World War I Museum Honors Hutterite Conscientious Objectors Joseph and Michael Hofer

The World War I museum in Kansas City has recently unveiled a plaque honoring two Hutterite conscientious objectors, Joseph and Michael Hofer, who died in late 1918 in Ft. Leavenworth military prison after enduring weeks of torture in a dungeon at Alcatraz prison in San Francisco. The ceremony took place during a conference on conscientious objectors, dissent, and resistance to World War I, sponsored by the peace history society and local community area churches.

The Hutterites, a Christian religious group living communally, uphold pacifism and believe humans were not meant to kill one another. Michael and Joseph Hofer, based in South Dakota, were called to war on May 25, 1918, following President Woodrow Wilson’s decision to send U.S. forces into Europe. This marked a shift from Wilson’s earlier campaign promise of keeping the nation out of war.

Historians attribute Wilson’s change in stance to his vision of asserting American power globally and promoting liberal principles. Others point to economic interests, particularly those of J.P. Morgan, who had funded the Allied war effort and sought a return on his investment. The war resulted in tens of thousands of American casualties and widespread disillusionment with U.S. involvement.

Duane Stoltzfus, in his book *Pacifists in Chains: The Persecution of the Hutterites During the Great War*, recounts that when the Hofer brothers and other Hutterites arrived at Ft. Lewis for basic training, they faced mockery for being German speakers and pacifists. Their beards and hair were shaved in violation of their religious customs, and they refused to complete enlistment forms, leading to charges of insubordination. At trial, they stated their life’s purpose was to work on farms for the poor and needy in the United States.

The Hofer brothers were among 504 conscientious objectors court-martialed during the war, with 503 convictions and one acquittal. Of these, 142 were Mennonite, Amish, or Hutterite, and six Mennonites died at Ft. Leavenworth, including four from Oklahoma, at least one of whom was Amish. The Hofer brothers were imprisoned at Alcatraz, where they were housed with some of the most dangerous criminals in the nation.

The story of the Hofer brothers reflects a broader pattern of persecution faced by pacifist communities during the Great War. Their sacrifice underscores the cost of standing firm in conscience, even in the face of state violence. Their legacy serves as a reminder of the moral courage required to resist unjust authority. Micah 6:8 calls for justice, mercy, and humility in service, a principle that resonates with the lives and deaths of those who refused to bear arms.

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