»The priest said that women should have been sealed«

The infuence of World War I on divorce

Abstract

During the Great War there was a sharp increase in adultery (fornication) all over Europe. The proof for that could be found also in an increase of demands with which deceived husbands impugned their paternity in the court of law after the war. However, a sharp increase in divorce cases (separations) in 1919 was not a direct consequence of female adultery. In 1919, sixty spouses filed for divorce in the Celje court circuit - that is almost three times more than in 1914. However, in 27 preserved divorce papers the adultery of wives in the time when their husbands were fighting on the front was only three times the most important ground for divorce. Among the most important reasons for divorce prevailed - as before the war - violence, repeated insults, and »malicious abandonment«.