How did the animals help people during the war? Dogs - heroes of the Great Patriotic War

Animals, tamed by man, have always been in the service of him. And not only in peacetime. As animals helped people during the war, it is known from the history of different peoples of the planet. In this case, it is not just about modernity. The first mention of the participation of animals in the combat actions of various armies are of deep antiquity.

What determines the choice of animals

Historians have repeatedly found documents that tell how animals helped people during the war. In addition, it is known that for military purposes a variety of types of their representatives were used. What guided the warring armies, choosing their allies among the animals?

First of all, this was due to the level of development of civilization in general and military art and the level of armament of the army in particular. The choice depended on the nature of the terrain where the battles were going. The goals that needed to be achieved during the rivalry also suggested which animals are best used.
Horses, elephants, dogs, different kinds of birds and even snakes could perform both auxiliary and combat functions.

Horses and war

The most peace-loving and noble animal on Earth is a horse. However, it was her man who used more often other fauna in the war. Chariots of the soldiers of the most ancient states were harnessed by horses. The devastating forays of nomads, which lasted for more than one century, were also carried out on horses.
The regiments of hussars and uhlans during the Patriotic War of 1812, North American Indians, cavalrymen of both world wars - all were closely related to horses. A list of military events, where these animals played a big role, could be continued.

Horses were used in times of attack like draft power during respites, in reconnaissance. These animals worked with signalmen, laying communications. The victorious army, led by the military commanders, solemnly entered the defeated cities on horseback.

The mentioned historical events remind once again how animals helped people during the war. And this means that all the hardships associated with harsh times had to be experienced not only by people, but also by their four-legged assistants.

Animals participating in wars

In tropical countries, as a rule, near the people in the battles involved elephants. They were fearlessly moving forward, terrifying the enemy. Their immense power was used to move heavy structures and machines. But against this formidable force, a simple weapon was soon found - it is fire. He forced the elephants to flee in panic fear. During this flight, not only the enemy, but also their own army suffered.

In Asian countries, not horses, but mules and camels, were used for military purposes. These animals are more enduring, better adapted to the conditions of semi-deserts and deserts.
Studying the question of how animals helped people during the war, we can not fail to mention the birds. First of all, these are mail pigeons. Many armies of the world used birds to transmit reports. However, during the Second World War against pigeons began to produce falcon-peregrine falcons, which are predators. For the first time such tactics were used by the British.

Dogs in the War

A special conversation about the participation of animals in the war deserves a dog. They can rightly be called servicemen. Their difficult career began in ancient antiquity. They were serving as watchdogs.
After a certain time, people began to use them in search, and then in courier work. In the twentieth century, dogs grew to sappers, demolitionists, orderlies, scouts, border guards.

Animals-participants of the Great Patriotic War

The memory of the events of seventy years ago is still alive in the hearts of people. The modern generation understands what strength and courage had to show the soldiers of different countries in the fight against a serious opponent, what was fascist Germany.
In this case, do not underestimate the role of animals during the Great Patriotic War. And again we will talk about horses, dogs, pigeons. There are known facts that trained dolphins were used in the service of naval sailors. They played the role of demolition men, scouts, discovering divers submariners.

According to official documents, there were about 1.9 million horse heads in the Soviet Army. They were used in all arms. A team of several animals could move the gun, changing the firing positions. Field kitchens moved with the help of horses, they also brought carts with food. Equestrian transport was used in military infirmaries, so many wounded soldiers believed that they owed their lives to horses.

The fact that people are grateful to animals is evidenced by the fact that the wounded horses were taken from the battlefield and nursed to full recovery. However, we should not forget that animals died in the war, just like people. According to some reports, during the last war, about a million horses were killed.

Dogs-heroes of the Great Patriotic War

Knowing the whole burden of the service, which had to be carried to dogs in the period from 1941 to 1945, without hesitation they can be put on a par with the people who have won the Victory in this war.

Stories told by eyewitnesses startle with unusual facts that speak of the boundless devotion of a dog to a man. According to official sources, about 700 thousand wounded soldiers were taken from under the line of fire by dogs-nurses.

It is well known that four-legged assistants delivered shells and ammunition to the most dangerous places, where it was unthinkable to get to a person or a technique. Sometimes at the moment of the battle the message received from the command in time could save tens and hundreds of human lives. About 120 thousand such reports were delivered by dogs.

After the fierce battles, many wounded soldiers remained in their places of command. Dogs helped physicians to find living fighters in need of help, saving their lives in this way.

With the help of fighter dogs, about 300 enemy tanks were destroyed during the war years. It is sad that the life of all these animals ended in the same way - they had to stop the enemy car, but at the same time die under its caterpillars.
After the onset of a turning point during the war, the liberation procession of our army began on the territory of the USSR and European countries. It was necessary to protect people who were returning to peaceful life. And here again the dogs rendered an invaluable service. They participated in the clearance of more than 300 settlements. Dogs in the war found more than four million mines. They saved from the destruction of 18394 buildings, many of which had historical value. The statement that dogs are heroes of the Great Patriotic War has good reasons, which are confirmed by official data.

Zones of armed conflicts

As you know, the modern world does not have a calm atmosphere. Voltage arises with a certain constancy in one part, then in another. And again in the most dangerous places near the person there is a dog.

Cynological services train them to look for hiding criminals, to pursue persecution. With dogs, transport inspections, patrolling of streets, protection of objects of special importance are carried out.

Human tribute to memory

The feats of animals during the war are not forgotten by people. There are numerous evidences about this. For example, a monument to the dogs of the Great Patriotic War is found in many cities and countries that did not ignore these tragic events. The initiators of the creation of monuments are ordinary people, public organizations, and sometimes heads of state.

In Moscow, on Poklonnaya Hill in 2013, a bronze monument to a front dog was installed. In Ukraine, in 2003, a memorial complex was opened in honor of the heroes-border guards and service dogs. In Novosibirsk, a monument is erected in honor of all service dogs who participated in hostilities and suffered or died there.
It is not uncommon for dogs to receive rewards for performing particularly dangerous tasks.

It's safe to say that each person keeps an extraordinary story in his heart, an amazing story about animals during the war. And this is also a tribute to the memory of four-legged friends.