Anti German Riots WW1 Liverpool

[Spike]

I have added a page about the riots to the Wartime Website

http://liverpoolremembrance.weebly.com/anti-german-riots.html

I am still tinkering with it and would welcome any information that anyone has.

I was shocked to find how little is recorded about such an event.

Thanks to all the people who helped and made this possible.

[Lizzie1]

Brilliant Splke :handclap:

[Prefrab]

There has always been strong links between Liverpool and Germany because of the port. My late Grandfather told me that when he was in the trenches in WWI with the 9th Kings a few of his mates who he had grown up with and joined up with had German names, Schmitt, Weiss, and the like their fathers being merchant seaman from the likes of Hamburg, they then had their names changed by their CO to Smith, White and so on "To maintain order and avoid mistakes!!!!!"
He also told a tale of chatter between the opposing trenches which apparently went on a lot and one of the lads finding his cousin from Germany in the other trench!!
I always thought these were fanciful tales, however I have discovered they were true for a lot of servicemen during both wars.

[lindylou]

Brilliant Spike. Very well done :handclap:

My grandmother told me about the anti-German attacks on business and shops.
One local shop (she knew the family) had their windows smashed, their Cornish name sounded German, and they had to put up a sign stating, 'We are not German, we are Cornish'

[Prefrab]

I remember my mum saying that the same thing happened to the locals of Italian descent in WW II. Italian Ice cream parlours were turned over in LIverpool when Italy declared war on Britain in1940....but she said it was more to get at the Ice Cream and sugar they had ratherthan any patriotic ferver :rolleyes:

[Ged]

Brilliantly researched Spike. It seems like Pat O'Mara in his book is describing the riots that were printed about a couple of days later in the attached 'Mercury'.

[ItsaZappathing]

Well done Spike. Brilliant and well put together.:handclap:

[Spike]

Thanks All. We should remember this event.

Prefab would you like your family story added to the website?

[Prefrab]

Thanks All. We should remember this event.

Prefab would you like your family story added to the website?

Feel free Spike

[Spike]

Feel free Spike

Cheers for this. I will pm you soon.:PDT11

[ChrisGeorge]

I remember my mum saying that the same thing happened to the locals of Italian descent in WW II. Italian Ice cream parlours were turned over in LIverpool when Italy declared war on Britain in1940....but she said it was more to get at the Ice Cream and sugar they had ratherthan any patriotic ferver :rolleyes:

As per this drawing of a London Italian ice cream vendor in 1894, it was not always those who would cause mischief in such establishments who got the upper hand! As posted by How Brown at JtR Forums (http://www.jtrforums.com).

http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/Autumn%202011/icecream.jpg