Conscientious Objection in WW2

Warfare

History Hit

History

4.5 • 943 Ratings

🗓️ 18 November 2022

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Accounts of the Second World War usually involve tales of exceptional bravery in battle, as the allied nations stood together against fascism. But from the eyes of the 60,000 conscientious objectors who refuse to take up arms, the war looks extremely different - a perception of which has almost been entirely forgotten. A conscientious objector not only faced inordinate public scrutiny from their fellow countrymen, but even from their own families, often being viewed as cowards. But how accurate was that belief?

In this episode, James is joined by author Tobias Kelly who delves into why these people could not in good conscious, pick up arms, and how it changed their lives forever. Some faced jail time, others took up non-combat roles on the front lines - the scenes of which stayed with them long past the war. The 60,000 conscientious objectors role's in the War have often been overlooked in history, but their contribution to the wartime effort is now finally being discussed in a hopes to change common misconceptions.

For more Warfare content, subscribe to our Warfare Wednesday newsletter here.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - enter promo code WARFARE for 7 days free + 50% off your first three months' subscription. To download, go to Android or Apple store.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	The famous five are away on a splendid weekend adventure.
0:03.5	Do we have to go home today?
0:05.5	sighed Anne.
0:06.5	I agree said Dick.
0:08.0	Even Timmy looks sad.
0:09.5	Cheer up everyone.
0:11.5	Beams Julian, I booked long weekend tickets we can return anytime on Monday
0:17.0	Oh you are clever Julian said Anne save over 50% with the long weekend a ticket from Great Western Railway.
0:24.5	Adventures start here.
0:26.0	Selected routes turn supply, saving in comparison to an anytime return fare. accounts of the Second World War usually involve tales of bravery in battle or stoicism on the home front, as the Allied nation stood together against fascism.
0:52.0	However, the war looks very different when seen through the eyes of the 60,000 conscientious
0:57.0	objectors who refused to take up arms and whose stories, unlike those in the First World
1:02.1	War, have been almost entirely forgotten.
1:05.0	I'm your host James Rogers. This is the Warfare Podcast, and as nations like Ukraine and Sweden,
1:11.0	Russia and Finland, reintroduce or bolster levels of conscription and national service today.
1:17.6	It seemed like a good time to look into the history and the experience of those who chose
1:22.1	not to serve.
1:23.7	To do this I've invited Tobias Kelly onto the podcast.
1:27.0	Now Tobias is the author of a new book,
1:29.4	Battles of Conscience, British pacifists and the Second World War, published by Penguin.
1:35.0	And it's through to bias that we get to hear the stories of what motivated these people of conscience.
1:42.0	Enjoy. Oh, Hi Tobias, welcome to the Warfare Podcast. How you doing today?
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from History Hit, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of History Hit and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.