When the War broke out Premier Peake said, “there would be nothing of racial animosity in this state", and except for the odd broken window in Lutheran churches the situation remained calm. However, three things combined to change this. The first was the passing of the War Pre-cautions Act. Under this Act anyone could be arrested and imprisoned without trial. As a result of this many old scores could easily be settled. A perfectly innocent remark could be taken out of context, reported to the camp. Often Germans who had drunk a little too much would let slip a remark such as "Well, the Kaiser (German Emperor) is not as bad as they make him out to be in the papers", to find himself arrested next day. As the Kaiser was constantly portrayed as eating Belgian babies with blood dripping from his fangs the above remark was said with some justification. The British propaganda in World War I was extremely successful and within a short time managed to convince British people, both in England and throughout the Empire that far from being the sentimental, rather unworldly, music loving, beer drinking, jolly German cousins of the beloved Queen Victoria, they were loathsome heartless brutes, known as Huns, for like the Huns of old they ravaged, raped and pillaged all before them. Naturally this constant barrage of propaganda had its effect on South Australians who began to see Germans in this light. This mounting hysteria of propaganda coincided with the growing casualty list coming back to Australia and the realization by the Australian public that the War was not a romantic bit of adventure over in a few months, but something horrible that brought personal suffering with the separation or death of friends and relatives. The third and final factor was the publication in the local newspaper the Register on 7 September 1914, of what is known as the " ELKIN LETTER.” It was felt that this letter, published in part below, expressed the feelings of all Germans and was the final proof that they could not be trusted.
Sir,
...Speaking from personal experience I can only say that the treatment, which I received at the hands of fellow - citizens, since the outbreak of War, has been kindness itself. People visited me at my house whom I had never had before the pleasure of welcoming under my roof. Nodding acquaintances have come up to me in the street and shaken hands with me. People with whom I have not been on speaking terms for years were magnanimous enough to sink old differences and came and spoke to me again I felt it deeply Sir Richard Butler, (the Premier,) in true knightly fashion, stood up for the German-Australians on public platforms, and pointed fearlessly the right way to act towards us during the crisis ....Nobody can ever say that the German-Australians have not made excellent settlers. By their industry, thoroughness, and economy they have always set a good example to everyone. Now this awful crisis has come to test the relationship. The Australians have stood the test well. I am sure the German-Australians appreciate it very much, and will more than adhere to the solemn obligations of their oath of allegiance. They would be the first to condemn any action, which would point to an act of treachery. If there were a call to arms against any enemy but Germany you would find every one respond heartily in the defence of Australia. I would offer my services as one of the first; but before I would take up arms against the country of my birth I would rather put a bullet through my head, and would many more. I would offer my services in an ambulance corps but otherwise would have to remain neutral in the strictest sense of the word...
Clearly all Germans in the state did not feel like Elkin for German towns over-filled their War Bonds quotas time and again and many young men of German descent died for Australia as War memorials in country towns throughout South Australia testify. The War brought out differences between the two major political parties in Australia. There had always been a close relationship between the Liberal Union and the German community. Many people of German descent had held important positions in Government when the Liberal Union was in power. The Labour Party, initially against the War, no doubt felt after War was declared that they had to redeem themselves. To members of the Labour Party in particular, Verran who was Premier from 1910 to 1913, and Ponder, made a great deal of political capital out of the anti - German feeling created by the outbreak of War.
Two attempts were made to take voting rights away from naturalized persons in South Australia, but these were unsuccessful. Labour also found political reasons for supporting the anti - German band - wagon. If Germans, as often was suggested, were thrown out of all government jobs, many positions would become vacant, always a vote catcher in time of high unemployment as was then the case. Some politicians used the War to attempt to further their own careers and popularity by indulging in vendettas and personal smear campaigns with little or no thought for the well being of Australia.
Hysteria
Some quotes from the Hon. J. Verran in the South Australia House of Assembly are reproduced below.
24 November, 1915
These people (Germans) were naturalized, and live here, and we have given them all the rights. We have given them too many rights. I find no fewer than 70 Germans in the Education Department.
24 November, 1915
They have German names and a German is a German. I have no bowels of compassion on this matter. Is it right to ask a man to stand to one side and put a German in the railways and government offices and let the Britisher walk the street .... prepared in the interest of our country to let the Britisher work and make the naturalized German stand on one side.
I am not moved by hatred but by an honest sense of justice. The Kaiser... He is a Judas with all the snake bent upon him and all the lobster look of him.
When you have many of the richest places in South Australia given German names it shows what a foolish lot of people lived in this country before us.
1 December, 1915
The nephew of Mr. Schomburgk is...
A lieutenant (in the Australian army). Interjection: Was not he born in South Australia?
Verran: That makes no difference, he is a German.
30 August, 1916
You would not see them (Germans) voting for the Labour Party...
they (Germans) should not have a vote. These men will vote against the Labour Party every time.
Ponder added his thought on 2 August 1916.
I want to wipe out all Germans.
While another member, James, concluded:
I have no time for Germans in any shape or form. The name of German stinks in my nostrils.
These attacks were directed equally at Australians of German descent and Germans in Germany. Australian-born of German descent felt completely betrayed; to be born in Australia was no protection.