Conscientious Objectors of the Second World War by Ann Kramer

Conscientious Objectors of the Second World War by Ann Kramer

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.

Kramer has used extensive primary sourcesBritain 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

Ann Kramer is an experienced author, who has written or contributed to more than 50 books. She specialises in history, about which she is passionate, and has written various titles on wartime experiences, including Women and War, Taking Part in the Second World War and recently Land Girls and their Impact (Pen & Sword, 2008), which used extensive interviews and original photographs. Ann has been active in the peace movement for many years - from Aldermaston to Greenham Common - and as a result has developed a keen interest in conscientious objectors, whose bravery and achievements she believes deserve greater coverage. Born in London, Ann now lives on the south coast in Sussex.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781844681181
ISBN 10	1844681181
Title	Conscientious Objectors of the Second World War
Author	Ann Kramer
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Year published	2013-08-01
Number of pages	224
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable