The Dogs Of War: How Man’s Best Friend Served On The Front Lines

The use of dogs in war time situations is nothing new. War dogs were used by the Egyptians, Greeks, Persians and Sarmatians. Wardogs served most often as sentries and running point on patrols, though they were sometimes taken into battle. In WWII, the dog had many places. One version was that of companion or comfort. Those dogs were often found after raids or towns were cleared after battle. Soldiers enjoyed the break from reality when they snuggled their new friends. Others had a working role and served as sentries and guards and others still had a much more dramatic role. Some were on a one way ticket as they were armed with explosives and used as anti-tank dogs.

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An American soldier with cattle dog during WWII. Dogs in the field were saviors to many soldiers, not only for safety but for sanity as well.