Rearmament, public reluctance, and a skilled civilian reserve

Paul recalls his family's belief that Germany would not risk another war and connects it with the visible injuries of First World War veterans. In his interpretation, these experiences help explain resistance to rearmament despite the value of enlarging the BEF's mechanized professional core. The counterfactual response is a civilian labor corps that presents employment, practical skills, and public works as its immediate purpose. Military-style organization would give participants experience of a structured collective routine without making weapons training the attraction. Welding and construction are suggested as skills that could fill industrial shortages. An adult extension of Scouting is another proposed way to combine training with activities that families would want to join.