Women of World War I: Nurses, Spies, and Resistance Fighters

The first wave of women’s involvement was primarily in volunteer roles. Organizations such as the Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADs) in Britain, France, and other Allied countries provided an organized structure for women to serve in medical, clerical, and auxiliary roles. VADs, many of whom had no prior medical training, volunteered as nurses, ambulance drivers, and telephonists, assisting in the care of wounded soldiers and the logistical operations of war. Their contributions were vital to the functioning of the military and medical infrastructure, and their presence on the battlefield or behind the lines became commonplace. Women filled roles that had traditionally been reserved for men, proving indispensable in sustaining the war effort.

Simultaneously, women also took on more direct military support roles, particularly in the form of communications and administrative duties. In Britain, for example, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was established in 1917, allowing women to serve as telephone operators, clerks, and even cooks. Similar auxiliary corps were established in other countries, recognizing the need for women to support the war effort while men were away. Women’s involvement in these roles provided crucial support to the military, freeing up men for active combat duties. The shift in the public perception of women, as they proved capable of performing these roles, contributed to the ongoing evolution of women’s rights and their place in society.