5 Surprising Facts about WW1 That Will Blow Your Mind
War has always been an integral part of human history. One of the deadliest and most atrocious wars in the history of the world is the First World War. It pitted the Central Powers against the Allied Powers between 1914 until 1918. The conflict involved over 70 million military personnel, resulting in the death of over 16 million soldiers and civilians. However, while most of us are familiar with the general statistics, there are some surprising, obscure, and bizarre facts about WW1 that you may not know. Read on to learn about five surprising facts about WW1 that will blow your mind.
1. Pigeons Were Used as War Messengers
You may know that telegraphy and telephony were the most common means of communication during WW1. However, you might find it surprising to learn that pigeons were also used as war messengers. Pigeons are fast flyers, and they were ideal for sending messages during the war, especially when traditional means of communications were down. Pigeons could also carry light-weighted cameras that would take photos of enemy territory, which would be used to plan attacks. Over 100,000 pigeons were used during WW1, with the British alone using over 20,000 pigeons in the war.
2. The Lusitania Ship was Carrying Ammunition
The sinking of the Lusitania was a significant event in WW1, and it was one of the reasons why the US joined the war. The ship was torpedoed by a German submarine in May 1915, killing 1,198 passengers. However, what most people don’t know is that the Lusitania was carrying ammunition, despite being a passenger ship. It was a strategic move by the British government to use passenger ships to carry ammunition, hoping that German submarines would be hesitant to attack them. The Lusitania incident was the beginning of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany.
3. Gas Masks Were Invented Due To Chemical Warfare
At the beginning of WW1, the use of chemical warfare was not common. However, it gained popularity as the war progressed, and various poisonous gases were developed to inflict harm on enemies. The first gas used in WW1 was chlorine gas, which was unleashed by the Germans on British and French troops in 1915. This led to the development of gas masks, which could protect soldiers from the poisonous gases. The invention of the gas mask was a significant milestone in military history and has contributed to protecting soldiers from chemical attacks in subsequent wars.
4. WW1 Inspired the Creation of Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time (DST) was introduced as an energy-saving measure in various countries during WW1. Germany was the first country to adopt DST in 1916, followed by the UK and various other countries. The rationale behind DST was to reduce the amount of electricity used for lighting during wartime. This would then be redirected to war efforts. DST was later abandoned after the war, only to be reintroduced in various countries during WW2.
5. Animals Also Served During the War
During WW1, animals were utilized for various purposes. Horses and mules, for instance, were used as transportation for soldiers and equipment. They were also used to pull artillery guns and ambulances. Dogs, on the other hand, were used as message carriers, an early warning system, and to search for wounded soldiers. Pigeons were also used, as previously mentioned. Other animals utilized in WW1 include camels, elephants, and even cats that were used as rodent catchers in the trenches.
Conclusion
WW1 was a war that had significant impacts on the world. It left millions of soldiers and civilians dead, and its effects are still being felt today. We have explored some of the surprising facts about WW1 that you may not know, from the use of pigeons as messengers, to the role animals played during the war. Learning about the obscure and bizarre facts of WW1 can help us understand the war on a more personal level and appreciate how it shaped the world we live in today.
