A Disunited Front for Peace: The Experiences of Canadian Mennonites in the Second World War

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dc.contributor.advisorBercuson, David Jay
dc.contributor.authorVoegtlin, Scott
dc.contributor.committeememberPalacios, Joy Kathleen
dc.contributor.committeememberMarshall, David Brian
dc.date2023-11
dc.date.accessioned2023-06-22T21:05:18Z
dc.date.available2023-06-22T21:05:18Z
dc.date.issued2023-06
dc.description.abstractFrom 1939-1945, the traditionally pacifist Mennonites who called Canada their home were faced with difficult decisions when it came to their participation in the war effort. Their leadership was ill-prepared for the outbreak of hostilities and hurriedly began meeting in May 1939 to resolve the question of acceptable service. The inability to agree on what alternative to violence they were willing to offer their government created instability within the community. Through the efforts of some bishops, pastors and other representatives, a proposal for civilian-run alternative service work camps was accepted. Many embraced this tradition of non-resistance, appearing before judges to defend their people's centuries-old tradition of pacifism, by offering alternative service work. Others felt their call to participate in the military, through combative or non-violent means, such as the Restricted Medical Corps. While the latter may seem like the abandonment of their peace principles, both forms of service came with their own challenges and sacrifices for the community. This created challenges post-war, where some Mennonites were hailed as heroes for defending their faith position, whereas others who fought were ostracised for discrediting it. Regardless of the debate, their services throughout the conflict, both domestically and abroad, led the group, who already began to integrate into Canadian society, to dramatically accelerate their own assimilation.
dc.identifier.citationVoegtlin, S. (2023). A disunited front for peace: the experiences of Canadian Mennonites in the Second World War (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/116643
dc.identifier.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/41486
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgary
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectMennonite
dc.subjectAlternative Service
dc.subjectConference
dc.subject.classificationEducation--History of
dc.subject.classificationHistory--Church
dc.subject.classificationHistory--Military
dc.subject.classificationHistory--Modern
dc.subject.classificationCanadian Studies
dc.titleA Disunited Front for Peace: The Experiences of Canadian Mennonites in the Second World War
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineHistory
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts (MA)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudentI do not require a thesis withhold – my thesis will have open access and can be viewed and downloaded publicly as soon as possible.
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