Dogs played an important military role for most European armies during World War I, serving in a variety of tasks. Dogs hauled machine gun and supply carts. They also served as messengers, often delivering their missives under a hail of fire.
Though it is difficult to fully account for their numbers, according to one French source “more than two thousand dogs” were in service on the Western Front at one time during the war, and the Imperial War Museums believes over 16 million total animals were in service during the course World War I.
The contributions of dogs during World War I led to increased recognition of their roles in military and search-and-rescue operations. Many countries established units specifically for training dogs for future conflicts.
The bond between humans and dogs during this tumultuous time highlighted their importance not only as working animals but also as companions in times of hardship. Here below is a set of amazing photos of dogs during World War I.
A medical dog with a Red Cross insignia on its collar relaxes by its handler early in the war
Medic with his dog
A German aviator has decked out his dog
A German handler poses with his messenger dog and its carrying case
A German messenger dog poses with his message container. It appears the dog’s name is Rolf
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