The Treatment of Conscientious Objectors in the First & Second World Wars: Case Study (Edexcel GCSE History)

When the First World War began, over one million men signed up to fight. As the war went on and casualties rose, the government introduced conscription. This made it a crime to avoid actively participating in the war.

There were some exceptions to conscription. Clergymen, the medically unfit and those with jobs essential to the war effort were exempt. Some conscientious objectors (COs) were also exempt. However, even those who faced tribunals successfully received harsh treatment from the public. The government was similarly quite harsh on COs. It deprived them of their voting rights and punished a great number.

When the Second World War began, conscription was reintroduced. Around 60,000 conscientiously objected. This was an increase of around 44,000 from the First World War. Though public attitudes to COs remained negative, the government’s response became softer. On the whole, COs were afforded better treatment in the Second World War than in the First World War.

Political reasons

Moral reasons

Religious reasons

Some saw war as an imperialist conflict between Europe’s ruling classes. They thought it was wrong for ordinary people to fight over a dispute that did not concern them

Some believed that war was simply wrong in all cases. These people were absolutists and tended to be pacifists. Others, known as alternativists, volunteered for non-combat roles

Some saw war as a violation of God’s law. They believed in the sanctity of life and cited one of the Bible’s Ten Commandments: “You shall not kill”

Public attitudes

Government responses

Public opinion was largely hostile towards COs. Because most people supported the war, they thought of COs as unpatriotic traitors

Authorities were also hostile to COs. They saw them as harmful to the war effort. Casualties on the front line were very high. Those in charge of recruitment thought that pacifist ideas would dissuade men from becoming soldiers

Some, especially those who had friends or family who had been injured or killed fighting, saw COs as unmanly. They sent COs hate mail or white feathers to symbolise their cowardice

The government banned COs from voting for the duration of the war and for five years after it ended

Many COs also faced physical attacks, job losses and negative press

COs had to face local tribunals, which were often unfair. Local authorities selected the judging panel, so they varied widely across different areas. Most were made up of retired soldiers, who were highly unsympathetic to COs