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Kitchener AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR

Kitchener AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR. The Berlin Name Change, 1916. Berlin on the eve of WWI. city was about 70 % German origin recently earned city status in June, 1912 with over 15,000 population strong manufacturing town that boasted its name and background. “Canada’s German Capital”.

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Kitchener AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR

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  1. Kitchener AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR The Berlin Name Change, 1916

  2. Berlin on the eve of WWI • city was about 70 % German origin • recently earned city status in June, 1912 with over 15,000 population • strong manufacturing town that boasted its name and background “Canada’s German Capital”

  3. Berlin’s dual identity German Pride and loyalties Attachment to the British empire Kaiser Wilhelm I Queen Victoria Berlin saw little conflict in its dual loyalties: Victoria and Wilhelm were cousins.

  4. Queen Victoria statue in Victoria Park today

  5. The Outbreak of War • challenged Berlin’s ability to maintain both loyalties • economic concerns: “Made in Berlin” • strong British nationalism distrusts many of German descent • seen at start of war with the Kaiser’s Bust incident • August 22nd (or 23rd), 1914 • bust pulled off monument and thrown in Victoria Park Lake!

  6. German community retrieves bust from lake; stores it in the Concordia Club • symbolic anti-German gesture, but sign of growing tensions

  7. Vandalized monument the day after the bust was thrown in the lake

  8. 118th Battalion • North Waterloo battalion created in fall, 1915 • recruits mostly British descent • numbers fall short of full strength • frustrations taken out on young men, German community

  9. Parading down King Street in Waterloo Marching in Victoria Park

  10. led by Sergaent-Major Granville Blood: • “Once again, be British. Do your duty or be despised. … Be British or be damned.” • bully tactics used against “slackers” • police do/can do little: constable’s jaw broken • Galt Reporter: “Are these the Methods of the Kaiser’s Berlin or Berlin, Ontario?” • Berlin begins process of changing its name in February, 1916 • plebiscite called for May 19th

  11. Berlin Name-change Plebiscite • yes/no vote • campaign increases tensions in the city, leading to several more incidents: • 118th soldiers break into Concordia Club, possibly steal Kaiser’s bust • steal and destroy German memorabilia; burn it on King Street • mystery as to where bust went “The Concordia Club, supposed to be a singing organization, was in reality a strong German club with a large membership of young men. … It was an organization to foster and maintain a strong German spirit and love for the Fatherland.” - conclusion of military investigation

  12. Major Blood leads attack on Reverend C. R. Tappert of St. Matthews Church, on March 4th, 1916 • break into his home, beaten, dragged through streets by horses • Blood and one soldier charged; given suspended sentence New York Times, March 9th, 1916

  13. 118th marches in downtown Berlin

  14. Two Votes: May 19th • YES: British League, Telegraph • NO: Citizens’ League, News Record • 3,057 votes cast; YES wins by 81 votes • voter intimidation likely reduced No vote • Jacob Kaufman and August Lang attacked by soldiers on victory night

  15. Two Votes: June 9th • second vote to choose a name • citizens asked for suggestions:

  16. group of 99 citizens choose final 6 names: • Hydro City • Dunard • Huronto • Renowa • Agnoleo (name of locally-ground flour) • Bercana • briefly contemplate merger with Waterloo

  17. final list of 6 chosen by city council: • Adanac • Benton • Brock • Corona • Keowana • Kitchener • name of Lord Kitchener added at last minute by council after death on June 5th

  18. The Results • voting began around June 9th • 1055 people voted • 163 spoiled ballots • 346 for Kitchener • Brock second with 335 • News Record’s summary: “The outstanding feature (of the vote) was the absolute indifference displayed by the ratepayers.” • Berlin officially changed to Kitchener on September 1, 1916

  19. Long-term Significance • Berlin/Kitchener begins to de-emphasize its German character • names of people, businesses changed • Schmidt to Smith, Braun to Brown • Doerr Biscuits to Dare • shows the power of the war to divide communities, create animosity

  20. Sources • KPL, Online Photograph Collection • WPL, Online Photograph Collection • English and McLaughlin, Kitchener: An Illustrated History • Hayes, Waterloo County: An Illustrated History • New York Times, Online Archives • Library and Archives Canada

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