How will these resources help you?

Study of the Second World War is often framed as a conflict in which technological innovations took centre stage. However, alongside radar and jet aeroplanes, animals still played a major role in warfare. In 1940, the British government asked civilians to hand over their pets, mostly dogs, so that they could be trained to rescue survivors trapped in bombed buildings and to deliver vital messages on the battlefield. Some were even trained to parachute from aircraft. As the war progressed, the distinction between pet and trained working animal became increasingly unclear, In 1943, the PDSA Dickin Medal was created to honour the bravery of animals in the Second World War. These resources explore the major contribution that pets and other animals made, both on and off the battlefield.