Hull Riots – Anti German Sentiment in the First World War

Background – The Rise of Germany
In the 19th Century, Germany was not a country, but a loose confederation of thirty nine states. It was a chaotic jigsaw puzzle of kingdoms, duchies, principalities and free cities, (39 in total), each with its own ruler, army and agenda and often in conflict with each other. However, the contribution of these German speaking people in the defeat of Napoleon at the Battles of Leipzig (1813) and Waterloo (1815), nurtured a rise in German nationalism.
The 1815, Congress of Vienna established the German Confederation of 39 states led nominally by Austria. The 39 states were a complicated collection of German speaking people, broadly divided into a Protestant North, a Catholic South, a rural East and an Industrial West. Within the German states were many ethnic minority groups. These included Poles (including Kashubs in West Prussia and Mazurs in East Prussia), Prussian Lithuanians (in East Prussia), Sorbs (in Lusatia), Czechs and Moravians (in Silesia), Danes (in Schleswig), Jews, Frisians, Dutch, Walloons, Russians (in Wojnowo (Eckertsdorf)), French, Italians, Hungarians and others.
The unification process was achieved largely through the vision and cunning of one man – the Prussian diplomat and politician, Otto Von Bismark. Through a policy of “iron and Blood”, Bismark engineered three wars which changed everything. These three wars – the Danish war 1864, the Austro-Prussian war 1866 and the Franco-Prussian war 1870-71, helped unite Germany under a central Prussian Government in Berlin. On 18 Jan 1871, at the Palace of Versailles, the German Empire was proclaimed, with King Wilhelm I, of Prussia declared Kaiser (Emperor) and Bismark named Chancellor. The Empire now included all German states (except Austria). Bismark continued the unification process, through political, cultural and administrative integration. Bismark overcame many challenges on the way – religious differences, the rise of socialism and the balancing of individual state powers, with the central government. By 1914, Germany had become a formidable economic and military power in Europe, a major player on the world stage and an imperialist nation with colonies in East Africa.
In 1882, Germany consolidated its’ position by forming a ‘Triple Alliance’ between themselves, the Austria-Hungary empire and Italy. This Alliance encouraged mutual co-operation and agreed to help each other if attacked by France or Russia. In 1894, France and Russia formed an alliance to constrain this threat on their borders. Old rivalries and new ambitions created increasing tensions between these imperial powers as they competed for land, resources and trade markets. Nationalism and xenophobia grew throughout Europe over these decades, often fuelled by jingoistic propaganda, which created a widespread fascination for war. Worried about German military and industrial expansion, Britain began to build bridges with old enemies. Britain signed an ‘Entente Cordial’, or friendly understanding, with France in 1904, and a ‘Triple Entente’ with France and Russia in 1907, agreeing mutual support if attacked. Rather than discouraging war, a small dispute could trigger Alliances and risk escalating war on a larger scale. By 1907, Europe had split into two main camps. These were Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy on one side, and France, Russia and Britain on the other. As Nations tried to expand, they increased the size of their armies and navies. This was typified by the ‘arms race’ for naval superiority between Britain and Germany from 1898 onwards. A series of colonial disputes between these rivals also added to international tensions, most notably with the ‘Tangiers Incident’ in 1905 and the “Agadir Crises” of 1911. While these alliances offered some National security, they also ran the risk of dragging other countries into conflict should one nation go to war. This weakness was exposed during the 1912 Balkan War. Serbia, with Russian support, emerged the strongest of the Balkan Nations, and Austria and Hungary felt threatened. When the Heir to the Austrian Hungary Empire was assassinated in Serbia, and Austria invaded Serbia on 28th June 1914, the series of alliances quickly triggered Empires into a global conflict. Austria with German support, attacked Serbia. Russia supported Serbia and attacked Austria Hungary. Germany backed Austria Hungary and declared war on Russia and their ally France. Britain bound by their Entente, joined France and Russia, and when Germany breached the 1839 Treaty of London, by invading Belgium, Britain declared war. These countries attacked each other believing that they were defending themselves and others were to blame. No Country had any clear war objective, or awareness of the years of slaughter ahead. Within 37 days Europe was at war with itself. Within four years the First World war would claim 40 million casualties, with 9-11 million troops killed, another 23 million troops wounded and between 6-13 million civilians lost through war and disease.
Anti German Sentiment in Hull
When war was declared on 5 August 1914, Charles Hohenrein’s, a German Pork Butcher, in Hull had his shop windows smashed by two youths, and again on 24 Oct 1914.
On 16 Dec 1914, warships bombarded West Hartlepool, Whitby and Scarborough, inflicting serious civilian casualties. Early 1915, the first Zeppelin raids began.
When the Government’s Bryce Committee reported on Alleged German Outrages, on 12 May 1915, it hardened civilian attitudes towards Germany and caused many men to enlist in the war effort.
Anti-German propaganda was fuelled by the press. For example, The Eastern Morning News editorial, 10 May 1915, argued that “The time has come when we must treat all Germans as our deadly foes. Too long we have been parleying with the enemy within the gate. We must begin our warfare at home. We have had too much of the German in England since the war began. We have husbanded spies. We have given Liberty, not to say licence – to all sorts of conditions of Germans. There must be no more of it. We must look upon the Germans as people not to be trusted. “
Sermons presented at Hull’s Holy Trinity church and the Newland Congregational Church on Sunday 9 May 1915 epitomised the wave of Xenophobia now sweeping the country – telling the congregation that the Germans had shown themselves to be akin to animals and placed themselves outside the Christian fold and could no longer to be considered members of the human race. The Hull Pacific Club urged businessmen to sign a petition expelling any fellow members who were German.
The sinking of the passenger liner, Lusitania on 7 May 1915, killed 1,200 civilians and intensified hatred toward Germany, sparking many riots throughout the country, particularly in London and Liverpool which had the largest German communities.
The sinking of the Lusitania did not spark the same riots in Hull. Forty Lusitania survivors arrived in Hull on 12 May, on their return to Europe, but provoked no public reaction. However, on Friday 12 May, naturalised German Tradesmen were worried and sent a delegation to meet Cllr J.H. Hargreaves, the Lord Mayor of Hull, at the Guildhall, who expressed faith in their patriotism. The German businessmen were right to be worried.
Hull Riots 14-16 May 1915.
The first Hull attack was on the evening of Friday 14 May 1915, at 102, Adelaide Street, when a house occupied by Mrs Kelg, a German woman was stoned and windows broken.
On Saturday, 15 May 1915, between 8.30-11pm, eight shops were attacked. A large hostile crowd of 500-600 people, throwing missiles, gathered outside several pork butchers on Hessle Road. A stone was thrown at 431a Hessle road, a shop belonging to Harry William Schumm (1880-1924) and windows were smashed. About an hour later, the home of Johan Ludwig Christian Steeg (1868-1934), another German pork butcher, was attacked at 470 Hessle Road and his living room window was broken. The shop at 180 Hessle Road, belonging to Charles Henry Schumm (1849-1919), father of Harry William, was also stoned and windows smashed. After 10pm, the premises at Nos: 430, 470 and 407 Hessle Road were attacked. Superintendent, Matchin and six Constables struggled to disperse the crowd, but remained at the properties until 1am next day.
Police statements taken after the disturbances showed that the violence was planned and organised. An undertaker at 424 Hessle Road reported that on Saturday, it was generally talked about on Hessle Road, about a raid on the German pork butchers. A woman living at 177 Hessle Road, claimed that “the disturbance was practically organised by four women who had spoken of sons killed and injured in the war. After the sinking pf the Lusitania, it was common talk on Hessle Road amongst women as to what they would do to the Germans in Hull.” The local newspapers reported a shower of “bolts” were thrown from the top deck of a Hessle Road tram car, suggesting passengers had prepared themselves with missiles before the journey. It was hinted that alcohol may have contributed to the disorder. Hessle Road was rowdy place on a Saturday night and it was usual for women to drink in the pubs during the afternoon. Pork butcher shops attacked at 330 & 331 Hessle Road were almost next door to the Rayners’ pub.
Many of the shops attacked were owned by the German business delegation that had met the Lord Mayor at the Guildhall on 12 May. Some witnesses said the shopkeepers themselves had provoked the crowd by standing defiantly, behind the counters, arms folded watching the crowd assemble. Others suggested resentment was caused by the “Castro” ship interned, with many of its’ Hull crew living in the Hessle Road area.
The police made only two arrests on 15 May. Already short staffed through enlistment, the police were overwhelmed by the large, hostile crowd. The night time “blackout” also made identifying trouble makers difficult. One man arrested was a middle aged fisherman, fined £10 or 31 days in prison
On Sunday, 16 May, two Pork butcher shops on Charles Street were stoned by a crowd who sang in chorus the lyrics of a popular song “You made me love you, but I didn’t want to do it!”. One man was arrested for stoning No:33 Charles Street, the pork butcher shop owned by Gottlieb Lang, and fined one Guinea.
There was no looting of shops or homes in Hull, but damage was recorded of £57, 14s & 11d. This was insignificant compared to the “Lusitania riots” in London which cost £200,000 and the £40,000 damage caused in Liverpool around the same time.
The first Hull Air Raid – 6 June 1915
The next Hull riots were sparked by the first Zeppelin raid on Hull, on 6 June 1915. Bombs straddled the city centre, crossing roughly from east to west, from streets running south of Holderness Road, east of Central Hull to the western end of Hessle Road. Explosions and incendiaries fell in five concentrations; –
1) Waller and Craven Streets – damaging working class housing, causing many deaths & serious injuries.
2) Dansom Lane and Bright Street – destroying a timber yard and saw mill.
3) Clarence and Church Streets – resulting in more deaths and injuries
4) Old Town – Hull’s commercial centre – damaging Queen Street, Market Place, High Street and Princes Dock Street. The prominent Edwin Davis furniture shop opposite Hull Minster was destroyed by fire.
5) Campbell, Walker, and Porter Streets – suffered scattered blast damage, but minor casualties.
The total cost of air raid damage was estimated at £100k, although compensation paid was later settled at £44,795, including amounts paid out in civil disorder.
Hull authorities were unprepared for the disastrous consequences of the air raid. Chief Constable, G. Morley was faced with a critical situation, with manpower deployed in four separate locations, fires burning out of control at the Edwin Davis store and the timber yard in Dansom Lane. Men were required to supervise and assist in the rescue and relief work around Church Street, Waller Street and Craven Street. The Police and Fire Brigade were not separate services then and the police were responsible for fighting fires as well as firemen. Many experienced policemen had been encouraged to enlist when war began and gaps were filled by part-time special constables, with civilian jobs who were largely untrained in putting out fires and coping with civil disorder. When riots flared up after the air raid, the authorities were overwhelmed and unable to respond effectively.
Hull had experienced a false air raid alarm on the 4 June 1915, 48 hours before the Zeppelin L9 arrived over Hull. Alerts were not unusual and people treated them lightly. Instead of seeking shelter, the population had acquired the habit of congregating in the streets to see what was going on. A carnival atmosphere sometimes prevailed. The Hull Corporation had allowed children to remain at home after Alerts to catch up on sleep and alarms were events greeted with joyful celebration. L9 engines were loud, reverberated across the city and the sound of the gunfire roused many more people than usual from sleep and drew them into the streets.

The Hull Riots Monday 7 June 1915
The Hull riots in June were more serious than the Hessle Road and Charles Street disturbances in May 1915.
One of the first shops attacked was No: 267 Holderness Road, between 12.10- 2am, 7 June 1915. These were the premises of John Frederick Ott (1872-1940), an interned pork butcher. A large, hostile crowd broke windows and looted the shop of eatable goods.
Meanwhile, in Caroline Street, No:31, the premises of Robert Brehm, another pork butcher, were attacked between 12.15 -1am. His wife Lina Brehm occupied the shop alone. She was advised by the police to flee and she escaped injury. Both house and shop were looted. Windows, fixtures and fittings were torn out and smashed.
In nearby Charles Street, No:33, the premises of Gottlieb Lang (1877-1962), were once again singled out. Lang was rescued and escorted to Worship Street Police Station. No police could be spared to safeguard his property. The crowd removed items, and smashed everything in sight. Lina Hafner, Lang’s maid servant, was preparing to be deported to Germany, having been served notice on 13 May 1915 and lost all her possessions, including £30 in Gold, drawn from the Hull Saving Bank on 1 June. An adjoining shop owned by George Reed Ltd, an English Confectioner, suffered damage from miss-aimed missiles.
A joiner in Charles Street, reported “that at about 12.15 on the morning of 7 June 1915, about 20 people had assembled in front of Lang’s premises, at 33 Charles Street and at once commenced to break the windows with missiles. The crowd quickly increased in size and much more damage was done to the premises. The Police and Military eventually arrived and did their best to cope, but “the crowd had become very troublesome and almost incapable of being dealt with.” Between 3-4pm on Monday afternoon, 7 June, a crowd removed stock from the shop, brought out furniture and took it away. On Tuesday 8 June 1915, about 30-40 people assembled in front of Lang’s shop again, entered the house and removed articles of furniture and clothing etc.
At the junction of Hedon Road and Woodhouse Street, not far from the badly damaged Waller Street, a pork butcher’s shop at No; 313 Hedon Road, belonging to a German, John Hannemann (1879-1949) and a Clothiers business, at No: 317 Hedon Road, owned by a Hungarian, Gus Adler (1875-1934), were left at the mercy of the mob. According to Adler, the rioting here broke out around 1am, on 7 June – “A very large and hostile crowd” broke all the windows and looted everything from both shops, whilst the police were away attending the injured and dead from the Zeppelin Raid. Both Adler and Hannemman, were at home with their families when the crowd attended. They fled and escaped unharmed. Sergeant, Tanton arrived alone at the Adler and Hannemann’s shops and was powerless against the large, hostile crowd of 200-300 people. He stopped one man leave a shop with a roll of cloth, but could not arrest him. Special Constables on the way to Hedon Road some hours later arrested a number of people carrying stolen articles away along adjacent streets. On arriving at the shops, the police concentrated on clearing the area, rather than making arrests and used physical force to disperse the looters to “ensure they did not loot again”.
A house at No: 60 Spyvee Street, was attacked at 4.30am, 7 June 1915, by a crowd of 400 men and women. It was occupied by Wilhelmina Karoline Hoepe, the German born wife of an interned German. Forced to flee, with her two sons and daughter, she was chased by the crowd, down the street, and roughly handled. They were rescued by Police Sergeant, A. Storr, patrolling nearby and taken to Wincolmlee Police Station for safety. Hoepe’s home had been smashed up by the hostile crowd. They broke the panels of the front door, jumped into the house through the windows, removed furniture and smashed it up in the street. The street was packed and the attitude of the crowd was very threatening. They threatened to kill Mrs Hoepe, but she was guarded by the soldiers and police.
Despite the confusion, there were incidences where the crowds were met by an effective police response. For example, Constable, Tiplady, who was on duty along Hessle Road, shutting off water cocks after the water mains had been damaged in the air raid, was informed that a large crowd was gathering in front of the shop at No: 127 Porter Street. He went at once to find a hostile mob smashing shop windows and he rang the Central Police Station who sent a squad of soldiers and dispersed the crowd.
A pork butchers shop at No: 233 Holderness Road, owned by German born, John Planer (1865-1934), was attacked by a crowd, at 1. 20am morning on 7 June 1915. His next door neighbour was a Special Constable Group Leader, on duty and prevented the hostile crowd gaining access to the residential part of the premises. Stones were thrown, the blue, shop blinds torn down and food stuffs removed.
The late afternoon of 7 June brought more smashing and looting. At 3 pm, a crowd assembled outside No: 33 Barmston Street, a pork butchers on the corner of Cumberland Street, owned by Mrs Lisette Susan Most (1857-1932), the German born widow of a Naturalised German.
A terraced house at No: 38 Barmston Street, was also attacked. This house was owned by Mrs Most and occupied by Mrs Maud Schellenberg, the wife of an interned German pork butcher in Bradford. By 5pm, the mob swelled to over one thousand people against whom stood Constable, A.E. Snowden and three other Officers who were overwhelmed. The crowd attacked the house and shop with sticks and stones, front and back, violently rushed forward entering the properties, tearing out and smashing fixtures and fittings, whilst others carried away all the household property.
Between 7pm and Midnight on 7 June 1915, another pork butcher’s shop at 54 Church Street, Drypool, recently vacated by Albert Henry Keller (1890-1972) and his family, attracted “an angry and hostile crowd of several hundred people” who “broke the windows and looted the premises”.
Meanwhile the shop at No:18 New George Street, an egg and butter dealer’s, occupied by Mark Pineles, came under attack. Pineles’ received no protection. In little over an hour “practically the whole of the contents of the house and shop were destroyed and stolen.”
In Pelham Street, Hull, between 8pm – 10.30pm, an angry and hostile crowd of several hundred people gathered outside Henry Roll’s shop at No: 44 Pelham Street. Once again the crowd “broke the windows and stole the goods from the shop.”
Police Sergeant, John Binnington was on duty at Cleveland Street, when at “about 8.45pm, he received information of rioting in Drypool”. Binnington found a large crowd of about 200 persons outside No: 45 Great Union Street, the shop of Emil Stelze, an interned German butcher. “All the windows and doors of the shop had been smashed and the gas fittings and all other articles in the shop also smashed, also the kitchen was upset.” A number of soldiers arriving earlier, had taken charge of the property and managed to prevent the mob doing further damage and gaining access to the upper floors. Damage was still extensive. Apart from a clock and some cooked meat, nothing else was stolen.
The most serious incident on 7 June 1915, occurred outside New Cleveland Street, another pork butcher’s shop owned by Mrs L. S. Most and occupied by her son, John Frederick Most (1892-1917). A crowd of roughly 700 people “behaving in a riotous manner”, was stalled by Police Inspector, S. Bromby, with three Constables and six soldiers from the Hull Divisional Ammunition Column, despatched from Wincolmlee Police Station. About 9.30pm, a man broke from the throng and “dashed into the doorway… breaking a large plate glass panel with his shoulders”. Bromby, seized the man and took him into custody, but his rushing forward had immediately raised the passions of the mob. Stones and other objects began to rain down as the crowd closed in. The police and soldiers were overwhelmed by the sheer weight of numbers and the force and violence broke their line. Taking possession of the building, the rioters succeeded in demolishing the shop front, smashing all the windows connected with the premises and carried off Most’s belongings. John Most was taken away from the property and lodged in the Central Police Station for his own safety. Inspector, Bromby, regrouped and returned to New Cleveland Street, with several other Officers and finally secured the shop.
The last attack of the evening was reported by Mrs Jane Todd, the wife of a labourer, who occupied the flat above a Ship Chandler’s business at 22 North Wells, a property belonging to Albert Assman. At 9.30pm 7 June 1915, “Two men threw stones at the shop window, walked away, but returned minutes later with four other men who pulled the window frame out and were very hostile, saying they would set fire to the shop, until someone informed then that Mrs Todd was English and living above.”
Between 3pm – 9.30pm, nine properties were attacked. One was struck accidentally. Of the remaining eight, four were occupied by British born or Naturalised British Subjects, two by the wives of interned Germans, one by a German woman and one by an Austrian.
Monday 7 June 1915, had been the start of another working week which may explain the lull in activity which lasted from the early dawn to the late afternoon on that day. The Authorities were given some respite, but some planning may also have taken place amongst groups of workers. Women and children were most prominent in the spate of rioting on Monday afternoon, but as evening passed, the presence of bands of adult men became more apparent.
The Hull Corporation later received notice of eighteen separate attacks which had taken place between Midnight and 5am on the 7 June 1915. Of the properties damaged, two were occupied by British subjects and were hit accidentally by badly aimed missiles. Another shop, owned by Mr Kitching, an Englishman, was stoned because according to a witness the shop “was originally occupied by a German, Mr Frederick John Heinzmann (1867-1934), but sold to Mr Kitching.” Of the remaining fifteen properties, the nationalities of the occupants of seven of them can be ascertained with certainty. Four businesses belonged to German Nationals, three of the shops had been left in the care of wives whose husbands were interned. One was occupied by a Naturalised British Subject. One was 188 New George Street, occupied by Mark Pineles (1852-1936), an egg and butter merchant, and an Austrian born Jew.
Fourteen of the properties were situated in streets near or within districts hit in the air raid. Damage ranged from isolated cases of window breaking to the ransacking, smashing and looting of shops and houses.
Hull Riots – Tuesday 8 June 1915
Rioting on 8 June 1915 began at about 2pm with the stoning of two properties, a grocery and a confectionary shop at No: 45 Arundel Street, occupied by Mrs Lena Andrew, and a terraced house at No: 107 Balfour Street, occupied by Mrs Annie Jackson, the wife of an interned German seaman. Both properties suffered extensive damage, the crowd smashing windows, fixtures and fittings, the contents either looted or if too large to carry away, smashed to pieces. Both incidents took place in the vicinity of Waller Street and Craven Street and the crowd was mostly composed of women and children venting their emotions.
At 3.30pm, another nearby property, a private house, at No: 9 De La Pole Avenue, Balfour Street, occupied by Mrs Harriet Elizabeth Gittner (1865-1945), the Hull born wife, of Albert Gittner, an interned seaman, was attacked, broken into and the contents smashed and looted.
Shortly after 4pm, rioting broke out in a street, North of Central Hull, well away from the districts bombed, the premises of Mr Adolph Gaiser (1883- ), a German born, pork butcher, at No: 112 Fountain Road was damaged by a crowd throwing stones. The crowd which swelled in numbers, smashed everything in the Gaiser’s shop, but there was no looting. Once more school children were eager participants. Adjacent to the Gaiser’s shop stood a large retail grocers – Nos: 108-111 Fountain Road, owned by William Cussons Ltd, a firm of provisions merchants, with an extensive network of branches throughout Hull. One of the most attractive features of the shop so far as the children were concerned was its impressive frontage of plate glass. Mr William Cussons, wrote to the Town Clerks next morning, “we had most of the glass in our premises on Fountain Road broken by stones thrown by small boys of school age between 4.30pm – 8pm. We shall be writing to you further tomorrow regarding the amount of damage. In the meantime, we want to suggest that the Headmaster of Council schools should use some strong language to their boys about Law lessons.” The crowd’s attention then turned to No: 118 Fountain Road, the premises of George William Marritt (1866-1939), a furniture dealer. According to a witness, Marritt was seen removing scales from Gaiser’s premises trying to save some of his property which provoked the crowd. The situation grew worse when rumours spread that the Gaiser’s were being sheltered at No: 114 Fountain Road, a nearby Fish Mongers shop. Stones were hurled at the Fish shop, many missing their target and smashing the windows pf No: 116, a Hairdresser’s shop.
The rioters who now numbered about one thousand people, were finally thwarted by the arrival of police and troops between 7.30pm – 8pm. The street was cleared, but the crowd simply moved to nearby Waterloo Street.
A Stationer, living at 190 Waterloo Street, saw on the evening of 8 June 1915 between 8-9 pm, a large, mixed, crowd attack Mr Green, at No: 188 Waterloo Street. The windows were smashed by an excited crowd of women and children throwing stones, but once again was characterised by the absence of looting.
Between 5pm – Midnight, 8 June 1915, two shops along Beverley Road were attacked – No: 12 Beverley Road, a German pork butcher’s shop, belonging to Charles Wieland (1876- ), drew the attention of a “hostile crowd of Boys” who smashed windows, but made no attempt to steal anything.
Further up the road, No: 244 Beverley Road, the shop of Ernest Bower, an interned German Pork Butcher, also suffered smashed windows and some stock was looted. At neither incident was there any police of military presence, but surprisingly the attacks did not develop or escalate to the level of the riots taking place elsewhere.
The last serious attack on 8 May, occurred between 7-8pm. A large crowd gathered in front of the home of Charles Hare Dixon (1852-1949), whose wife, Marie Dammer, was German. The mob smashed windows, broke the door and individuals started to remove furniture. Inspector, S. Day at Worship Street Police Station, “attended 55 Reform Street, occupied by Charles Hare Dixon, a coal dealer, whose wife was an “alien”, all smashed in and damaged.” By the time that he arrived, the crowd had grown and completely blocked the street. The crowd was very angry and rebellious and the police had considerable difficulty in restraining and dispersing it. Inspector, Day, learnt from the crowd that a group of women had done the damage, entered the house and stolen Dixon’s belongings. By the time that the police arrived, the women had gone and when interviewed later that night, Dixon said they were strangers to him and was unable to identify anyone. No arrests were made. The Inspector and three Police Constables stood guard until midnight to prevent the crowd re-assembling. Dixon spent the rest of the night recovering what property remained and left with his wife and five children early next morning.
Threats to burn premises were reported at 10pm, at the Kress & Wagners properties Nos 163-165 Spring Bank. The shop had previously been attacked by a crowd of one thousand people, between midnight and 2am, on 7 June 1915. The crowd stoned the building and one or perhaps two girls about 19 years old, broke “the windows in the shop 163 Spring Bank.” On Tuesday evening, Chris Wagner, the occupant “was informed by a person that it was intended to burn him out and he asked for assistance from the police. The military were sent to guard the premises. This attracted a crowd on the night of the 8 June 1915 and further damage was done to the shop windows. The shop window of No: 165 Spring Bank, was broken and other windows.” Compared to the other disturbances, the amount of damage inflicted on Kress & Wagner over two nights was slight. The firm’s other pork butcher shop at No: 82 Welbeck Street, occupied by Fred Kress, was also attacked some time on Tuesday 8 June, but little damage was done.
The only reported case of violent assault against the person was on the afternoon of Tuesday 8 June, when the sister in law, of the late Alderman, Feldman, was set upon and violently ill treated on Holderness Road. She had to be escorted home by the military. Even the Eastern Morning News which had not voiced outright condemnation of the rioters, remarked that “those who remembered the valuable services which Alderman Feldman rendered to the City, would think it was a great pity that the mob could not discriminate a little more that they seem to do.” In view of the hostility towards her sister, Mrs Feldman left her home at No: 10 Linnaeus Street later that afternoon. Although the property was left empty and securely locked, later that night it was reported to an off duty Special constable that light had been seen shining from a skylight. The Constable was later accused of provoking a disturbance by telling bystanders that signals were being made from the house to the Zeppelin to avoid bombing German owned property. Whether it was him or someone else that spread the rumour was not established, but by the time a police patrol had arrived to investigate the alleged signals, a riotous crowd of one thousand people, was already filling Linnaeus street. Fortunately, the Police Constables were able to clear the area, before any damage could be done to the Feldman house.
The Hull Corporation was notified of sixteen separate attacks on 8 June 1915. Of these, two incidents involved shops owned by local companies and one occupied by an Englishman which was accidentally hit by misdirected stones. Two properties owned by British Nationals were attacked by crowds, as a result of the occupants assisting or thought to be assisting a German family. One house was ransacked because the owner was married to a German woman. Among the remaining eight, one was occupied by a Russian subject and one by the wife of an interned German.
Hull Riots – Wednesday 9 June 1915
By the morning of Wednesday 9 June 1915, the worst of the Hull rioting was over. The police and troops assumed some control. However, isolated incidents of damage and intimidation continued for some days afterwards. On Wednesday morning, a group of boys again congregated outside Ernest Bower’s shop at No: 244 Beverley Road “entered the shop and commenced to break dishes and mirrors and other utensils and took away three bread loaves.”
Builders attending Robert Brehm’s shop at No: 31 Caroline Street, to board up doors and windows, reported “Three different workmen proceeded to the job and were informed by the crowd that they would be injured themselves if they attempted to do any boarding up and also Messrs Houlton and Sons’, Reform Street works would be burned down.”
The Solicitor acting on behalf of Gottlieb Lang’s property at No: 33 Charles Street, advised the Town Clerk, that “There appears to be great danger of further damage being done to the property and will hold the Corporation responsible for any damage sustained through the action of the mob.”
The German pork Butcher’s at No: 141 Hawthorne Avenue, owned by Friedrich Michael Baeuerle, was attacked at 9.15pm on 9 June, first by “about eight to ten children whose ages varied from four to ten years, outside the shop and later joined by 100-400 local residents, mostly women, when police arrived.” Every time a stone was thrown, the crowd gave a loud cheer. When they were not throwing stones, a good deal of shouting and jostling was going on.
The second attack on Wednesday 9 June 1915, was directed against Portland Street, home of Henry Balti, an interned German and his wife Hannah who remained in the house with family. Around 9.45pm, Mrs Balti heard the voices of two girls breaking the front door. When she tried to lock the door, the attackers started to smash the windows – thirteen panes of glass in the front room, five panes in the front bedroom and bottom part of the front door broken in.
On Friday 11 June 1915, No: 32 Haddon Street, the home of Mrs Mathilda Buchan (1873-1937), the wife of Audas Buchan, an interned seaman, was attacked by a crowd – two glass panes in the front room broken and a single pane in the back bedroom.
On 19 June 1915, The Hull and Eastern Counties Mutual Plate Glass Insurance Company, said “It has been both impractical and dangerous to replace these breakages forthwith, owing to the same having been broken immediately after replacement.
For a few days after the riots, cases of abuse, such as a girl arrested for calling another “A German Bastard” were referred to the Hull Police Court and summarily dealt with. Despite overt threats of violence and intimidation, there was only one recorded case of serious physical assault and injury to the person. The crowd’s attentions had been largely characterised by a compulsion to destroy property rather than inflict personal injury. Although threats to kill or injure were heard by several witnesses, once the occupants had fled a property, the rioters appear to have been satisfied that their intimidation had cleared the victims from their homes and business. Property rather than people suffered most violence.
A notable characteristic of the Hull riots in May and June 1915 was that they remained distinctly “Anti German” and did not degenerate into wider xenophobic or anti-Semitic disturbances. Rioters in Liverpool attacked Scandinavians, Italians, Russians and carried out concerted attacks on the Chinese community. Julius Green was believed to be German and attacked in Hull. The Hull riots were largely women led and in some cases were planned.
Court Cases for Rioters
Convictions for wilful damage were few. In many cases police were not present to make arrests, take witness statements or trace offenders. The Police had more success detecting those guilty of theft and succeeded in recovering much stolen property. Victims reluctance to prosecute meant many culprits went free. On 17 June 1915, Charles Dixon advised the Town Clerks that some of his stolen items were in the back yards of Raywell Street, and Bowes Terrace, Waterloo Street, opposite to where he lived, but there is no record of Dixon’s property being recovered. Nothing stolen from Mrs Hoepe, Mrs Ott, or John Planer were traced. Similarly, nothing was recovered from Henry Rolls shop in Pelham Street. Property stolen from Brehms’ was returned, but no arrests were made. Some victims like Mrs Keller, Gottlieb Lang and Mark Pineles refused to prosecute for fear of further reprisals.
The police recovered some items stolen from Harriet Gittner, at 9 De La Pole Avenue, Balfour Street. They included “One marble clock, one copper double alarm clock, a lady’s 18ct gold engagement ring, a lady’s 9ct gold keeper ring, a magnifying glass, jacket and vest, pair of gent’s boots and two rulers, valued at £5.” Two men were arrested in connection with the thefts and Mrs Gittner was persuaded to prosecute them. Each man was fined £2 18s, or ordered to serve 30 days’ hard labour in default. The police apprehended individuals damaging Mrs Most’s shops in Barmston, Cumberland and New Cleveland Streets, but once again had to let the culprits go free. The police prosecuted one man for breaking the shop’s glass window. By beginning of July 1915, a large amount of Mrs Most’s and Kauda Schellenbrg’s property had been recovered, but no convictions resulted.
Only one Hull incident was followed by a large number of arrests and convictions. No police were present during the ransacking of Gus Adler’s and John Hannemann’s shops in Hedon Road, but during the ten days following the riots, sixty-three individuals (33 men, 23 women & 7 juveniles) were arrested and charged with theft. The subsequent court hearings resulted in 59 convictions, two people found guilty of two charges each and six acquittals. A second charge which might have proceeded against one of the defendants was not proceeded with. (see Eastern Morning News, 16 June 1915).
Eleven people appeared in the Hull Police Court, on 7 June 1915, charged with thefts of property. Adler estimated his loss at £1,050 was the largest amount claimed. Hannemann estimated his loss at £500. Adler was unwilling to prosecute a dock labourer for fear of his safety, pointing out that he was not a German spy and that he was Hungarian, not German, confident that his safety would be assured if his nationality was publicised. All the defendants in the Adler and Hannemann cases came from the working class areas of Hedon Road and Woodhouse Street. The Magistrate imposed fines of one and two guineas, irrespective of age, sex and the value of property stolen. A “Cripple” who stole goods valued at 7 shillings received the same two Guinea fine as a Keel man and his wife who stole property valued at £11. A Keel and Grocery shop owner charged with theft of goods received a £10 fine and was expected to set a better example. Gus Adler intervened in the case of a former employee who stole plates, cups, saucers and cruets from him, giving her a good character reference and the case was dismissed. With one exception, a man who claimed he “wanted to get a bit of spite from the Germans”, none of the defendants offered the excuse that their actions were motivated by a desire to seek revenge on the Germans. Most argued that they had simply picked goods off the street or had them handed to them by others. A man who stole a Union Jack flag from the Adler shop to save it being kicked around the street, was fined one guinea. At 313 Hedon Road, George Francis Warcup, was fined for wilful damage and Robert James Clayton, for handling stolen goods. Those fined for theft included married women, Katherine Longworth, Emily MacDonald; Dinah Jane Allen; and Annie Elizabeth Border. Another, Alice Mace was put on probation. Lilian Harrison a single woman, was fined £1. 15s. Charles William Robinson; a dock labourer, Daniel Beacock; Robert Crawshaw; William Guy; John Mainprize, Stephen Clayton; and William Matthews, were each fined. (see Hull Daily Mail, 19 June 1915)
On 16 June 1915, several juveniles appeared in court – one boy said he was not to blame, but the Government who failed to intern all Germans at the start of the war. Four others stated in their defence, that soldiers had thrown articles out into the street, or handed goods to them. Sergeant, Tanton, remarked, “It would have taken a regiment of soldiers to stop what was going on.” And admitted “soldiers were assisting to throw things into the street.” No soldiers participating in the riots were traced.
The case of the off duty, policeman accused of provoking a disturbance at Mrs Feldman’s home a 10 Linnaeus Street, was dropped, due to lack of evidence.

Settling the Bill
The Hull Corporation escaped liability for the “Lusitania Riots” on 15 May 1915, but faced a potential bill of £100k and a further £3,500 for looting of property between 7-9 June 1915. The Government, confirmed via Thomas Ferens, MP for Hull, that the cost of air raid damage would be paid by “The East Coast Raid Committee”, which sat oddly under the Board of Education. The final settlement for air raid damage on 7 June 1915 in Hull was about £42k.
The Hull Corporation, was however liable for the costs of civil disorder and riot damage. The Corporation’s Watch Committee received forty-one claims for damage and, injury to property by rioters totalling around £3k. Claimants had fourteen days to submit claims. Extensions were limed to 42 days under The Riot (Damages Act) 1885. The Brehm’s had difficulty meeting these deadlines. Robert Brehm was interned and unable to visit Hull. His wife was distraught over the destruction of her home at 31 Caroline Street and was also facing deportation. Unaware of the need to apply for an extension, Brehm found his claim rejected.
George Bower who owned shops at 155 Holderness Road and 98 New Bridge Road, suffered damage in the June riots. His claims were also rejected for being late, or not drawn up in accordance with the statute. The strictness of the Town Clerk was primarily to save money and not by any desire to discriminate against Germans and Naturalised British citizens. Claimants of any nationality or status who were not conversant with the regulations faced obstruction. The Town Clerks were under great pressure from solicitors seeking compensation and also by Charles Hathaway, the American Consul, who intervened on behalf of Brehm, Harried E Gittner, Mark Pineles and the Hoepe’s. The Town Clerks reluctantly conceded to appeals when further litigation and court costs were threatened, but contested every claim to reduce the compensation value.
On 29 July 1915, the Town Clerks at the Guildhall “reported that the total number of claims received was forty-nine, the total amount of which was £3, 652, 19s 10d. No further new claims were entertained after the 42-day limit and firmly rejected. Between 29 July to 27 August 1915, all claimants were interviewed and every claim thoroughly examined. Mr Mark Pineles claimed £117, 9s, 3d, but accepted £60 in full settlement. Mr Gus Adler claimed £1,311 and settled for £1,050 full settlement. Mr John Hannemann whose business was ruined, sought £500 compensation, but received nothing. He enlisted in the army shortly after to show his Englishness.
The Town Clerks eventually paid a total of £2,510 19s 2d compensation, a reduction of £1,047, 0s 8d (from the initial £3,557 19s 10d).
It took two months to assess the claims and three months after the riot before the final claim was settled. During this time, the victims had to restore their livelihoods. For those who suffered in the May riot, the wait was even longer. Harry William Schumm, claimed £26 compensation for the attack on his shop on 15 May and had “already lost £200 over the affair.” Many businesses were ruined and ceased trading, but victims were expected to meet rent, rates, without any income.
The compensation paid was calculated on depreciating book value of fittings and equipment, rather than the true cost of replacement, making it impossible to recapitalise the business, especially during a war period, which restricted supplies of new equipment and increased prices in the second hand market. Landlords were unwilling to accept the risks of granting Tenancies to people of German ancestry in case their properties were damaged by civil disorder.
Of the thirty-two businesses listed in the 1915 Edition of the Kelly’s Directory, only five appeared in the 1916 Edition, fourteen had been disposed to new owners and one sold by 1919. The remaining twelve were “unlisted”, perhaps indicating that they closed for the rest of the war, or people cancelled their entries, to avoid hostile attention.

The Decline of Hull’s German Community
The riots reduced Hull’s once vibrant German community. Mrs Most and her son never returned to their homes and moved to Bradford. Her son John Frederick Most died in the war and her other son was wounded fighting for Britain. The Keller’s had already left their shop in Church Street and found lodgings in Ely, Cambridgeshire. Albert Henry Keller enlisted in the 5th Rifle Brigade on 1 Feb 1916. He lost an eye in the war and was discharged. William Schumm although not attacked personally reported that he had moved to South Wales, when summoned by the Watch Committee on 3 August 1915. Gottlieb Lang moved to Edinburgh and Gus Adler moved to Liverpool. Mark Pineles, an Austrian, found lodgings in Spring Bank, but advised the Watch Committee on 29 July, that he was moving to Boston, Massachusetts, with his family in August 1915.
Charles Hare Dixon and his German wife, from 55 Reform Street, removed their furniture under police protection and moved to Cottingham. Mrs Lena Andrews, moved to Somerset Avenue, Withernsea Street, Hull. Annie Jackson moved from Barmston Street to Pitt Street, Hull. John Hannemann moved his shop to 327 Hessle Road. The Hoepe’s driven out of 60 Spyvee Street, had moved to Rhodes Street by July 1915. A few had no alternative but to return to their damaged homes – Mrs Harriet E. Grittner, Matilda Buchan, John Planer, the Uebels, Chris Wagner, Julius Green and Fred Kress remained in their homes. Mrs Baeuerle returned briefly to 141 Hawthorn Avenue, but had moved to 172 Victoria Avenue, by late July 1915. Robert Brehm had the decision made for him and was interned as a prisoner of war, at Hanforth, Cheshire. His wife Mrs Brehm was deported to Germany on 19 June 1915. John Planer’s son, George Henry Planer, was killed in action on 26 April 1917 fighting for the 27th Northumberland Fusiliers.
The Schumm’ s changed their surname to “Shaw” sometime during June 1915. William Shaw later emigrated on Canada. The Hoherein family, changed their surname to “Ross” on 7 July 1915. On 15 June 1915, he announced in the press, “We are prepared to pay £500 to any local charity, if anyone can prove we are not English.” Their shop re-opened under the name Charles H Ross, on 3 Nov 1915, one of the few businesses to survive. Johan Steeg whose hose house at 470 Hessle Road was stoned died in Dublin.
The First World War had a significant impact on Hull’s German Community. By 1921, the number of German born residents in Hull fell to 254, a two thirds reduction, on the 1911 Census figure of 738. This is comparable with Liverpool, whose 1,326 German born residents fell to 451, by 1921. The population decline was largely due to Government restrictions, rather than the direct effects of rioting, intimidation and overt Anti–German hostility. Many Germans were interned or forcibly repatriated, and the overall German population in Britain fell from 57,500 in 1914 to 22,254 in 1919.
The Hull riots were part of disturbances which swept Britain in 1915. The “Lusitania Riots” in May 1915, were significant in London, and Liverpool, but largely insignificant in Hull. Riot damage cost £200K, in London, £40k in Liverpool, but less than £3k in Hull. Riots in nearby Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham received more press attention. If it had not been for the first Zeppelin raid three weeks later, Hull would probably never have witnessed the scale of anti-German feeling that it did. The air raid which caused death damage and serious injury, unleased an irrational hatred. Once the disturbances started, others joined in, perhaps knowing that the authorities were in no position to stop them. Women and children played a prominent role in the Hull riots. There were at least eight Zeppelin raids on Hull during the war and numerous warnings, but rioting never occurred again on the scale of 6-9th June 1915.
Hull’s anti German feeling must also be considered in the context of the national propaganda campaign against Germans in Britain at the time. This was whipped up by the press, politicians, and other opinion influencers, which vilified Germany and the German people. The Bryce Committee reported on many German outrages that received worldwide attention and shock. War losses, rising prices and general anxiety seemed to justify extreme measures against Germany. Hull suffered badly from Government policies which favoured other ports. Many industries moved away from the East coast when it was bombarded in 1914 and Hull coal exports certainly declined during the war because of this.
Not everyone was anti Germans. Some Hull residents defended their German neighbours, and were attacked themselves during the riots. Others spoke up for their German employers in the press and warned them ahead of danger. Probably the saddest aspect of the riots was that the German community had been long established and successful. It included many notable people who had lived in the city, were Naturalised British citizens, and whose children were born in Hull. The vast majority of “German” residents considered themselves English and patriotic and it came as a shock when they were accused of being German. When Conscription was introduced in Jan 1916, Germans affected by the riots enlisted in the British services. John Hannemann enlisted in the York & Lancaster regiment, in 1916. Mrs Most’s sons enlisted – John Frederick Most died in France in 1917. His brother was wounded. Albert Henry Keller enlisted in the 5th Rifle Brigade on 1 Feb 1916, lost an eye in the war and was discharged. John Planer’s son, George Henry Planer, served with the 27th Northumberland Fusiliers and was killed in action in 1917.
Hull had prospered through its trade with German ports and 16% of its exports to Germany ended overnight when war began. Both the Hull Corporation and Chamber of Commerce showed an increasing reluctance to discriminate against German trade and were keen to revive their links with Germany as soon as the war ended.
Compared with other Anti German riots at the time, the Hull riots were small. The atrocity caused pales into insignificance compared to the Armenian massacres in World War 1 and the Holocaust in World War 2. Hull can admit its part, in one of the more tragic episodes on the Home Front, during the First World War, without affecting its wider contributions to humanity. Hull will always be synonymous with freedom. Hull is the city which began the English Civil war to end feudal oppression. William Wilberforce, the Hull born MP helped to abolish slavery. Other notable Humanitarians, like Edward Francis Collins, Editor of the Hull Advertiser (1841-1866) propounded free trade, fought for the control of the Hull workhouse by the poor-law board, and supported the drainage scheme recommended by the General Board of Health. Furthermore, he campaigned for the very poor, many of whom were immigrant Irish cotton spinners, for the promotion of temperance, and for the reduction of anti-Catholic or anti-Jewish local prejudice. Other notables included Sir Mark Sykes and Lieutenant Commander, Kenworthy, each argued for the rights and interests of Hull’s ethnic and religious minorities. It is within this context that the hull riots should be viewed.

List of Arrests – ( a summary of those charged for civil disorder)

Shops Attacked During the Hull Riots 1915 – Decline of German businesses

Hull Riots – Claims for Damages and Compensation paid.

Source: Anti-German Sentiment in Kingston Upon Hull. The German Community and the First World War. D.G Woodhouse, St Catherine’s College, Oxford, (1990)