Conscription in Germany had already been an accepted process of which had been placed decades before the outbreak of the First World War. In the earliest days of the war, Germany had not sought the need to enforce conscription among civilians to fill its armed forces, as there was major enthusiasm after the initial announcement of a war.
Many youthful men had found reason for their enrolment in the army seeking adventure and patriotic duty, having a full-time and stable employment, as well as a life of excitement and the desire to impress the women back home as well as please their communities and friends. Similar to many other young soldiers, German men had thought that the war would be won by Christmas of 1914 and did not want to be the ones missing out on the happenings on the frontline.
In November of 1916, the Auxiliary Service Law was implemented which meant that the government was not able to inhibit even more control over the German citizens. Any and all men between the ages of 18 and 60, were now required to undertake essential war employment if they had not already. The pressure of the war later convinced Germany to conscript foreign workers in the German industry, and in 1916, 75,000 Polish and 12,000 Belgian men were recruited.
Many youthful men had found reason for their enrolment in the army seeking adventure and patriotic duty, having a full-time and stable employment, as well as a life of excitement and the desire to impress the women back home as well as please their communities and friends. Similar to many other young soldiers, German men had thought that the war would be won by Christmas of 1914 and did not want to be the ones missing out on the happenings on the frontline.
In November of 1916, the Auxiliary Service Law was implemented which meant that the government was not able to inhibit even more control over the German citizens. Any and all men between the ages of 18 and 60, were now required to undertake essential war employment if they had not already. The pressure of the war later convinced Germany to conscript foreign workers in the German industry, and in 1916, 75,000 Polish and 12,000 Belgian men were recruited.