1914 | First World War

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“Appeal to the Germans in Ontario” (12 August 1914)

By Caterina Katzer • On August 12, 1914 • In 1914, German Newspapers, Timeline

One week after Canada’s declaration of war, the Berliner Journal published this appeal, giving advice to German residents about how to behave in wartime to minimize tension between themselves and Anglo-Canadians. The writers suggested keeping calm and avoiding confrontations or arguments with people of other national identities. The article urged German-Canadians to hide their opinions about the European conflict, and to remain grateful to be integrated citizens in Canada, able to work and enjoy freedom.

(“Aufruf an die Deutschen in Ontario”, Berliner Journal, 12 August 1914)

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German spies (12 August 1914)

By Caterina Katzer • On August 12, 1914 • In 1914, German Newspapers, Timeline

Almost immediately following the outbreak of war, rumours began to surface about two supposed German spies operating in Canada. Already, but August 12, 1914, several German reservists living in Canada were arrested and interrogated about their plans during the war. If they wouldn’t tell the authorities anything, they would be imprisoned.

This was just the beginning of a trend in Canada in which men were accused of being supposed German spies, and the numbers of wrongly arrested Germans grew throughout the war. Later on, the Berliner Journal reported on separate attacks on a railroad bridge between Maine and New Brunswick and a dynamite explosion in Walkerville in 1915. Germans were immediately suspected in both cases.

When the war began, immigration from Germany ceased abruptly and before the war’s end some 8,500 German-Canadians and Austro-Hungarians would be interned at prison camps and work camps in Canada. (McLaughlin, K.M. The Germans in Canada. Ottawa: Keystone Printing & Lithographing Ltd., 1985. Print. P. 12)

An article from December, 2^nd 1914 in German and English told the readers how to behave with supposed spies and gave rules about what to do, when someone seemed to be a spy.

(“Deutsche Spione in Petawawa verhaftet”, Berliner Journal, 12 August 1914; McLaughlin, K.M. The Germans in Canada. Ottawa: Keystone Printing & Lithographing Ltd., 1985. Print. P. 12; „Die Canada Gazette“, Berliner Journal, 2 December 1914; „Am vorigen Dienstag…“, Berliner Journal, 10 February 1915; „Dynamit-Explosion in Walkerville“, Berliner Journal, 23 June 1915)

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No more trade with Germany and Austria-Hungary (12 August 1914)

By Caterina Katzer • On August 12, 1914 • In 1914, Economics, German Newspapers, Timeline

Beginning on August 8 1914, an embargo was placed on Canada’s new enemies, so that no Canadian was allowed to trade goods or conduct business with Germany or Austria-Hungary. These activities were forbidden with the threat of imprisonment for those who broke the law.

The telegraph cables between the USA and Germany were cut so that there was no more connection between the two countries.

Articles in the Journal also revealed that at the beginning of the war there had been warnings of rising prices for groceries and that the war would not help the Canadian economy, but harm it. On August 19 1914, it was said that the prices for bread had significantly increased.

On August 26 1914 the Berliner Journal announced that they were no longer able to send issues of their newspaper to subscribers in Germany or Austria-Hungary, because the mail traffic had been severed.

(“Kein Geschäft mit Deutschland und Österreich“, Berliner Journal, 12 August 1914; „Als eine Folge des Krieges…“, Berliner Journal, 19 August 1914; „Nach Deutschland und Österreich…“, Berliner Journal, 26 August 1914)

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Recruiting Ends (13 August 1914)

By acoadmin • On August 13, 1914 • In Home Front, Summer 1914, Summer 1914'

On 13 August, Ottawa announced that on the evening of 12 August Canada reached their desired enlistment total. The heaviest levels of enlistment occurred in the west and in central and western Ontario. Too many men had been recruited and it would be the job of Colonel Samuel Hughes to decide how many men from each of the 200 districts would be mobilized. The officers for each regiment would be announced in the next few days, but there was still debate over who would be appointed as the commanding officer of the contingent.

Hughes was very satisfied with the levels of enlistment, even more so because it was all done voluntarily. There had been no effort by the Canadian government or the Militia Department, in Hughes’ eyes, to stir the country towards enlistment. Everyone who would proceed to Valcartier had enlisted by his own accord. In addition to these brave men, one hundred Canadian women would be going to the front to serve as Red Cross Nurses.

(“Recruiting Ends,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 13 August 1914, “Need is Exceeded,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 14 August 1914, “One Hundred Nurses to go From Canada,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 15 August 1914)

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Boy Scouts to Help in Preparations (13 August 1914)

By acoadmin • On August 13, 1914 • In German-Canadian Identity, Home Front, Summer 1914, Summer 1914 -

The Boy Scouts of Canada had been offering their services to the civil and military authorities since the beginning of August, increasingly so after war was declared on 4 August. Although the Dominion Council of the Canadian Boy Scots was unable to advise what exact way the organization should take part in the current crisis, Boy Scouts were reminded by the Canadian Government to help in anyway that they could.

The Boy Scouts of Canada were encouraged to follow the example of their brother scouts in the British Isles. The British Boy Scouts were assisting in the maintenance of the police, the coast guard and the post office services by guarding telegraph lines and serving as messengers for the Red Cross Society. Canada’s Dominion Council encouraged the Canadian Scouts to aid in war preparations in any way that they could.

(“Encourages Boy Scouts,” Berlin Daily-Telegraph, 14 August 1914, “Encourages Boy Scouts,” Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 20 August 1914; Photo courtesy of the Canadian War Museum: http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/propaganda/images/photos/pa42857.jpg)

Boy scouts in front of the patriotic Fund’s Ottawa Headquarters in Ottawa in 1914.

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Waterloo Region’s Local Support for the War (31 August 1914)

By acoadmin • On August 13, 1914 • In German-Canadian Identity, Summer 1914, Summer 1914 -

The region continued to contribute to the hospital ship fund for the Imperial Navy and the Red Cross Society throughout August. Waterloo Region residents also donated goods that were needed, such as pillows, shirts, socks, mending kits, and fabrics to soldiers who were about to go to the front. The region was also willing to do without certain things in the name of the war effort. The Waterloo Public Library halted their renovation plans, feeling that such expenditure would be unreasonable during the crisis. By the end of August it was clear that Waterloo region strove to support the war effort through a variety of methods.

(“To Raise Funds for Canadian Hospital Ship,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 11 August 1914; “Red Cross Society,” Hespeler Herald, 20 August 1914; “Supplies for Soldiers,” Elmira Signet, 27 August 1914; “New Wing to Library Will Not be Built,” Waterloo Chronicle-Telegraph, 20 August 1914; “Red Cross Society,” Hespeler Herald, 20 August 1914.)

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Soaring Food Prices (13 August 1914)

By acoadmin • On August 13, 1914 • In Economics, Home Front, Summer 1914, Summer 1914.

When Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August, the Canadian Grocer predicted a general rise in the price of foodstuffs. Foods that were imported from within the war zone, such as sugar, beans, nuts, cream of tartar, Bosnian prunes and French peas, would increase in price and decrease in availability. Additionally, domestic products such as wheat and flour had already seen an increase in price by the first week of August. After discussing the various increases in prices, and the reasons behind those increases, the Canadian Grocer reminded readers that Canadians were fortunate when compared to those in Europe. Canada would have enough sustenance throughout the war, even if rationing had to be implemented later on. It was evident that there was no need for the Canadian public to worry about foodstuff at this point in the war.

(“Soaring Food Prices,” Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 13 August 1914; “Prices for Foodstuffs Increasing,” Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 13 August 1914; “How Prices Have Soared in Ontario,” Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 13 August 1914; “War A Check On Commerce,” Elmira Signet, 20 August 1914; “No Shortage of Food,” Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 27 August 1914)

Excerpt from “Soaring Food Prices” (Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 13 August 1914)

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Berlin’s Soldier Boys (14 August 1914)

By acoadmin • On August 14, 1914 • In German-Canadian Identity, Summer 1914, Summer 1914 -

On 14 August, a poem was published in the Berlin Daily Telegraph that honoured the young men who enlisted in Berlin, Ontario. The first stanza states that Berlin’s sons who had enlisted were the pride of their community. They were loyal and true Canadians, ready to defend England’s honour. The poem concluded with encouragement to give the Berlin men a good send-off as they go off to carry out “Deeds of valour and might.” This poem emphasized that Berlin men, regardless of their ancestry, felt and were seen to be proud members of the British Empire. This message was emphasized by the fact that the poem was written by “A Britisher.” It is here, once again, that a member of the Waterloo Region emphasized the Canadian and imperialistic sentiment and identity of the region.

(“Berlin’s Soldier Boys,” Berlin Daily-Telegraph, 14 August 1914.)

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Germans in Canada (14 August 1914)

By acoadmin • On August 14, 1914 • In Politics, Summer 1914, Summer 1914,

On 14 August, the Hamilton Speculator published an article that defended the honour of Sir Adam Beck, which was reprinted in the Berlin Daily Telegraph. The article explained that although Beck was of German parentage he was thoroughly Canadian and a “thorough Briton.” The article stated that Beck was an example of the German population in the heart of Western Ontario, who all love the “land of their adoption” more than the land where their forefathers came from.

Not unexpectantly, the issue of how to regard German-Canadians was a question that was posed by regular citizens and even prominent politicians and businessmen. Beck was the Minister without Portfolio in Parliament from 1905 to 1914 and was a member of the Remount Committee of the Military Council of Canada, with the rank of Colonel. King George V knighted Beck in 1914 for his promotion of hydro-electricity in Ontario and Canada. Beck later built and expanded the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, making him an important figure in Ontario and Canadian history. Despite his service to Ontario and Canada, there were still some who questioned his loyalty when war was declared against Germany. Clearly all German-Canadians would experience some type of scrutiny during the war.

(“Germans in Canada,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 14 August 1914, “Sir Adam Beck Ready,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 14 August 1914; http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-adam-beck/)

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Berlin’s Volunteers Depart for the Front (17 August 1914)

By acoadmin • On August 17, 1914 • In Home Front, Summer 1914, Summer 1914'

On Monday 17 August, Berlin’s fourteen Volunteers, and the other 8 volunteers from the surrounding area, boarded a train headed first to Galt and then Ingersoll. The Berlin contingent was joining the rest of the 24^th Infantry Regiment, with whom they would proceed to Valcartier on Wednesday 19 August. At Valcartier the men would be drilled for two weeks, after which 22,000 men would be selected and sent to the front in early September.

The Berlin men marched through Berlin, where between 600 and 800 locals bid them farewell. Many had tears in their eyes as they said goodbye to the men leaving for the front, knowing that this may be the last time that they see these men. “Rule Britannia” was sung as the men boarded the train car. These people gathered again on Tuesday to send off four young British reservists who had been residing in the Waterloo Region, when they too left for the front. Huge patriotic displays like this were typical across Canada; residents cheered for local men who went off to fight for the British Empire.

(“Berlin’s Volunteers Depart for the Front,” Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 20 August 1914, “Reservists for the Front” Waterloo Chronicle-Telegraph, 20 August 1914; “Berlin Boys Appreciated Send-off,” Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 27 August 1914; Photo Origin: London Free Press, 20 August 1914.)

This picture shows the type of mass crowds that gathered to see the volunteers depart for Valcartier in August 1914.