Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury

- 388-
in the newspapers only made rumours more believable, and may have promoted
misconceptions about the actual state of soldiers' morale and dependability.
The rumours and stories provided ready fuel for anti-military and revolutionary­
socialist propaganda. Military heads were extremely concerned about the infiltration of
socialist ideas among soldiers, not surprisingly because, more often than not, socialist
thought opposed militarism. When socialist groups, much like denominational and charity
organisations,loo began organising clubrooms to provide places for troops to go in their free
time, High Command took immediate notice and action, banning soldiers from affiliating
with the more extreme organisations. There was a huge difference between the activities of
SDAP affiliations and those of organisations such as the SDP. Although at times, the SDAP
welcomed speakers on topics such as pacifism and anti-militarism, it did not seek an end to
the mobilisation and did not incite its members to military disobedience. The SDAP
leadership was quick to lobby the military and government on this point. 101 Consequently,
the military authorities, although they remained cautious and prevented them from
spreading propaganda literature,102 were more lenient with SDAP soldiers and their clubs
than they were with the SDP and !AMV.103 In 1917, the Minister in Charge of the Navy, J.
1. Rambonnet, even allowed sailors to join a SDAP organisation that he had bmmed before
the war. 104 There was, in fact, little love lost between the two socialist camps and the SDAP
discouraged its members from associating with the SDP. 105
100 For which, see: Kleijngeld, Gemobi!iseerde militairen in Ti!bllrgpp. 167 - 175.
101 Commander Division II to Commander-in-Chief, 24 March 1915, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Staf'
entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 2; K. ter Laan, "Nota overgelegd overeenkomstig art. 26 van het Reglement van Orde
der Tweede Kamer" [Note discussed in accordance with art. 26 of the Regulation of Order in the Second Chamber]
December 1914, in Hande!ingen derStaten-Generaa!. Bij!agen. 1914 - 1915 no. 261. 4, p. 9.
102 Commander Division III to Head Committee of Sociaa!-Democratisch Mobilisatiec1l1b in Division III, 11 October
1916, in ARA, "Archiefvan het Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry no. 2.13.16, inventory no. 292.
103 Commander-in-Chiefto Commander in Zeeland, 22 September 1915, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star'
entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 2; Commander-in-Chiefto Commander of the Internment Camp in Hardewijk, 24
Apri11917, ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Staf' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 677; Troelstra,
Gedenkschriften. Vierde Dee!. Stonn pp. 171 - 172; Bosboom, In Moeilijke Omstandigheden pp. 235 - 236.
104 Troelstra, Gedenkschriften. Vierde Deel. Storm p. 66.
105 Commander Division II to Commander-in-Chief, 24 March 1915, pp. 7 - 8; First Lieutenant J. Varnier to Garrison
Commander in Leiden, 7 April 1915, both in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Staf' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory
no. 2.