Conscientious Objectors in WWI
From the start, the war was opposed by those who objected to war in principle, these were known as pacifists. They acted out of religious and political actions. The political pacifists or objectors said they thought that the German government wasn't an enemy and refused to fight. the did not mind helping in factories but they would explicitly not kill as it was against their conscience, hence the name. In March 1916 when compulsory military service came into effect, the rights of the pacifists were acknowledged. 16500 men withstood political and social pressures to join up. Over half of these people volunteered to perform non-combatant service, such as a medic or agricultural work. Those who refused to offer their services completely, absolutists, were sent to prison repeatedly. those who supported the conscientious objectors were ridiculed and pressure. Some were even fined over a hundred pounds .