This essay is by Henry Morgan.

In the 1940s, Henry’s Jewish ancestors escaped their home country. They did so with the help of Quaker volunteers. Here, Henry recounts some of the historical forces at play for Friends during World War II. His essay explores the complexities that can occur when applying the peace testimony to times of war.

Henry is Georgetown student who served as an intern to FGC in 2024. This essay shows the opinions of the author only. It does not represent view of FGC or Georgetown University.

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In the 1940s, Quakers were presented with a challenge: how could they promote global human rights in the face of Nazism and remain true to the core tenet of nonviolence? How could they reconcile their religious beliefs with the harsh, violent realities that World War II and the Holocaust brought about? Fortunately, the Selective Service Act of 1940 created conscientious exemptions from the combat draft, and Friends qualified for such exemptions because of their religious beliefs. Given this choice, Friends chose nonviolent action. In so doing, they saved countless lives and truly made a difference.

Following the outbreak of WWII, European Friends established the Friends Relief Service (FRS) to provide humanitarian relief across the continent. In bomb-ravaged Britain, the Friends Relief Service and the Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU) established air-raid shelters and ‘rest centres’ for citizens in highly targeted cities such as London, Bristol, and Glasgow. Throughout the war, Friends also established roughly 80 evacuation hostels, primarily for the elderly, mothers and children, and orphans. For example, two Quaker sisters donated a house outside of Birmingham to shelter 30 children between two and five years of age whose homes had been destroyed by bombs.

As the war’s tide turned in favor of the Allied powers, Friends were able to expand their relief efforts into mainland Europe. The Friends leading this effort were classified as officers and required to wear military uniforms. As a compromise, the Friends Relief Service wore uniforms of Quaker Gray instead of the typical khaki color most soldiers donned. This effectively symbolizes the role Quakers played in the war. They recognized Quaker values would only be sustained through an Allied victory but refused to engage in the bloodshed. Instead, they served a distinct and supplemental role; liberating Jews, the differently-abled, and other minority groups. Instead of resorting to violence, they promoted strength through peace.

This approach characterized the Quaker approach until the war’s end. In April 1945, Friends Relief Service Team 100 was summoned to the concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen, which had been liberated by British soldiers a few days prior. They immediately worked to improve hygiene and health conditions within the former camp and set up an impromptu hospital nearby. By June, such teams were dispersed throughout Germany to conduct similar work.

Friends also played a key role in supporting Jewish refugees to the United States. One week after the violent 1938 Kristallnacht pogroms, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) established a Refugee Division tasked with helping refugees escape Nazi Germany, communicate with loved ones, and adjust to the United States. Within a year, the AFSC had opened more than 3,000 new cases and met with thousands seeking help in the Vienna and Berlin offices. The AFSC also established a network of workshops and hostels intended to support refugees in America; such establishments, primarily located in the Midwest and Northeast, taught refugees about American society and English. By doing so, Friends supported thousands of refugees despite the prevailing xenophobia at the time. As a Jewish descendant of refugees to the United States, I feel a strong sense of admiration and gratitude for the Friends’ actions.

Simply put, Friends in both Europe and the United States had a substantial impact on World War II conditions. While they weren’t fighting on the front lines, their work supporting refugees and mitigating violence in Europe went a long way and truly improved conditions in one of the darkest chapters of global history.