Military Dogs of World War II

"Military Dogs of World War II examines a heartwarming but serious topic and reminds senior leaders and servicemembers of all ranks of the critical contributions made by every level of the force. It is an illuminating quick read on an often overlooked and ongoing part of the overall military effort." – Parameters Animals, especially dogs, have served in all the wars of men since time immemorial. During World War II, most combatant nations employed dogs on the battlefield in a number of ways including searching for injured men or downed airmen; detecting mines; carrying messages between units or dragging communications wires, particularly in difficult terrain; transporting supplies; and sentry duty. This illustrated book is an overview of how dogs were trained and used in WWII by different countries, including the stories of some of the individual animals that served. It also summarizes the various programs established to take care of the animals and send them home after the war.