Conscientious Objectors of the Second World War: Refusing to Fight - Hardcover

Kramer, Ann

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1844681181 ISBN 13: 9781844681181

Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd, 2013

Synopsis

Even today, most histories of the world wars focus on those who fought. Those who refused to fight are usually overlooked, or just mentioned in passing, sometimes in a very dismissive manner. But during the First World War, 16,000 men in Britain refused conscription: they believed it was wrong to take up arms and kill. Known as conscientious objectors they were humiliated, abused and imprisoned for their stand. More than 70 died as a result of brutal treatment. Twenty years later, during the Second World War, there were more than 60,000 conscientious objectors in Britain. They were treated more humanely but even so, many people neither understood nor sympathised with their stand. A Determined Resistance: Conscientious Objectors of the First World War and Refusing to Fight: Conscientious Objectors of the Second World War tell the stories of these remarkable men - and women - who bravely took a stand against war and refused to be conscripted. The books ask who the conscientious objectors were, what reasons they gave for refusing to fight and how they were treated. They look at the impact of conscientious objectors and ask how their actions should be viewed today. To bring this fascinating subject to life, author Ann Kramer has used extensive prime sources such as interviews, letters, diaries, memoirs, and contemporary newspapers. She also places the experiences of conscientious objectors into the wider context of a national and international peace and anti-war movement. The focus is mainly on Britain but will also include material on pacifists, war resisters and conscientious objectors elsewhere in the warring world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany.

About this title

Product Description

More than 63,000 people registered as conscientious objectors (COs) during the Second World War. Drawn from all walks of life, their number included prominent citizens such as the playwright Christopher Fry and the composer Michael Tippett. In this history, Ann Kramer draws on interviews, newspaper accounts, letters and diaries to describe how they came to the decision to take a stand against war, the process of being designated a CO and the ostracism, abuse and even imprisonment that often followed.

Review

Kramer has used extensive primary sources. Britain at War Drawing on extensive primary sources, Kramer describes the inter-war peace movement that gave birth to many conscientious objectors, looking into who these men and women were and their reasons for refusing conscription. Military History Monthly

Edition details

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1844681181
• ISBN 13: 9781844681181
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224