Spokane in the Great War
Spokane was deeply involved in the First World War, but few visible reminders remain
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American involvement in the First World War was at first unpopular--and nowhere more than Spokane.
As the great powers of Europe stumbled into conflict in 1914, few Spokanites saw it as their fight. Though they did have opinions. The strong population of German immigrants in eastern Washington often favored Germany and the Central Powers. Other locals, perhaps the majority, rooted for England and France. Residents followed the progress of the war through the new medium of movie newsreels--until a series of fistfights between supporters of two sides caused the mayor to ban the further showing of war newsreels in Spokane theaters.
This changed overnight when American entered the war in 1917, and Spokane residents pivoted to supporting the war effort. Citizens signed pledge cards promising to avoid certain foods (more for the troops!), to buy war bonds, and of course to volunteer for the army. A Spokane baker reported that "We are anxiously awaiting these instructions and will aid the government in every way possible to preserve wheat flour.”
Spokane would send 11,000 men to serve in the military, about a tenth of their population. Newspapers and even churches shamed people who were not seen as supporting the war effort. Sometimes the simple failure to buy a war bond could get a person's name, address, and place of work printed in the Spokesman-Review for all to see.
The war's end brought joy to Spokane, which was considerably tempered when returning soldiers came home with a particularly virulent strain of influenza. Public places were closed for weeks as hundreds of Spokanites fell ill and died in what was known as the Spanish Flu Epidemic.
