MacNeil 1
When an undesirable event takes place in society it seems as though those at fault do
everything in their power to manipulate the memories of said event. In Mary Ellen Kelms article
British Columbia First Nations and influenza pandemic of 1918-19 and Douglas C. Peifer’s
article The Past in the Present: Passion, Politics, and the Historical Profession in the German and
British Pardon Campaigns a side of history that has been altered or neglected is exposed to
readers. Both historians use their skills to but forward their argument of an event that has
resurfaced, in an attempt to find out what really happened in a specific time period. In this essay
an overview of the two works will be done in the process reviewing two historical arguments that
help show how different perspectives shape the history that is learned about today.
Douglas C. Peifer’s article “The Past in the Present: passion, politics, and the Historical
Profession in the German and British Pardon Campaigns” is a view of the discussions that took
place in Germany and Britain that dealt with the execution of soldiers in World War One and
World War Two due to desertion or shell shock from the trials of war. His article also gives
insight to the different perspectives of the individuals involved, such as family, government, and
historians (1111). At the beginning of the article Peifer addresses the “Shot at Dawn Campaign”
a movement during World War One that argued the British Military’s treatment of the many
young men who were shell shocked and suffering from the stresses of war was improper (1111).
This debate went through parliament in the 1920’s and 1930’s with the campaign reasoning that
the soldiers were the receivers of a biased system (1114). Over three hundred men in the
trenches were put to death compared to three officers as a result of court marshals from the
British Military (1114). This raises the question why were the executions one hundred times
1.Peifer, Douglas C.. "The Past in the Present: passion, politics, and the Historical Profession in the
German and British Pardon Campaigns." The Journal of Military History 71 (2007): 1107-32. Print.
2. Kelm, Mary Ellen. "British Columbia First Nations and influenza pandemic of 1918-1919." BC Studies
122 (1999): 1-28. Print.
MacNeil 2
higher for those soldiers in the trenches? It all came down to the medical treatment available for
the two groups. If an officer was feeling distressed from being at battle he could return home to
England for premium hospitalization where the fighting men in the field came from
underprivileged families in the commonwealth; once they started showing signs of being
distraught or found guilty of desertion the swift hand of the British Justice would take care them
along with making them a example to the other troops (1114). In Germany similar actions were
taking place to repeal the military verdicts of the Wehrmacht tribunals (1119). The Wehrmacht
justice system had been portrayed as being a fair system of justice compared to other nations
during the war for treatment towards their soldiers (1122). As new research became available,
historians came to an estimate that the Wehrmacht had executed around 30,000 men for
desertion, mutiny, and even crimes of speaking negatively of their superiors (1123). Peifer writes
about how different groups such as activists calling for the rulings to be overturned, politicians
debating the matter, and how military historians weigh in on the issue. In the 1990’s both
governments came to a resolution with British government issuing pardons to those involved and
in Germany the courts found the “Nazis era rulings null and void” (1124). The author concludes
on the idea of the importance of remembering the soldiers who became victims of war just as
those shot on the battlefield. As well as the interplay of how past events can resurface in the
present to be reviewed and learned from.
The article “British Columbia First Nations and influenza pandemic of 1918-1919” by
Mary Ellen Kelm takes a look at the different perspectives of the influenza pandemic in British
1.Peifer, Douglas C.. "The Past in the Present: passion, politics, and the Historical Profession in the
German and British Pardon Campaigns." The Journal of Military History 71 (2007): 1107-32. Print.
2. Kelm, Mary Ellen. "British Columbia First Nations and influenza pandemic of 1918-1919." BC Studies
122 (1999): 1-28. Print.
MacNeil 3
Columbia in the early 20th century and to gain an understanding of why the flu is a recurring
theme in authored histories by First Nations and how it relates to Aboriginals and NonAboriginals relations (3). In the article Kelm points out that the First Nations had been in contact
with Europeans for over one hundred years and that the flu was not the first health issue that had
arisen with being in contact with small poxes in the past wreaking havoc on their communities
(4). With living quarters that didn’t have a sufficient sanitation and residential schools where
children were malnourished and exhausted contributed to the higher number of deaths among
First Nations along with the shortage of medical care from doctors, there was limited support for
Aboriginal groups (5). The deaths among the First Nations were a larger total than the birth rates
at the time with the death rate from the flu being nine times higher with First Nations compared
with non-First Nations (11). The Aboriginal culture struggled with the deaths in their society
because they were unable to provide proper burial rights to the deceased in many cases people
were left in the same room with an individual who had passed away recently of the flu (14).
Kelm discusses how the First Nations took steps to respond to the flu by combining their own
methods with the Euro-Canadian medicine in an attempt to overcome the virus (13). For instance
sagebrush was used to make a tea and was viewed as a for sure way to cure the flu (13). The
First Nations had also felt an sense of deception from the Euro-Canadians who preached that if
the Aboriginals lived as they did it would lead towards a better life, where instead it resulted in a
sizable drop in their population. There was also a feeling of carelessness from the government of
the Aboriginal peoples at a time when soldiers were returning home from World War One many
who were ill from the flu and bringing it to Canada were the focus group to take care of (17).
1.Peifer, Douglas C.. "The Past in the Present: passion, politics, and the Historical Profession in the
German and British Pardon Campaigns." The Journal of Military History 71 (2007): 1107-32. Print.
2. Kelm, Mary Ellen. "British Columbia First Nations and influenza pandemic of 1918-1919." BC Studies
122 (1999): 1-28. Print.
MacNeil 4
The article gives insight to the importance of the First Nations perspective of history and how the
influenza pandemic affected their people and culture.
Douglas C. Peifer ‘s article “The Past in the Present: passion, politics, and the Historical
Profession in the German and British Pardon Campaigns” presents his arguments in a way that
shows the differences between historical and national interpretations the position; members of
society such as activist journalist historians political leaders and lawyers; and the tools that are
used to try and raise the interest of the public and stress political importance on the German and
British Pardon campaigns. Piefer uses a great number of sources to communicate his point to the
reader such as using media sources and material from historians and politicians (1111). By using
a variety of studies it gives the evidence a more reliable backing. The studies, which have a
secondary objective, view aid in developing his historical argument.
“British Columbia First Nations and influenza pandemic of 1918-1919” by Mary Ellen
Kelm gives a Aboriginal viewpoint on the influenza pandemic that was a determent to the First
Nations communities. While reading the article you feel as if you are in the audience listening to
the ideas being presented. Bringing to life the stories of the First Nations people by having the
stories told by relatives and presenting facts that not only interest the reader but also help them
comprehend what the First Nations went through as a people. Kelm thesis is supported by the
1.Peifer, Douglas C.. "The Past in the Present: passion, politics, and the Historical Profession in the
German and British Pardon Campaigns." The Journal of Military History 71 (2007): 1107-32. Print.
2. Kelm, Mary Ellen. "British Columbia First Nations and influenza pandemic of 1918-1919." BC Studies
122 (1999): 1-28. Print.
MacNeil 5
research and her historical argument to figure out why the flu is a strong component of British
Colombia First Nations history (3).
In the two articles a recurring theme appears to be neglected history. In the introductory
paragraph Mary Ellen Kelm describes the influenza pandemic as the “forgotten epidemic”(2)
Douglas C. Peifer cites a postscript entitled “The Hundred Year Hush Up” (1112). Historical
events that were covered up or in a sense swept under the rug. Another topic that the authors’
address is ho the government support for health care was not available to the people that required
it. The two articles focus on how different perspectives shape history and how it is viewed today.
Douglas C. Peifer conveys a stronger historical argument due to the evidence he uses to back up
his points along with having two countries going through a similar experience to compare.
Neglected history is an important area of study that needs review. It is these forgotten
moments that need to be exposed to the public so the rightful respect can be given to the events
and people involved in them. History is alive- with new research we find new answers to issues
from the past. For this reason, these articles are an excellent resource for undergraduate students
as they present the idea that history is not set in stone. There are always new answers to
problems and different perspectives from which things can be viewed. As these articles show
perspective from which history is written affects the way we view the events of yesterday.
1.Peifer, Douglas C.. "The Past in the Present: passion, politics, and the Historical Profession in the
German and British Pardon Campaigns." The Journal of Military History 71 (2007): 1107-32. Print.
2. Kelm, Mary Ellen. "British Columbia First Nations and influenza pandemic of 1918-1919." BC Studies
122 (1999): 1-28. Print.
MacNeil 6
1.Peifer, Douglas C.. "The Past in the Present: passion, politics, and the Historical Profession in the
German and British Pardon Campaigns." The Journal of Military History 71 (2007): 1107-32. Print.
2. Kelm, Mary Ellen. "British Columbia First Nations and influenza pandemic of 1918-1919." BC Studies
122 (1999): 1-28. Print.