Cigarettes Before ution: A WWII Tradition and Its Significance

During World War II, soldiers facing ution were sometimes given cigarettes as a form of comfort. This practice, though often overlooked, had multiple reasons behind it, reflecting the cultural norms and attitudes of the time regarding death, smoking, and military culture.

Calming Effects of Cigarettes

The most immediate reason for this practice was the calming effect that cigarettes provided. During the war, smoking was widely used for stress relief. Offering a cigarette to a soldier facing ution helped ease their tension and fear. The calming and relaxing properties of tobacco could significantly mitigate the anxiety and fear associated with the impending event.

Cultural Norms and Humanizing Death

Smoking was a common habit among soldiers at the time, and providing cigarettes was seen as a small gesture of humanity. In an otherwise grim situation, the act of offering a cigarette could be a moment of normalcy or dignity. This practice ensured that soldiers were treated with some level of respect and humanity, even in the face of their imminent death.

Ritualistic Gesture of Comfort

The act of offering a cigarette could also be viewed as a final ritual. It provided soldiers with a sense of normalcy and dignity, allowing them to face ution with a bit more composure. For the military personnel involved in the ution, it served as a way to desensitize themselves to the grim reality of their actions, creating a psychological buffer between their emotions and the harsh consequences of their role in the military.

Desensitization and Emotional Buffer

For the military personnel involved in the ution, offering a cigarette might have helped desensitize them to the act they were about to carry out. The process of undergoing such a traumatic experience was in itself a psychological challenge. A cigarette could create a temporary emotional buffer, allowing them to perform their duties with a bit more detachment. This was crucial in the often emotionally taxing role of carrying out ution.

Historical Context: The Rise of Smoking Among Soldiers

The practice of soldiers smoking dates back to the latter half of the 19th century, particularly during the Crimean War when cigarettes and Turkish tobacco were introduced into the British and French armies. Soldiers smoked for various reasons, including to cover up the odor of unwashed bodies and uniforms, to pass the time, and to calm their nerves. Tobacco has a nature that can be described as flattening feelings. It can make people less anxious, which is why many people take up smoking. Soldiers had "learned" to smoke a bit before undertaking stressful duties to avoid panic.

When a soldier about to be uted was offered a cigarette, it was partly to "calm" his nerves and enable him to face the firing squad with more composure. This could provide the man with the dignity of not "disgracing himself" in those final moments. The act of offering a cigarette often reflected a delicate balance between the pragmatic needs of the military and the moral and psychological needs of the soldiers.

While this practice may seem unusual today, it reflects the norms and attitudes of the time regarding death, smoking, and military culture. The act of offering a cigarette to a soldier facing ution was a complex mix of practicality, comfort, and humanity, providing a small reprieve in a time of great suffering and trauma.

Conclusion

The practice of giving cigarettes to soldiers facing ution during World War II was more than a token gesture. It was a multifaceted tradition that addressed the calming effects, cultural norms, and the ritualistic nature of death in the context of war. Understanding this tradition provides insight into the complex and nuanced interplay between pragmatism, humanity, and the harsh realities of military service.