Animals During Ww2

Animals During World War II

People weren’t the only living creatures that were affected during World War II. People began to value animals even more afterwards and understand that they were not just pets. Animals were seen more as allies and companions than as mere pets or filthy animals. Dogs, cats, mules, carrier pigeons, elephants, camels, and glow worms were just some off the animals that were used during World War II ("Animals in World War II" Home, Dogs, Horses and Mules, Unusual Animals n.d.). Animals took on many new roles during World War II. One of the reasons animals were chosen to serve in World War II was for their natural instincts. Mules have immense stamina; which helps them in diverse climates, terrain, weather conditions,

Oxen and cows would haul supplies. Finland used over 100,000 reindeer; the reindeer were used in raiding patrols, supply transportation, and carrying wounded soldiers. Japan used elephants in the war during the fight against Burma, but they were gun shy and they would work on their own terms. The Nazis also used elephants to pull tractors in order to save gasoline. The Allies used pack camels. The soldiers rode the camels, but they were never actually used in a battle. Bugs were used as well. Spiders created silk for surveying instruments. Germany dropped Potato Bugs on Britain hoping they would eat and destroy all of Britain's crops causing the people to starve. The U.S. came up with the idea that they could use cats to sink German ships, and they thought that because cats hated water that they would guide the bombs to enemy ships. The main problem was that the cats would become unconscious during the drop ("Animals in World War II" Home, Dogs, Horses and Mules, Unusual Animals

Zoos were bombed and destroyed, and they were also damaged during land attacks. Animals that were in the zoo at the time died from euthanasia, bombings, injures, food shortages, and lack of care and maintenance ("World War II Weapons: Animals" 2010). The London Zoo had to kill their black widow spiders, all poisonous snakes, the manatee, muntjacs, Indian fruit bats, Nile crocodiles, American alligators, and two lion cubs (Campbell 2013). Sometime animals were just stolen and taken from the zoos. Farms were also damaged and destroyed. Thousands of farms were devastated across Europe, but most of the damage that was done in the area took place in the East. The resulting damage killed millions of sheep, pigs, cows, horses, and any other animal that was present at the time of the attacks ("World War II Weapons: Animals" 2010).

The value of animals and their importance was raised even higher after World War II. Animals were also turned into weapons because of the race to develop new technology to use in weapons and as weapons (Swancer 2014). And even the pets had created an impact. The people kept pets for comfort but killed them in panic ("World War II Weapons: Animals" 2010). Animals that were chosen to serve in the War made an important impact because of their natural instincts, even if many of them died because of bullet wounds, starvation, thirst, exhaustion, and diseases ("History" 2017