Minority Involvement in WWI!Masterfully synthesized by Shreeya

and The Runner

The Dichotomy 

There are essentially two sides to the minority involvement in .  The first, a more commonly explored side, the second, oft-

ignored.

1. Involvement catalyzed by coercion, force, manipulationmisrepresentation, misinformation, corruption

2. Involvement fueled by minority desire for military, political, patriotic, security gain

 Australians developed their independent military with heavy guidance from Britain under the guise of protecting Australia from Japanese Invasion. Thus the Australians never had the (public) intent to lead offensives.  The British on the other hand, developed their military in order to exploit it in the future when a European conflict arose.  But, it was a mutualistic relationship because Australia was left with military strength and reputation. The Australian population in 1914 was less than five million    Enlisted and served overseas: 324,000    Dead: 61,720    Wounded: 155,000 (all services)     Australian Involvement was a perfect opportunity for A to prove their place, worthy and strength.

Origins of Australian Involvement

 Czech Involvement: Two Sides In order to drive a wedge in A-H, the Allies supported/used Czech independence (A-H minorities).  Czech's volunteered under the Russian army and leadership.  The army was composed of 35,000 Czechs October in 1917.  On the other hand, during the first winter of the war, the Austro-Hungarian armies were hemorrhaging Czechs to the Russians. Soldiers of the Hapsburgs Empire were more likely to end the war on a Russian farm or factory than in their own army. With low morale and almost no will to fight, many ethnic Czech units (who made up 15 % of the Austrian Army) surrendered in mass.   The Czech Legion started from humble beginnings in 1914 and ended up as one of the last reliable units on the World War One Eastern Front.

  

British Use of Minorities: Indians

Britain drew over 1 million ethnic minorities from their overseas empire.-greatest military contribution was by India who rallied to the cause. Influential Indians promoted supporting the British in all capacities in order to help their cause for independence.    -were ready for battle before most other troops in the dominions  -were ill-prepared, and suffered from the racist attitudes of their commanders.  -NUMBERS:  800,000 Indian troops fought in all the theatres of the war                          1½ million volunteering to fight                           47,746 were classed as killed or missing with 65,000 wounded.                        won 13,000 medals for gallantry  Post-war: The British continued to keep control of the key posts of tax and law and order. Many in India felt that they had been badly let down by the British government for their part played in World War One.

African Peoples: Recruitment Methodologies

German method: widely popularized in some areas such as Nigeria: "Our kith and kin have gone to fight in our stead, and it is only right that we should give them all the support necessary... Ingratitude is the greatest reproach that could be flung at a native, and I therefore urge upon all to contribute their quota to this national fund so that it might not be said we are ungrateful to the British Government for many benefits conferred."   speaking at a meeting of chiefs. Recruited by direct appeals for volunteers, attracted many b/c of the wages offered.   British Method: enlisted the help of chiefs and left them to find the men however they could. Although officially nobody was supposed to be forced into signing up, inevitably they were. "The chief called us and handed us over to a government messenger. I didn't know where we were going, but the chief and the messenger said that the white man had sent for us and we must go".  

African Peoples: Numbers

France: 200,000+ served in France only 42,000 were in combat roles.  Although France appeared to be of a progressive mindset, it is only true in a relative sense.  African (and anti-Semitic Dreyfus Affair) stereotypes were propagandized and supported. The slaughter at Chemin des Dames in 1917: 45% casualties, contributed to the belief that the blacks were being cynically used as cannon-fodder.  In 1912, set about creating a permanent black army.There was compulsory military service for all African males. After the outbreak of the war, 14,785 troops were signed up in West Africa. In East Africa Great Britain: recruited 56,000 black soldiers from Africa and 15,000 from the West Indies.  instituted a compulsory service order in 1915 covering all males aged 18-45 in East Africa Belgians: In Congo forced 260,000 men to be porters carrying soldiers, equipment and provisions. 

Trends in Use of Colonial Peoples

  The colonies were not a priority for resupply. In most cases, Europeans relied on their troops and carriers to guide them through unfamiliar terrain and to assist them in deriving supplies from local inhabitants.  Euros were fairly successful in achieving their goal, but at a terrible expense to the Africans who were forced to endure food and manpower shortages, and larger local economic consequences,   African and Colonial peoples were so far removed that they had an even vaguer idea of war and its implications. Overall, nations were reluctant to resort to non-white military personnel because they felt it corrupted the honor and dignity of the military.  After perceptions changed over the length and costs of the war, countries were forced to reconsider their positions.  Neither the Euros nor the imperialists expected to engage the colonists in combat, thus no preparations or trainings were put into place.  The colonial people were inadequately prepared.  Also, these subjects were not acclimated to the harsh winters they faced during battle, and thus many perished. Tropical diseases and the innumerable challenges of fighting in a tropical environment, which author Farewell collectively labels “The True Enemy, ” played a major role in how the war was fought.     African troops played an important part in the defeat of German forces in East and West Africa.  Despite their loyalty and commitment they experienced some racial prejudice which resulted in a mutiny in 1918.

U.S. Use of MinoritiesNative Americans: According to the Selective Service Act of May 18, 1917, registration was to be conducted the same way for all "male citizens or male persons not alien enemies who have declared their intention to become citizens, between the ages of 21 and 30 years, both inclusive."  No exact figures exist on the number of NA citizens or those intending to become citizens, but it seems clear that a large number of Indians were enlisted illegally, which of course gave risk to draft incidents. Draft authorities took advantage of the ambiguous state of the A.I. to raise enlistment numbers.    The Onondegas, a powerful Iroquois Confederacy declared war on Germany in response to the brutal attack of their members in Berlin 1914 when the war broke out.

African Americans: 2.29 million  registered, 370,000 called into service. Discrimination tended to work in reverse: 31%t of registered blacks were drafted compared with 26 of whites. 400,000 black men in the army 380,000 were in services of supply as stevedores, drivers, engineers, cooks, laundrymen, and the like. Meaning they were denied the (military perception) honor of being a combatant.

German Treatment of Minority Groups

Germany- Germany was particularly atrocious in their treatment of minority ethnic and national groups that we felt it necessary to single it out.  The army actually unofficially rated its troops by broad ethnic categories:  "German-Austrians, Magyars, Bosnians—always reliable; Slovenes, Croats—nearly always reliable; Poles, Slovaks, Romanians—often dependable; Czechs, Serbs, Ukrainians, Italians—effective if well led, but not to be trusted when fighting against ethnic kin.  Yes, people were forced to fight their own kin at a time when nationalists feelings ran high.  he Germans displayed a tendency to blame battlefield "reverses on the “ethnic  question”—that is, alleged disloyalty, particularly on the part of Czechs, Serbs, and Ukrainians" Rather than consider poor leadership, tactics or the role of luck, the Germans conviniently avoided responsibility. They displayed such an ingrained racism: German intellectuals during the First World War spoke for many Germans and non-Germans alike when they expressed the idea that the "use of non-white, uncivilized, natives was a betrayal of Western civilization".     German treatment of Jews at the top was largely neutral and individual treatment relied on attitudes of direct leadership, which varied greatly but was certainly negative for most.  While Russia treated their Jews with aberrant inhumanity.The Baltic Germans were thrown to the front of the battlefield 

The Fall of the Minority: Numbers

Czechs: dead 185,000: including military losses 110,000 with the Austro-Hungarian forces and POW deaths in captivity of 45,000. Civilian dead due to famine and disease were 30,000. The Czechoslovak Legions fought with the armies of the Allies during the war.French Colonies: 82,000 deadGerman Colonies: 34,000 deadIndia: 62,000 dead, 67,000 wounded of a millionBritish Africa: 446,000 deathsAustralia: 61,928 

Did Minorities Get what they Wanted???Peace Settlements: In 1919, the Versailles peace conference was convened to provide for the lasting peace in Europe and punish Germany.  African nationalists saw this as an opportunity to share their grievances.  However, India was the only country allowed to send delegates. Others were denied: Liberia, South Africa, Egypt, Sierra Leon.  The Europeans powers divided up Germany's Africa without consulting anyone from Africa and overlooking geological spread of ethnic groups.

The Role of Women Nurses were incredibly understaffed and under-supplied, despite this fact, they proved to be instrumental in containing casualties.  Initially, women were faced with discrimination and presumption, but later proved their bravado, skill, and dedication, although it was rarely recognized after the war.    Ex: a one thousand bed hospital, in Cairo, completely under tentage, without any floor covering was staffed by 1 Matron, 15 Sisters and 30 Staff Nurses.  .

  AT HOME: The huge toll of dead and wounded meant that frequently women were left with the entire responsibility for holding families together.

Role of Women: AustraliaWomen were not involved as fighting personnel during the war. However, they served as members of the Australian Army Nursing Service dealing with injuries and immense suffering in the field. The first draft of nursing sisters left Australia in September 1914.  Women worked in Australia through organisations such as the Red Cross and the Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau and contributed to the morale of the fighting forces by organising and packing supplies. Australian Director of Medical Services: "The female nurse (as a substitute for the fully trained male nursing orderly) did little towards the actually saving of life in war...although she might promote a more rapid and complete recovery."  Australian nurses served in places such as Vladivostok, Burma, India, The Persian Gulf, Egypt, Greece, Italy, France and England.  The following statistics are incredible and worthy of notation:• 2,139 served overseas• 423 served in Australia• 25 died• 388 were decorated

Role of Women: Russia

The Russian Provisional Government was the only belligerent to engage a significant number of female troops in 1917.  They recruited women between the ages 13 and 25. Its few "Women's Battalions" fought well, but were disbanded before the end of the year because they failed as a propaganda method. Indicating a lack of respect for their displayed fighting ability. 2,000 soldiers were down to 250 after June of 1917-three months of fighting.

Role of Women: U.S.

The US War Department seemed to be out of date in being reluctant to allow the Army to enlist women nurses. The Navy and Marine Corps ignored the War Department and quickly enlisted women who were given the same status as men. These were the first women in America admitted to some military rank and status.  25,000 U.S. women who served in Europe in World War (especially pre-1917), nursed the wounded, provided food and other supplies to the military, served as telephone operators (the “Hello Girls”), entertained troops, and worked as journalists.  The integration of 18,000 female nurses indisputably relieved operations.