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Rape in England in World War 2
[edit]A minimum of 121 cases of rape by US troops were recorded during American stationing in England in World War II between 1942 and 1945. 27 of these cases went to trial. Historians have argued that convictions involved a disproportion of black soldiers due to racial tensions in the time period.
Background
[edit]In January 1942, American troops began to go to England, where nearly 1.5 million would pass through or be stationed during World War 2[1] . Their arrival was largely met with enthusiasm for aiding the cause and curiousity among Englishman who had only seen Americans as portrayed in Hollywood[2]. Because the Americans had salaries five times that of the British, they were thought to be generous, a feature that likely made them appealing to the nearly 70,000 British women who would marry American GIs.[2]
However, crime was on the rise in England during this time, which has been attributed to both the opportunities made by blackouts and air raids as well as the desperation caused by rationing and atmosphere within “people were mindful…. that tomorrow they could be blown to bits”[3].
While sex crimes by American troops in England were lower than in France or Germany, the US army tried 38 soldiers in 27 cases of ordinary rape.[3]
Racial Tensions
[edit]Historically, Englishman had little contact with black people outside of the colonial sphere[4]. While officials hoped to limit the number of black soldiers coming into the US, the British public had a comparably favorable view of Black soldiers. Though the military remained segregated, and white GIs attempted to have black GIs banned from pubs, clubs, and other public spaces, England was a “relative racial paradise for African Americans” where they were treated with greater respect and equality than in their home country. In fact, the English had a favorable enough view of Black soldiers that George Orwell wrote that “The general consensus of opinion seems to be that the only American soldiers with decent manners are the Negroes”[5].
Nevertheless, moral and sexual standards between blacks and whites were imported to England, with one vicar’s wife writing that black troops may not have relations with white women, nor should they be allowed into white women’s homes[3].
Of the 38 troops tried for sexual assault during this time, 25 were black, and were more likely to receive the death penalty than their white counterparts[3]. Historian J. Robert Lilly argues that while crimes committed by these soldiers were horrifying, “We don't know whether whites got away with the same acts, particularly the rapes". Soldiers who were tried for rape were largely service troops “whose responsibilities were to supply goods- food water, gasoline, ammunition, spare parts, and other vital supplies-and services to the front line.” These roles fell almost entirely to black American draftees, who were under the command of white officers[3].
Demographics
[edit]121 cases of rape were recorded by the History Branch Office of the Judge Advocate General in the United States Forces European Theater. However, only 27 of these cases went to trial.[3]
Of the 27 cases, none were defined as date rapes, 3 were defined as acquaintance rapes, and the rest were stranger rapes. 17 of the cases involved 2 or more assailants. 12 cases involved violence beyond the sexual assault, included 4 that resulted in murder. Alcohol was involved in half of the incidents, and 21 of the incidents occurred between 8 PM and 3:30 AM. 16 of the victims were single.[3]
Noteworthy Cases
[edit]Beatrice Annie K. was a 23-year-old white woman assaulted after a public dance in Whitchurch that included both white civilians and white and black soliders. Miss K. danced several times with a black soldier. On her walk home, she was assaulted by a different black soldier, Private Isiah Porter. He was initially sentenced to life imprisonment, which was then reduced to 10 years by the US Army Board of Review. Historian J. Robert Lilly argues that because of American taboos against white women associating with black men, “Her admittance to having danced and socialized with black soldiers may have saved Porter’s life.[3]
34-year old Ellen R. was sexually assaulted in October 1942 by Private Wesley Edmonds, a US soldier, on her way home from a grocery store. Edmonds received a life sentence for the crime. While there is little data surrounding the number of unwanted pregnancies from rape during this time, Ellen R. is documented as having given birth as a result of this incident. She wrote to the Brance Office of the Judge of Advocate General requesting compensation for the 16 years of care this birth would require, as well as the trauma and medical costs as a result of the rape. Requests for compensation were uncommon at the time, and neither Miss R. nor any other victims were ever formally compensated.[3]
See Also
[edit]Rape during the occupation of Germany
Rape during the occupation of Japan
Rape during the liberation of France
Rape during the liberation of Poland
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- ^ "American Soldiers Arrive in Great Britain, January 26, 1942 - The National WWII Museum Blog". The National WWII Museum Blog. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
- ^ a b "How the GI influx shaped Britain's view of Americans - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Lilly, J. Robert (2003). Taken By Force. New York: Palgrave MacMillan.
- ^ Hachey, Thomas E. (1974-01-01). "Jim Crow with a British Accent: Attitudes of London Government Officials Toward American Negro Soldiers in England During World War II". The Journal of Negro History. 59 (1): 65–77. doi:10.2307/2717141.
- ^ "Revealed: How Britons welcomed black soldiers during WWII, and fought alongside them against racist GIs". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-04-01.