Women and Medicine In the War

September 1, 1939 marked the beginning of the most deadliest and violent armed conflict in the history of mankind – World War II. Triggered by Adolf Hitler's invasion of Poland, the war lasted for six years and resulted in more than an estimated 50 million military and civilian deaths from more than 30 different countries.1 World War II has much to teach, not only about military preparedness, global strategy, and the combined military operations in the coalition war against fascism, but also about the ways civilians became involved in the war – specifically, the impactful roles of women on the warfront. One of these ways women got involved was through nursing, which was a key element of healthcare during wartime. The war was a period of great advancements in medicine and was a direct response to the newly developed war weaponry. The role of women as nurses was crucial, as it was the potential difference between life and death for many wounded soldiers. The need for nurses became more obvious than at any other time in war history. As this nursing role became more and more critical as World War II progressed, the number of female nurses increased significantly. Most importantly, though, women were allowed to demonstrate their competence during even the most dangerous conditions. In recalling the history of World War II, the contribution of women nurses during the war is highly recognized and indispensable. Essentially, the war brought these women closer to battle than ever before seen. Their duties enabled them to participate in almost every aspect of the war. The skills and

1. Wikimedia Foundation. "World War II." Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II (accessed March 17, 2014). abilities of women nurses were consid...

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...out important dates, amount of casualties, etc.

Works Cited

Bellafaire, Judith and Herrera Graf, Mercedes, Women Doctors In War, Texas A&M University

Press, October 27, 2009. Chapter 3

Lang Eleanor, Her War: American Women in World War II, iUniverse, December 28, 2003, 41

Monahan Evenlyn and Neidel-Greenlee, Rosemary, And If I Perish: Frontline U.S. Army Nurses in World War II, (Random House LLC, December 18, 2007), 6

Rostker Bernard, Providing for the Casualties of War: The American Experience through World

War II, RAND Corporation (May 14, 2013), 189

---"The Army Nurse Corps." The Army Nurse Corps. http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/72-14/72-14.HTM (accessed March 18, 2014).

---Wikimedia Foundation. "World War II." Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II (accessed March 17, 2014).