Alsfeld goes to war!Outbreak of the First World War

The nationalist sentiment was also highly charged in Alsfeld. War and “heroic death” for the “fatherland” were celebrated with great pathos in commemorative publications and events such as summer war festivals. The victory of 1870/71, in particular, was exploited for historical remembrance and garnished with Teutonic pomp, as shown by a 1906 commemorative pamphlet of the Alsfeld Veterans’ Association: “And when the wild flames of battle, escaped from a wicked hand. There we stood united together: One people, one heart, one fatherland.” Church representatives, teachers, and other pro-imperial city authorities flooded the Alsfeld public with patriotic speeches.

The first soldiers said goodbye to their families in early August 1914; as early as August 2, the first five young men from Alsfeld died in machine-gun fire in the Ardennes. All civilian life was subordinated to military purposes, and rail traffic and trade were restricted. New business opportunities were sought in the trade of military boots and protective clothing, or “gifts of love” (Liebesgaben) such as warm laundry and bandages were sent to the front.

War volunteers like Karl Wallach became staunch opponents of war after their experiences at the front; death notices referring to a “heroic death” offered the bereaved only dubious comfort. Although the exact number of Alsfeld’s war victims cannot be precisely determined, their absence left a significant void in the city’s society. (SR)