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Recruiting for the Third Contingent (11 January 1915)

By • On • In 1915, Home Front

The British War Office issued orders that the counties of Oxford, Wellington, Perth, Waterloo, Huron and Bruce contribute recruits to the 34th Battalion.
Galt, within one week, enlisted 135 out of the necessary 200 to fulfill its allotment. Although Waterloo South (which included Galt) was a little smaller than Waterloo North (which included Berlin), they had far greater enlistment numbers for the 34th Battalion in January 1915.
Of the men who enlisted in January and went overseas with the 34th Battalion, three times as many enlisted in Galt than in Berlin. A large reason for this difference was the ethnic makeup of both cities. Berlin was the German capital of Canada, so much of the population was of German descent (either born in Germany or with German ancestry), but of those who enlisted in both Galt and Berlin, over 85% were immigrants from the British Isles. Only 10% identified as being from Canada.

(“Recruiting in Berlin Started on Monday,” Waterloo Chronicle, 14 January 1915.; “Galt Enrolls 135 for 3rd Contingent,” Waterloo Chronicle, 21 January 1915. https://archive.org/details/CEF_34thBattalion_1915; http://www.ogs.on.ca/ogspi/1/1.htm.
Visual: “Recruits Wanted,” Ayr News, 7 January 1915.)Ayr-1915-01-07-RecruitsWanted

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Predictions of the War’s Near End (March-April 1915)

By • On • In 1915, War

Local newspapers published almost weekly predictions that the war would soon be over. Military officers reported important victories, and there were rumours that the Central Powers were running low on resources. Often, this optimism was reported as the banner headline of the Berlin Daily Telegraph.
Predictions of imminent success came from many sources including the British government, Edgar Crammond (a financial writer), Professor F.V. Riethdorf (a local defender of German Canadian loyalty), British Commander John French, French Marshal Joseph Joffre, and Stanley Dancey (a news correspondent from Guelph). The date predicted for the war’s end ranged from July to the end of September, and almost all were confident of a great victory for the Allies.
On March 9, the Telegraph also published one letter from a British lord to the Press Bureau in which he criticized them for “foolish optimism” and predicted, at best, many more months of cruel war.

(“Premier Asquith Confident of Victory,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 1 March 1915.; “Press Bureau Criticized,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 9 March 1915.; “War to End in July,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 17 March 1915.; “Prophecies on the Present Great War,” Elmira Signet, 18 March 1915.; “War Over in Few Months,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 22 March 1915.; “Sir John French Declares There Is No Doubt as to Outcome of the War,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 25 March1915.; “Gen. Joffre Predicts War Will Soon Be Over,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 3 April 1915.; “Predicts War Will Be Over by the End of September,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 30 April 1915.
Visual: “Germans Will Evacuate Antwerp on May 1st,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 23 March 1915.)

Germans Will Evacuate Antwerp on May 1stPredicts War Will Be Over by the End of SeptemberProphecies on the Present Great War

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German Canadians in Toronto and Waterloo (1 March 1915)

By • On • In 1915, German-Canadian Identity

Reports indicated that by comparison to other parts of Canada, particularly Toronto, German Canadians in Waterloo County were treated well. A German man who had lived in Canada for two thirds of his life was driven out of business in Toronto by a boycott due to his heritage. He contrasted Toronto with Berlin “where the great bulk of people are of German descent, and loyal to Britain and British institutions” and where “race distinctions are practically non-existent.”
Some with anti-German sentiments In Toronto even targeted the infiltration of the German language into English. Trustee Dr. John Noble of the Toronto School Board wished to remove the word “kindergarten” from the Toronto school system.
Although claims that anti-German feeling was “practically non-existent” were exaggerated, Waterloo County was seen as a kind of comparative haven for Germans because of their high representation in the population.

(“Persecution of German Canadians,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 1 March 1915.; “To Wipe out ‘Kindergarten’,” Waterloo Chronicle, 18 March 1915.)image-7 (1)

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The Battle of Neuve Chapelle (10 March 1915)

By • On • In 1915, Timeline, War

During the second week of March, the Canadian Press Service reported that British forces near Arras in northern France made “the most considerable advance in France reported in many months.” The British took great pride in the victory. It was believed to be strategically significant in shaking the strength of the German position and setting the Allies up for a large spring offensive. According to reports, the Germans lost 10 000 men and two miles of ground along a line two miles wide. Also, the Germans, with heavy reinforcements, tried to retake the loss, but were successfully repelled by the British.
This was one of several encouraging military advancements for the Entente during the late winter and early spring of 1915. These advancements contributed to the collective belief that the Central Powers were on their last legs and that the war would be over within a few months.

(“British Score Important Victory,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 11 March 1915.; “Allies Making Elaborate Preparations for Active General Advance in Spring,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 12 March 1915.; “Victory Complete,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 15 March 1915.; “British Gain Important,” Elmira Signet, 18 March 1915.)Neuve Chapelle

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Send Offs for the Third Contingent (12-13 March 1915)

By • On • In 1915, Home Front

On March 12 and March 13, Berlin and Waterloo, respectively, held their official send-offs for a combined total of 99 soldiers for the third contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. In both cases, the mayor handed out a $10 gold piece to each recruit. The ceremonies were attended by many of the townsfolk who gave the soldiers their support.
In Berlin, where there were 94 soldiers, the ceremony was held during the intermission of a double feature at the Grand Opera House, and the men were provided a dinner at the local restaurant, Gettas and Gettas. In Waterloo, there were only five volunteers, but a ceremony was still held for them at Waterloo Town Hall. The Waterloo soldiers also received a “package of clothing and comforts” from the ladies of Waterloo. Reflecting the large German population, one speech at the Waterloo ceremony reminded the volunteers that they were fighting Prussian militarism, not the German people.

(“Official Send-Off to Boys of the 3rd Contingent,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 12 March 1915.; “Enthusiastic Send-Off to the Third Contingent Volunteers,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 13 March 1915.; “Volunteers from Waterloo Receive Sendoff To-Night,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 13 March 1915.; “Gifts for the Waterloo Volunteers,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 15 March 1915.; “Volunteers Appreciated Sendoff,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 20 March 1915.
Visual: http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/Waterloo/WatPL29737.jpg)

Waterloo Town Hall

Waterloo Town Hall

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Elimination of German Language in Public Schools (18 March 1915)

By • On • In 1915, German-Canadian Identity

Berlin’s Public School Board voted 5 to 3 to remove the study of German from the public school curriculum beginning the following September. Many spoke in opposition to the movement, including Berlin Mayor J.E. Hett who insisted that bilingualism would be an advantage to the 1400 Berlin students currently learning the language. Prominent business man and president of the German School Association, L.J. Breithaupt stated both in public and in his diary that there was strong support in the community to keep German language classes in the schools. He stated that the fact that over two thirds of pupils studied German in school was proof of its popularity.
Those who defended the removal of German said that the war was not a factor in their decision. They claimed that German was removed in order to accelerate the teaching of more essential or practical subjects, especially since many students left school before completing the highest grade. (The Berliner Journal also reported this story.)

(“Teaching of German Language in Berlin’s Public Schools Will Be Eliminated after Present School Term,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 18 March 1915.; Breithaupt Diary Collection, Rare Books Room at Dana Porter Library, University of Waterloo)image-7 (2)

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Send-Offs for Local Nurses (24 March 1915)

By • On • In 1915, War

By the beginning of March, the Canadian Press Service was reporting that the German advance along the Eastern front had been reversed. With the exception of heavier resistance from the Austrians in the Carpathian Mountains to the south, a large portion of the Eastern Front from the Baltic Sea to the Romanian border was reported to be advancing westward. By the middle of March, the Russians had defeated Austrians in the Carpathians, reportedly taking 4000 prisoners and pushed further into present-day Slovakia and Poland. Within a few days, the fortress at Przemysl was taken by the Russians. This was a large victory since Russia had been trying to capture it since December, it was believed to be essential to German General von Hindenburg’s northern strategy, and it was the media’s focus throughout this push along the Eastern Front. By the end of March, Austrians were reportedly “in full retreat” over the Carpathian Mountains.
These successes occurred alongside optimistic outlooks for the British fleet in the Dardanelles and the Entente along the Western Front. Together, they contributed to the estimates that the Entente would win the war within a few months.

(“German Invasion of Russian Soil Has Completely Failed,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 1 March 1915.; “Line Moving West,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 6 March 1915.”; “German Defeat in Poland,” Ayr News, 18 March 1915.; Przemysl Surrendered Today,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 22 March 1915.; “North Poland Clear of Enemy,” Ayr News, 25 March 1915.; “Austrians Retire,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 29 March 1915.)image-7 (3)

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Professor F.V. Riethdorf and Reverend C.R. Tappert (30 March 1915)

By • On • In 1915, German-Canadian Identity, Timeline

F.V. Riethdorf was a professor of German at Woodstock College. He was born in Germany, and he served in the German army before moving to Canada. During the war he was famous for his position as a native German with strong loyalty to the British Empire and deep opposition to the Kaiser. Articles published from Toronto to Kelowna, B.C. reported on Riethdorf’s defense of the German people and hatred of Prussian militarism which he blamed for the war.
Rev. C.R. Tappert, also a native German, was the new pastor at the new St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Berlin, and had just moved up from the United States. Tappert challenged Riethdorf’s claims, and defended the German system of government.
Responses to their disagreements, even from Toronto, were sympathetic to Riethdorf and suggest that many Canadians did not fault a German for his love of his native country, but were outraged by the pro-German sentiment of men like Tappert.

(“War Over in Few Months,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 22 March 1915.; “Traiters to the New World,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 26 April 1915.; “Remarkable German Denunciation of Present War, Kelowna Record, 3 September 1914.; “Mr. Tappert’s First Love,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 26 March 1915.; “As Others See Us,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 30 March 1915.; “Prof. F.V. Riethdorf, Woodstock, Replies to Rev. C.R. Tappert,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 30 March 1915.
Visual: http://generations.regionofwaterloo.ca/getperson.php?personID=I80451&tree=generations)

Reverend C.R. Tappert

Reverend C.R. Tappert

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The Canadian Patriotic Fund (31 March 1915)

By • On • In 1915, Home Front

In fall 1914, 5700 of the 20 000 citizens of Berlin had pledged to raise $96 000 within two years for The Canadian Patriotic Fund, which provided support to the families of soldiers. As March 1915 closed, Berlin was still well on target to meeting its goal. Articles in the Berlin Daily Telegraph reminded readers of the 6-month installments, and also tracked the funds contributed to that point.
As of February 28, the Berlin chapter of the Canadian Patriotic Fund had collected $22 994.17. By the end of March, they had exceeded $30 000, and so, were further ahead than projected.
The Waterloo branch, by the same point had received over $9000. Waterloo’s population was approximately one quarter the size of Berlin, so its per capita contributions were greater than Berlin’s.
Waterloo County counted on these contributions to demonstrate that even though they had such a large German population and did not have impressive recruitment numbers, they were still loyal to the Empire and willing to do their part for the war effort.

(Philip H. Morris, The Canadian Patriotic Fund; A Record of Its Activities from 1914 to 1919, (Ottawa, 1920): 215-216.; “Second Instalment Due,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 1 March 1915.; “Canadian Patriotic Fund in Berlin,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 30 March 1915.; “Patriotic Fund Monies Being Paid in,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 8 April 1915.; “Over $8500 Is Sent to Headquarters,” Waterloo Chronicle, 1 April 1915.; Norm Threinen, “Canadian Lutherans in the First World War,” Canadian Churches and the First World War, Gordon L Leath, ed. (Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2014): 205.
Visual: Picture courtesy of Archives Ontario
http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/explore/online/posters/pics/16186_patriotic_fund_770.jpg
With permission)The Patriotic Fund Will Care for You

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“Berlin Is Now Called Kitchener?” (20 April 1915)

By • On • In 1915, German-Canadian Identity

Ten months before Berlin would hold a plebiscite asking citizens if the city should change its name, an article was published in the Berlin Daily Telegraph (the Berliner Journal also reported on this) which reported on an article published in Berlin, Germany. The article, written on December 15, 1914, prophetically reported that the city’s name had become offensive, and that Berlin, Ontario was now called Kitchener. In June 1916, “Kitchener” would be a last minute addition to the ballot of choices for Berlin’s new name. It was added to the ballot only after the death of British secretary of war, Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener. His death is also the accepted reason for the name’s popularity among voters, yet it had been predicted in Germany by accident 18 months before.
The German article also erroneously reported that special constables in “Kitchener”, as in all smaller Canadian towns, were arresting anyone with a German accent and that all German-language papers would soon be prohibited in Canada.

(John English and Kenneth McLaughlin, Kitchener: An Illustrated History, (Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1996): 124-125.; “Berlin Is Now Called Kitchener?” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 20 April 1915.)

Portrait of Lord Kitchener at Kitchener City Hall

Portrait of Lord Kitchener at Kitchener City Hall