fighting, in whatever corner of the world they may be carried out, - is always a tragedy, and a much larger scale than it might seem at first glance.
Besides tens, hundreds, or even thousands of lives lost and mutilated, it is also a significant financial loss to the state economy and the enormous damage done to nature.
Unfortunately, in these situations, we are not always able to imagine that the animals feel at war.On this, we simply have neither the time nor the emotions.
But nothing ... After all, according to experts, most of our smaller brethren do not understand what's going on and why before or secure lawn sunlit forest edges suddenly turned into a dangerous minefield.So, as wild and domestic animals in the war years require special attention and participation.As they say, we are in fact responsible for those who tamed.
Although sometimes the situation is such that it is allowed in war become valuable scouts, guides, postmen and messengers, thus helping us humans to survive all the horrors and deprivations.
Section 1. Fighting brothers our smaller
Unfortunately, wars are waged on the ground since the emergence of the world.For whatever reason, people have always fought for certain ideals and, most likely, will compete with each other in the future.
But constant helpers of humanity in the war for thousands of years have been and remain the animals.It so happened that at first indirectly participated in the battles only wild bees, produced from special kegs on the enemy, but with tougher tactics of warfare warring beasts list is constantly growing.
much is known about what an invaluable contribution to victory made the animals in the Great Patriotic War.However, they were mostly the dog who saved tens of thousands of soldiers' lives.However, with time to "fight" learned and cats, and bats, seals and even dolphins.
Animal war heroes - a topic that can be debated endlessly.Let's try a few examples, thus tracing the history from the time of ancient conquests.
Section 2. The elephants and horses - Warriors last
Even in ancient times in the clashes in India, Persia, Southeast Asia, used the so-called war elephants.It is known that initially the famous military leader Hannibal crossed the Alps with them.Later, war elephants become a truly deadly weapon.Before the battle, they fed stimulants and wine, after which the animals lost reason and pain and fear rushed on all who arose in their path.Shame of those years can be considered that, had only come out of obedience to the bishop as his neck hammered special metal stake, which led to the "fast" death.
from books and stories of our grandparents, we know that animals during the war played a leading role - a horse.And they are not only used during World War II for the transport of wounded and dead, but in ancient times, a few thousand years ago.
Section 3. Unusual assistant.Baboon named Jackie
Animals in War Memorial meet very different.For example, in 1915, one of the soldiers asked permission to take Britain to war on a home baboon.Monkey named Jackie due to his demeanor in a short time has become a talisman Infantry Regiment and had their own uniforms.
Baboon saluted senior officers, ate a fork and knife, and fought crawling the trenches, a soldier in the tube for lighting his tobacco and was able to calculate the enemy at a great distance.And when the injured owner (bullet pierced right through his shoulder), Jackie licking his wound right up to the arrival of medics.Three years later, he was wounded in the right leg (the monkey at the time was building the barrier of the fragments of stones!), Which had to be amputated.
After recovery, Jackie was promoted to corporal and was awarded a medal for bravery.Baboon as martial law, received a pension.
Section 4. Military pigeons
In war very distinguished mail pigeon named Mary.During the fighting, it is four times did the flight from France to England and back to the military notes.Dove in their missions was wounded three times, and after the attack Falcon Mary damage the wing and chest.Bird left a seam 22.
second dove, Winky, rescued a crew, stranded in the North Sea after the bombing.The commander released the dove with the hope that she will tell her about the attack.Winky flew 120 miles and completing quests.After 15 minutes, the air force found the ship.
Section 5 most loyal animals in war dogs
A certain Newfoundland named Gaby was simply given to the Canadian military.Initially, raising a puppy, they did not even have assumed, what service he rendered to them after a while.The thing is that later this dog was with them in the defense of Hong Kong.When an enemy soldier threw a grenade into the trench war, the dog grabbed the unfortunate thing in his mouth and ran toward the enemy.Unfortunately, saving the lives of children, it exploded with a shell.
Pointer Judy almost considered an employee of the ship.Dog rose on the vessel, its feeding and treatment almost from the birth of her allocated a certain amount of money.And, as it later turned out, for good reason.It was she who first noticed the Japanese air raid.After the sinking of the ship's dog only on the second day sailed on a desert island, where the crew had landed earlier, and almost immediately dug a spring with fresh water.Later, she and her team was captured and spent four years.By the way, not everyone knows that Judy was the only official captive animals.
Pets in World War II also played an important role.For example, Shepherd Irma Eastern European breed helped the wounded under the rubble.Thanks to the 191 lives were saved by a soldier for her mistress, resident of a village in the Kursk region, presented the award.
Section 6. Red cat-antiaircrafter
Animal heroes of the Great Patriotic War were very different, but all of them, ranging from small to large pigeons and hardy horses, worked for the benefit of victory.Of course, the most familiar and common associates were considered dogs.However, to ascribe all the glory only to them just not worth it.
In Belarus in 1944, the military picked up the ginger kitten, whom the sergeant almost immediately called false flax.Always during the bombing of a cat somewhere to disappear and appear only when everything calms down.For Ryzhikov noticed feature: a minute before the enemy raid kitten muffled growling in the direction from which the enemy appeared later.In April 1945, when the war was almost over, Ginger began again muffled growl.Military trusted his instinct and brought to combat readiness equipment.A minute later, a plume of smoke emerged from the "hawk", immediately followed by an enemy aircraft.The military immediately shot down two enemy line, and he fell over a mile from the location of the soldiers.After the war Ryzhik home took with him the sergeant-Belarusian.
Of course, this is not an isolated case.During the Second World War, cats often take on board submarines.Thanks to their natural flair and a perfect ear almost always managed to time to prevent the attack of the enemy and thus save many lives.
Section 7. Memorable memorial in London
is hardly a person who would deny the indisputable fact testifying that the animal heroes of the Great Patriotic War, as, in principle, and the Second World War, and all the others, played an important rolein the events and the successful completion of military operations aimed at the release of his state from the brash, cynical and bloodthirsty enemy.
It is therefore not so long ago, in 2004, it was decided to install such animals a special memorial.He is now in London near Hyde Park, and made him an Englishman by the name of D. Backhouse.
memorial dedicated to the memory of all the animals who served and died in the battles of people.Now a prominent figure on the monument of many animals, and the most striking images of the two mules, horses, dogs, camels, elephants, ox, cow, cat, dolphin and pigeons.Strikes and an inscription that says: "They had no choice."
