When we think of military forces, we often imagine strict discipline and unwavering loyalty. However, history is full of moments when soldiers, officers, or even entire units resisted their own governments due to moral objections. These acts of dissent, often overshadowed by the wars they were part of, reveal the complex relationship between duty and conscience.
Here are seven lesser-known times when militaries dissented against their state’s directives.
1. The French Army Mutinies of 1917: Soldiers Had Enough
During World War I, after years of senseless bloodshed, thousands of French soldiers refused to fight in 1917. Sparked by the disastrous Nivelle Offensive, these mutinies were not cowardice but a statement against what they saw as pointless slaughter. Soldiers protested in a disciplined manner, refusing to advance while still maintaining order within their ranks. Their actions forced the French military to improve conditions and change its approach to warfare.
Read More: New Zealand History – WWI Conscientious Objection
2. The Wehrmacht Officers Who Plotted to Kill Hitler
Not all members of Nazi Germany’s army followed Hitler blindly. In 1944, a group of high-ranking German officers led by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg attempted to assassinate Hitler and overthrow the Nazi regime in Operation Valkyrie. They were horrified by the war crimes being committed and believed removing Hitler was the only way to save Germany. The plan failed, and many conspirators were executed, but their courage remains a testament to military resistance against tyranny.
Read More: History Extra – Valkyrie: The Plot to Kill Hitler
3. American Soldiers in Vietnam: “Fragging” and Resistance
By the late 1960s, many U.S. soldiers in Vietnam began to question the war’s morality. Some took drastic action—fragging, or attacking their own officers, became disturbingly common as troops rebelled against orders they saw as unjust or suicidal. Others simply refused to fight. The anti-war movement even reached inside military ranks, as some troops joined protests against the war. This internal dissent was one of the factors that pressured the U.S. government to withdraw.
Read More: Soldiers in Revolt: GI Resistance During Vietnam
4. The Soviet Soldiers Who Refused to Fight in Afghanistan
The Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was supposed to be a quick intervention, but it turned into a drawn-out disaster. Many Soviet soldiers became disillusioned, realizing they were being used to prop up an unpopular regime against fierce Afghan resistance. Some even defected and joined the Mujahideen, while others openly opposed the war. Low morale, internal dissent, and a growing anti-war movement at home helped push the USSR to withdraw in 1989.
Read More: Breaking Ranks: Dissent in the Military
5. Israeli Soldiers Who Refused to Enforce Occupation
Since the early 2000s, several groups of Israeli soldiers have refused to serve in the occupied Palestinian territories, citing moral objections to military policies. Organizations like Yesh Gvul and Breaking the Silence consist of former soldiers who speak out against what they see as unjust treatment of Palestinians. Some have been jailed for refusing orders, while others work to expose human rights abuses from within the military.
Read More: The Viability of Moral Dissent in the Military
6. Apartheid-Era South African Soldiers Who Said “No”
During the 1970s and 80s, as South Africa’s apartheid regime came under increasing global scrutiny, many white South African soldiers began refusing to serve in the military. They saw enforcing apartheid as morally indefensible. Some deserted, while others joined movements for conscientious objectors, despite facing imprisonment. Their resistance helped weaken the military’s ability to uphold apartheid, contributing to the system’s collapse in the early 1990s.
Read More: Conscientious Objection in the U.S. (Similar Cases)
7. Russian Soldiers Surrendering in Ukraine
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, reports have emerged of Russian troops refusing to fight, sabotaging their own equipment, and even surrendering to Ukrainian forces. Some have claimed they were misled about their mission, while others objected to targeting civilians. A hotline called “I Want to Live” was set up to help Russian soldiers defect safely. This growing dissent reflects fractures within the Russian military over the war’s legitimacy.
Read More: Reports of Russian Military Dissent in Ukraine
Final Thoughts: The Power of Military Conscience
While armies are often viewed as obedient instruments of state power, history shows that soldiers are not mindless followers. When faced with immoral orders, many have chosen resistance, even at great personal cost. Their dissent reminds us that even in war, conscience can prevail.
Did you know about these cases? What do you think about military dissent? Let’s discuss in the comments below!