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

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The different meanings make it quite difficult to decipher available statistics of
dienstweigering during the Great War. In official sources, all soldiers who refused to serve
were classed together. Discovering how many acted for anti-militarist or pacifist ideals has
proven very difficult. What is significant, however, is that after the publication of the first
conscientious objection manifesto in September 1915, the reported cases of dienstweigering
increased considerably: in the first five months of war, the number of cases before the
Army's three military courts stood at 47; in the whole year 1915,213 cases were heard
there; followed by 191 cases in the first six months of 1916. 128 It was one of the most
common offences handled by the courts, after deseliion, theft and insubordination. In fact,
twelve per cent of cases before one of the three military courts during 1916 dealt with
dienstweigering, while 28 per cent related to desertion. It must be remembered, that the
desertion figures were somewhat skewed as a result of the Easter leave crisis, when many
soldiers left their barracks inspired by their colleagues' example. Nevertheless, of the 488
desertion cases, more than 60 per cent involved re-offenders. 129
No doubt there was a close connection between conscientious objection and
desertion. The Easter situation itself indicates the prominence of deseliion as a way for
soldiers to vent their frustration, perhaps in a far more decisive way than rioting or
violence. 130 One infantry regiment in The Hague must have thought this as well, when two
weeks before the Easter leave fiasco, soldiers in two sections refused to follow orders all
day, many tried to desert, while others declared themselves sick. 131 It was a spontaneous
protest against the burden of military service and lack of leave and OCCUlTed only among
conscripts in one building. Eventually, around 50 soldiers were arrested and brought before
a court martial on grounds of dienstweigering.
According to the IAMV, in total 460 soldiers were inspired to dienstweigering by
ideological motives during the war. Of these, 238 received monetary aid and moral support
128 "Overzicht van het aantal behandelde zaken (strafzaken en klachtzaken) door de drie krijgsraden bij de landmacht
gedurende het tijdvak 1 August 1914 tot 1 Augusus 1916" [Overview of the number of cases dealt with (criminal and
complaints) by the three military courts of the Army during the period 1 August 1914 to 1 August 1916] in Militair­
Rechtelijk Tijdschrifl. 12,1916, foldout chart, no page number.
129 "Statistische gegevens betreffende den arbeid van den Krijgsraad in het 3e Militaire Arrondissement gedurende
het jaar 1916" [Statistical facts regarding the work of the Military Court in the 3 rd Military District during the year
1916] in Militair-Rechtelijk Tijdschrifl. 12, 1916, pp. 430 - 433.
130 Occassionally, deserters escaped the country (see, for example: Commander 5 RI III Battalion to Commander-in­
Chief, 15 December 1915, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 170).
131 Commander 4th IB to Commander Division I (subsequently sent on to Commander of the Field Army), 11 April
1916, in ARA, "Archief van het Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry no. 2.13.16, inventory no. 297.