ww2 and more lenience with alternative work