Living with the enemy – German immigrants in Nottingham during the First World War. (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Braber, Ben
• Is Part Of: Midland history. Volume 42:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 72
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: United Kingdom -- Nottingham -- First World War -- German -- immigrants -- lace industry; Midlands -- History -- Periodicals; 942.405
• DOI: 10.1080/0047729X.2017.1298935
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-729X

Abstract

Abstract: This article uses primary sources to examine German immigrants and their descendants in Nottingham during the First World War. This review is placed in a British context with the aid of secondary sources. It finds that a major provincial city with a relatively very small German population replicated what happened across Britain, but with fear for repercussions contributing to an almost total lack of local support and a failure of the migrants to speak out. It also establishes that the business boycott and exclusion that occurred all over Britain came much later in Nottingham, while anti-German violence was less severe and sustained than elsewhere. In Nottingham well-connected migrants in the lace industry continued to prosper. However, many working and lower middle class migrants were interned and deported or left the city, which resulted in a remarkable decline of the German population of Nottingham.