Social Impact Social Impact of WWIof WWI

The Role of Women in the WarThe Role of Women in the War-Nikola Medenwald –Nikola Medenwald –

Pals‘ Battalions & Demographic Pals‘ Battalions & Demographic ConsequencesConsequences

- Sandra Krombach -- Sandra Krombach -

The Role of WomenThe Role of Women

ContentsContents

Situation before the warSituation before the warPsychological pressure: “Total war” Psychological pressure: “Total war” Economical changesEconomical changesThe Home FrontThe Home FrontPolitical changesPolitical changesPost-war developmentPost-war development

ContentsContents

Situation before the warSituation before the warPsychological pressure: “Total war” Psychological pressure: “Total war” Economical changesEconomical changesThe Home FrontThe Home FrontPolitical changesPolitical changesPost-war developmentPost-war development

ContentsContents

Situation before the warSituation before the warPsychological pressure: “Total war”Psychological pressure: “Total war” Economic changesEconomic changesThe Home FrontThe Home FrontPolitical changesPolitical changesPost-war developmentPost-war development

Psychological Pressure - Psychological Pressure - a „Total War“a „Total War“

WWI – a „total war“WWI – a „total war“DORA 1914DORA 1914RecruitmentRecruitmentCharityCharityProtestProtestAir raids 1915 / 1917Air raids 1915 / 1917

→ „The Home Front“→ „The Home Front“Food rationing 1917Food rationing 1917

Psychological Pressure - Psychological Pressure - a „Total War“a „Total War“

WWI – a „total war“WWI – a „total war“DORA 1914DORA 1914RecruitmentRecruitmentCharityCharityProtestProtestAir raids 1915 / 1917Air raids 1915 / 1917

→ „The Home Front“→ „The Home Front“Food rationing 1917Food rationing 1917

Psychological Pressure - Psychological Pressure - a „Total War“a „Total War“

WWI – a „total war“WWI – a „total war“„„Defence of the Realm Act“Defence of the Realm Act“ (DORA)1914 (DORA)1914RecruitmentRecruitmentCharityCharityProtestProtestAir raids 1915 / 1917Air raids 1915 / 1917

→ „The Home Front“→ „The Home Front“Food rationing 1917Food rationing 1917

Psychological Pressure - Psychological Pressure - a „Total War“a „Total War“

WWI – a „total war“WWI – a „total war“DORA 1914DORA 1914RecruitmentRecruitment

• Vesta Tilley (1864-1952)Vesta Tilley (1864-1952)• Order of the White FeatherOrder of the White Feather

CharityCharityProtestProtestAir raids 1915 / 1917Air raids 1915 / 1917

→ „The Home Front“→ „The Home Front“Food rationing 1917Food rationing 1917

Psychological Pressure - Psychological Pressure - a „Total War“a „Total War“

WWI – a „total war“WWI – a „total war“DORA 1914DORA 1914RecruitmentRecruitmentCharityCharityProtestProtestAir raids 1915 / 1917Air raids 1915 / 1917

→ „The Home Front“→ „The Home Front“Food rationing 1917Food rationing 1917

Psychological Pressure - Psychological Pressure - a „Total War“a „Total War“

WWI – a „total war“WWI – a „total war“DORA 1914DORA 1914RecruitmentRecruitmentCharityCharityProtestProtestAir raids 1915 / 1917Air raids 1915 / 1917

→ „The Home Front“→ „The Home Front“Food rationing 1917Food rationing 1917

Psychological Pressure - Psychological Pressure - a „Total War“a „Total War“

WWI – a „total war“WWI – a „total war“DORA 1914DORA 1914RecruitmentRecruitmentCharityCharityProtestProtestAir raidsAir raids 1915 / 1917 1915 / 1917

→ „The Home Front“→ „The Home Front“Food rationing 1917Food rationing 1917

search lights over Londonsearch lights over London

destruction after an air raiddestruction after an air raid

air-raid sheltersair-raid shelters

Psychological Pressure - Psychological Pressure - a „Total War“a „Total War“

WWI – a „total war“WWI – a „total war“DORA 1914DORA 1914RecruitmentRecruitmentCharityCharityProtestProtestAir raids 1915 / 1917Air raids 1915 / 1917

→ „The Home Front“→ „The Home Front“Food rationingFood rationing 1917 1917

ContentsContents

Situation before the warSituation before the warPsychological pressure: “Total war” Psychological pressure: “Total war” Economic changesEconomic changesThe Home FrontThe Home FrontPolitical changesPolitical changesPost-war developmentPost-war development

Economic ChangesEconomic Changes

new fields of occupationnew fields of occupationcollapse of „domestic service“collapse of „domestic service“advantagesadvantagesexamples for new occupationsexamples for new occupations

Economic ChangesEconomic Changes

new fields of occupationnew fields of occupation• increasing range of jobs for womenincreasing range of jobs for women• 1914 – 1918:~ 2 mill. jobs filled by women1914 – 1918:~ 2 mill. jobs filled by women• Women in total employment:Women in total employment:

July 1914: 24% July 1914: 24% November 1918: 37%November 1918: 37%

collapse of „domestic service“collapse of „domestic service“advantagesadvantagesexamples for new occupationsexamples for new occupations

Economic ChangesEconomic Changes

new fields of occupationnew fields of occupationcollapse of „domestic service“collapse of „domestic service“

→ until 1911: 11-13% until 1911: 11-13% → by 1931: <8% (E+W)by 1931: <8% (E+W)

advantagesadvantagesexamples for new occupationsexamples for new occupations

Economic ChangesEconomic Changes

new fields of occupationnew fields of occupationcollapse of „domestic service“collapse of „domestic service“advantagesadvantages

• higher wageshigher wages• better conditions > TRADE UNIONSbetter conditions > TRADE UNIONS• enhanced independenceenhanced independence• huge increase of day-nurserieshuge increase of day-nurseries• advantages for the industrialistsadvantages for the industrialists

examples for new occupationsexamples for new occupations

Women‘s Police Service (WPS)Women‘s Police Service (WPS)metal and engineering industrymetal and engineering industrypublic transportpublic transportservice industriesservice industries

New Fields of OccupationNew Fields of Occupation

New Fields of Occupation – New Fields of Occupation – Women’s Police ServiceWomen’s Police Service

formed under auspices of formed under auspices of Margaret Damer DawsonMargaret Damer Dawson

by 1916: over 2000 membersby 1916: over 2000 members

against immorality in public against immorality in public placesplaces

New Fields of Occupation –New Fields of Occupation –metal & engineering industriesmetal & engineering industries

> 900.000 female workers in munitions production> 900.000 female workers in munitions productiondangerous work: TNT poisoning dangerous work: TNT poisoning → → „canaries“„canaries“

• more than 300 victimsmore than 300 victims

New Fields of OccupationNew Fields of Occupation

service industries:service industries:• General Post OfficeGeneral Post Office• Commerce & bankingCommerce & banking• othersothers

public transportpublic transport

New Fields of OccupationNew Fields of Occupation

Women doing „male jobs“Women doing „male jobs“

ContentsContents

Situation before the warSituation before the warPsychological pressure: “Total war” Psychological pressure: “Total war” Economic changesEconomic changesThe Home FrontThe Home FrontPolitical changesPolitical changesPost-war developmentPost-war development

The Home FrontThe Home Front

British Military Nurses: British Military Nurses: QAIMNS / QARNNS QAIMNS / QARNNS

Voluntary Services: FANY, VADVoluntary Services: FANY, VADWomen‘s Volunteer Organisations: WEC / Women‘s Volunteer Organisations: WEC /

WVR / WACWVR / WACRight to Serve March July 1915Right to Serve March July 1915Women‘s Services: non-nursing capacitiesWomen‘s Services: non-nursing capacitiesoutstanding womenoutstanding women

The Home Front –The Home Front – British Military NursesBritish Military Nurses

QAIMNSQAIMNS: : The Queen Alexandra’s The Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Imperial Military Nursing Service Service → → regular armyregular army

QARNNSQARNNS: : The Queen Alexandra’s The Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval ServiceRoyal Naval Service

both formed in 1902both formed in 1902

The Home Front –The Home Front – Voluntary Nursing Services IVoluntary Nursing Services I

FANYFANY: : First Aid Nursing Yeomanry First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (1907)(1907)

• Linking front-line + field Linking front-line + field hospitalshospitals

• Tasks: ambulance drivers, Tasks: ambulance drivers, soop kitchens, troop soop kitchens, troop

canteens,hospitals, canteens,hospitals, recreation centers, recreation centers, military headquartersmilitary headquarters• Special Operations Special Operations Executive (SOE)Executive (SOE)

The Home Front –The Home Front – Voluntary Nursing Services IIVoluntary Nursing Services II

VADVAD: : Voluntary Aid Detachment Voluntary Aid Detachment (1909)(1909)

Trained by the British Red Trained by the British Red Cross SocietyCross Society

Medical assistance at the Medical assistance at the home front + overseashome front + overseas

~126.000 recruits: ~126.000 recruits: middle + upper classmiddle + upper class

The Home FrontThe Home Front – –Women’s Volunteer Organisations IWomen’s Volunteer Organisations IWomen’s Emergency CorpsWomen’s Emergency Corps (WEC) (WEC)Women’s Auxiliary CorpsWomen’s Auxiliary Corps (WAC) (WAC) Women’s Volunteer ReserveWomen’s Volunteer Reserve (WVR (WVR))

• 19141914 Evelina Haverfield & Evelina Haverfield & Marchioness of LondonderryMarchioness of Londonderry

• clear military structureclear military structure• fitness, disciplinefitness, discipline• support of the civil powerssupport of the civil powers

The Home FrontThe Home Front – –Women’s Volunteer Organisations IIWomen’s Volunteer Organisations II

Women‘s LegionWomen‘s LegionApril 1915: Marchioness of LondonderryApril 1915: Marchioness of Londonderry

• More assessible for lower classMore assessible for lower class• Largest voluntary women‘s organisation Largest voluntary women‘s organisation

> 6000 members> 6000 members• Cooks + waitresses at the frontCooks + waitresses at the front

Influence: Influence: establishment of WAAC in 1917establishment of WAAC in 1917

The Home FrontThe Home Front – –Women’s Volunteer Organisations IIIWomen’s Volunteer Organisations III

• Women‘s Land ArmyWomen‘s Land Army & & Forestry CorpsForestry Corps (WLA) (WLA)

• formed 1917formed 1917• 3 Sections:3 Sections:

- agricultureagriculture- forestry forestry - forageforage

The Home Front – The Home Front – Women‘s Women‘s Right to Serve MarchRight to Serve March

July 17th 1915July 17th 1915suffragettessuffragettes~3000 ~3000

demonstratorsdemonstrators

The Home Front –The Home Front –Women‘s Services IWomen‘s Services I

WAACWAAC (1917):(1917): Women's Auxiliary Army Women's Auxiliary Army Corps Corps • 57.000 in administrative jobs57.000 in administrative jobs• 1918: QMAAC1918: QMAAC

WRNSWRNS (wrens) (1916): (wrens) (1916): Women's Royal Naval ServiceWomen's Royal Naval Service

WRAFWRAF (1918) (1918) : : Women’s Royal Air ForceWomen’s Royal Air Force

The Home Front –The Home Front –outstanding women Ioutstanding women I

Flora SandesFlora Sandes (1876-1955) (1876-1955)• Red Cross nurse in SerbiaRed Cross nurse in Serbia• Nov 1916 seriously woundedNov 1916 seriously wounded

Elsie KnockerElsie Knocker (B.ss T’Serclaes) (B.ss T’Serclaes)& & Mairi ChisholmMairi Chisholm • Independent first aid post in Pervyse Independent first aid post in Pervyse

with own fundswith own funds• 1917: 1917: British Military MedalBritish Military Medal• March 1918: badly gassed, March 1918: badly gassed,

returned to GBreturned to GB

The Home Front –The Home Front –outstanding women IIoutstanding women II

Edith CavellEdith Cavell (1865-1915): (1865-1915):• nurses‘ training school in Brusselsnurses‘ training school in Brussels• saved > 200 soldierssaved > 200 soldiers• 1915: sentenced to death 1915: sentenced to death

Elsie InglisElsie Inglis (1864-1917): (1864-1917):• Scottish doctor, suffragetteScottish doctor, suffragette• 1914: independently raised 14 1914: independently raised 14

Scottish Women’s Hospital unitsScottish Women’s Hospital units• 1917 died shortly after return to GB1917 died shortly after return to GB

ContentsContents

Situation before the warSituation before the warPsychological pressure: “Total war” Psychological pressure: “Total war” Economical changesEconomical changesThe Home FrontThe Home FrontPolitical changesPolitical changesPost-war developmentPost-war development

Political changes -Political changes -Suffragettes ISuffragettes I

‘‘In the midst of this time of terrible anxiety andIn the midst of this time of terrible anxiety andgrief, it is some little comfort to think that ourgrief, it is some little comfort to think that ourlarge organisation, which has been large organisation, which has been completely built up during past years to completely built up during past years to promote women’s suffrage, can be used to promote women’s suffrage, can be used to help our country through the period of strain help our country through the period of strain and sorrow.’and sorrow.’

→ In:In: The Common Cause The Common Cause (UWSS newspaper) on August 6th 1914(UWSS newspaper) on August 6th 1914

UWSSUWSS turned patriotic turned patriotic

Political changes -Political changes -Suffragettes IISuffragettes II

WSPUWSPUFebruary 1918: Right to vote (30+)February 1918: Right to vote (30+)June 1928: equal voting rights June 1928: equal voting rights

ContentsContents

Situation before the warSituation before the warPsychological pressure: “Total war” Psychological pressure: “Total war” Economical changesEconomical changesThe Home FrontThe Home FrontPolitical changesPolitical changesPost-war developmentPost-war development

Post-war Development –Post-war Development –Return to DomesticityReturn to Domesticity

psychological reasonspsychological reasonsreturning servicemen returning servicemen temporary labour agreementstemporary labour agreementsclosure of day-nurseriesclosure of day-nurseriesdisunity among womendisunity among womenmany branches closed again for womenmany branches closed again for women

Pals‘Pals‘BattalionsBattalions

Definition of Pals‘ Battalions:Definition of Pals‘ Battalions:

an army of volunteersan army of volunteersmen from the same town, city or men from the same town, city or

workplace or sports association who had workplace or sports association who had volunteeredvolunteered

Liverpool founded first Pals‘ BattalionsLiverpool founded first Pals‘ Battalions

Civic PrideCivic Pride

many other cities followed Liverpool´s many other cities followed Liverpool´s exampleexample

cities competed with each othercities competed with each otherby early 1916 around two million had by early 1916 around two million had

enlisted voluntarilyenlisted voluntarily

Origins and profession of Pals Origins and profession of Pals

stockbrokersstockbrokersstudentsstudentsjournalistsjournalistsclerksclerksteachersteachersshop assistantsshop assistantsartistsartistspublic schoolboyspublic schoolboys

Reasons for joining the Reasons for joining the Battalions:Battalions:

patriotic optimismpatriotic optimismcommon desire to help Belgiumcommon desire to help Belgiumarmy service offered opportunities, army service offered opportunities,

excitement and travelexcitement and travelarmy promised a break from the povertyarmy promised a break from the poverty

Advantages:Advantages:

regular pay (one shilling a day for privates)regular pay (one shilling a day for privates)proper food and clothingproper food and clothingbetter living conditions in barracksbetter living conditions in barracks

Story of James Tail – a palStory of James Tail – a pal

15 years old, inexperienced young boy15 years old, inexperienced young boyjoined 10th Battalions, East Yorkshirejoined 10th Battalions, East Yorkshirefirst together with his stepbrother Frank first together with his stepbrother Frank

Cocker, but Frank diedCocker, but Frank diedopportunity to go to war was an adventure opportunity to go to war was an adventure

for himfor himnine weeks in Egypt, then transferred to nine weeks in Egypt, then transferred to

the Western Frontthe Western Front

only criticism he had was about the quality only criticism he had was about the quality of training and the attitude of some of the of training and the attitude of some of the officersofficers

mother applied for his release and James mother applied for his release and James was sent backwas sent back

joined up again in Sep. 1917joined up again in Sep. 1917by April was back in France and survived by April was back in France and survived

third German offensive which began on third German offensive which began on 27th May 191827th May 1918

The Battle on the Somme:The Battle on the Somme:

1 July- 13 November 19161 July- 13 November 19161914-1916 Pals‘ Battalions spent training 1914-1916 Pals‘ Battalions spent training

in Britainin BritainBattle of the Somme was first major battle Battle of the Somme was first major battle

for most volunteersfor most volunteersPals’ Battalions were defeated by superior Pals’ Battalions were defeated by superior

equipped Germansequipped Germansarmy´s greatest single lossarmy´s greatest single loss60,000 casualties, 20,000 died60,000 casualties, 20,000 died

Battle of the SommeBattle of the Somme

Consequences of the Pals‘ Consequences of the Pals‘ Battalions:Battalions:

in many towns and cities anger spread outin many towns and cities anger spread outfew homes remained untouchedfew homes remained untouchedan epidemic of grief swamped the countryan epidemic of grief swamped the countryoften more than one member of a family often more than one member of a family

dieddiedcommunities were decimatedcommunities were decimated