Jim: Saves a British Town from Devastation

Jim, an Airedale, made history as a WWI Coastguard dog who saved Ramsgate, a coastal town in England, from widespread damage.

Jim on patrol on the cliffs near Ramsgate.

Jim belonged to a member of the Epple Bay Coastguard station and was trained to alert to the sound of Zeppelins. On May 16, 1915, Jim's loud barks raised the alarm of an approaching Zeppelin carrying a payload of bombs. Because of his early warnings, nine biplanes from the Royal Naval Air Service were able to chase the Zeppelin away.

According to Archivist Jennie Burgess of the Birchington Heritage Trust charity, "We are very proud of Jim in our community and he really does deserve to be recognized at last. His story has been largely lost over the years but we hope to change that... There is no record of Jim getting any honor for his actions but many feel it is time to remember what a great job he did with a posthumous award." This statement was made a few years ago, and I am unable to find if this has yet happened.

Prince: Faithful WWI Dog

Prince became famous after traveling many miles to be with his beloved master at the frontlines of France during the First World War.

In September 1914, Private James Brown joined the war, leaving behind his wife and his dog Prince (a half Irish terrier half collie mix.) That following November, Prince disappeared. Brown's wife searched for the missing dog, but when he was nowhere to be found, she wrote a letter to her husband about the unfortunate news.

Shortly after receiving his wife's letter, about 4-5 days after the dog's disappearance, Prince was once again by his master's side. According to a soldier's letter in a museum magazine, "Here the unexpected happened for on that day Prince's old master, also passing through and seeing a dog which looked very much like his own, called to him and was quickly assured that it was none other than the old friend of the Battalion." Prince managed to make his way from Hammersmith, London to the trenches in northern France.

Prince became the mascot to Brown's regiment, as well as a ratter, and continued to stay after Brown returned home. At the end of the war, the RSPCA reunited the dog with his master. Prince passed away a couple of years later in 1921.

Prince's story is recorded in a 1917 poem A Soldier's Dog written by Captain Newell, who sadly died during an airstrike in 1918:

And did you think you had left me Master,
Was it a kindly thing to do?
You tied me up in the yard for safety,
But did you think I was leaving you?
I s'pose when a man leaves a dog behind him,
He sort o' thinks that the brute won't mind,
But let me tell you that's not dog nature,
Which is altogether a different kind.

You might'nt know that I loved you Master,
The news may come as a small surprise,
But it was fact, and you could have seen it
When you looked deep down in my eyes.
For you were good, you were kind, you fed me,
Did'nt get riled at a doggies whim,
Nor lift your foot as I've heard some men do,
So I told myself, I'll stick to him.

I saw you don your uniform Master,
Soon to be off on the march again,
I thought it prime to be going with you,
But you stooped and put me on the chain.
I strove to tell you I was heart broken.
I talked, I'm sorry to say I growled,
I pleaded as plain as if words were spoken,
But off you went and I stayed - and howled.

The very next day they released me Master,
And away I bolted like a shot.
You I wanted - the missus might miss me
Little I cared if she did or not.
Off I ran till I met some soldiers
Marching along to take the train,
I fell in line, for if I kept with them
I felt dead sure to meet you again.

A funny old tyke they called me Master,
But I was as nice as I could be.
I wagged my tail to them most politely
And so they smuggled me o'er the sea.
It made me ill, I was rather frightened
On the water and out in the fog,
But I kept pretending I was happy
Bucking up like a soldier's dog.

I did'nt feel safe on landing Master,
Though deuced glad to smell earth once more.
I sneaked at night time adown the gangway,
To wag my tail on a foreign shore.
I followed the men where they were camping.
Some of them gave me my grub to eat,
And when for the front the train-load started
There was your humble under the seat.

And so I came to the trenches Master
Searching for you, Sir, just the same.
Then some-one took a look at my collar,
And there behold was my master's name.
So then at last they brought me near you,
And set me down without a remark.
I could'nt keep my tail from wagging,
And how you jumped when you heard me bark.

This is'nt Hammersmith is it Master?
The shot and shell make a rare to do.
But look in my eyes and see I'm happy,
Anywhere's home along o' you,
Take me with you out to the trenches,
Out in the shots, the mud, the rain.
I wont worry, whatever happens.
Only - don't leave me again.

A Soldier's Dog, Inspiring War Poem Acrylic Print
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Bonneau: A WWI Dog Who Belonged to a Poet

Bonneau was a stray dog in France during WWI, and was adopted by the famous poet John McCrae.

Bonneau & John McCrae

John McCrae, the writer of the war poem In Flanders Fields, served in WWI as a medical officer. He worked in the trenches, treating the injured. McCrae loved animals, and his adopted dog Bonneau would accompany him as he tended to the soldiers.

The fate of Bonneau isn’t known.

Red Poppies, In Flanders Fields Poem Poster
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Sled Dog Heroes of WWI

During WWI the French army launched a secret mission involving sled dogs. Just recently, almost 100 years later, did the French reveal information about the mission for the benefit of the documentary Sled Dog Soldiers.

Sled dogs in the French army.

The winter of 1914 was incredibly hard on the French soldiers in the Vosges mountains due to heavy snowfall. Traveling by vehicle or horse was impossible, meaning the troops could not receive important supplies such as food, warm clothes and ammunition. It also meant they could not transport their wounded soldiers.

Captain Louis Joseph Moufflet and Lieutenant Rene Robert Haas, who use to work as gold diggers in Alaska, knew sled dogs would be the perfect solution in preventing another disastrous winter. After convincing the French army to use the dogs, a secret mission was organized to bring 400 of the best sled dogs to France. They only had a few months to accomplish this feat before the winter of 1915 set in.

Moufflet went to Quebec City, Canada to find the majority of the dogs and Haas, who also happened to be an experienced musher, went to Nome, Alaska. After countless trials and tribulations, the two men found over 400 dogs.

Getting the dogs to France was not an easy task. First, Haas had to get his 100 plus dogs to Quebec. They took a boat from Nome to Vancouver, Canada, then a train to Quebec. All the dogs survived the long trip. Until the two Officers were able to find a boat to get them to France, which turned out to be quite a challenge at that time, they hid the dogs in a hangar - next to an explosive-testing facility that ended up benefiting the dogs by getting them use to explosions. Fortunately they were able to find a boat just in the nick of time. In fact, their boat was the last to leave Quebec City that winter before the St. Laurence River froze over. They arrived on the Vosges Front on December 15, 1915. Four dogs lost their lives during the 6,000 mile journey.

The dogs definitely proved to be helpful. The best distance achieved, with only nine dogs and close to 700 pounds of weight on the sled, was almost 75 miles in one day. In another successful mission, the sled dogs were able to transport 90 tons of ammunition in four days.

The sled dogs went on to help the French soldiers survive the winters and win multiple battles throughout WWI, but like humans, many died in combat.

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Strongheart: The First Major Canine Film Star

Strongheart became famous in history as the first major dog celebrity, having starred in six silent films between 1921 and 1927.

Strongheart, originally named Etzel von Oeringen, was born on October 1, 1917 in Wroclaw, Poland. The male German shepherd was descended from a carefully-bred line of police dogs, was trained in the kennels of the Berlin police department, and had a gallant record of service in the German Red Cross during the First World War. After the war, Etzel's owner could no longer afford to keep the three year old dog so he sent him to a friend who owned a reputable kennel in New York to be sold.

American director Laurence Trimble, who had achieved fame as an animal trainer for his work with Jean - the first canine film star in the US, was in search of a new dog. In the autumn of 1920 Trimble and Jane Murfin, a screenwriter for his films, bought Etzel, knowing the dog had the makings of being a star. The name Etzel von Oeringen seemed to long and complicated so it was decided by the publicity department of the motion picture studio to name the dog Strongheart.

Because Strongheart was so well trained in police methods, it took Trimble months to teach him to feel comfortable around groups of people, to have fun, and (because he was to play a dog hero) to attack gently. According to Trimble, "His human counterparts on screen were pleased with Strongheart, for even though he tore their clothes to shreds, he never left a mark of fang or nail on any actor."

Strongheart's first picture, The Silent Call (1921), was a huge success. He was loved by people of all ages and was given the star treatment when making personal appearances. He was the biggest grossing star in Hollywood during his lifetime - according to the Los Angeles Times, "...it is estimated that he has earned no less than $2.5 million since entering pictures and his income tax alone in one year was said to be $38,000."

Strongheart starred in five other films: Brawn of the North (1922), The Love Master (1924), White Fang (1925), North Star (1925) and The Return of Boston Blackie (1927). The Love Master and The Return of Boston Blackie are the only films known to survive today.

Lady Julie and Strongheart visiting a children's hospital in Boston, 1924

Strongheart produced many litters with his mate Lady Julie, a light-colored German shepherd who co-starred with him. One grandson, Lightning, appeared in several movies during the 1930s. Another grandson named Silver King also appeared in a couple of movies and made personal appearances teaching children about safety.

In 1929, while making a film, Strongheart was accidentally burned by a studio light. The burn never healed, causing a tumor to form which ultimately took his life. The beloved dog died at Murfin's home on June 24, 1929. Descendants of Strongheart and Lady Julie are still living today.

In 1960, Strongheart was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Rags: From Stray Dog to War Hero

Rags, a stray dog who lived on the streets of Paris, became famous in history as a WWI mascot with the 1st Infantry Division who helped save many lives.

Rags and Sgt. Hickman (who was with Donovan when he found Rags), 1925

On July 14, 1918, Private James Donovan, an American soldier serving with the 1st Infantry Division, was walking in Paris when he stumbled on what he thought was a bundle of rags. To his surprise, the bundle was a stray dog, a mixed breed terrier. The dog followed Donovan back to the base, which turned out to be a good thing. Donovan was late in reporting back to his unit so to avoid being punished he told the military police he was out searching for their mascot - Rags. It worked. He didn't get in trouble and Rags actually did become the mascot of his division. Rags was instantly liked by the men in the unit and was great for morale, but it soon became obvious that Rags had a lot more to offer.

When Donovan was transferred to the front line he left Rags behind to keep him safe but the dog later tracked him to the trenches. Realizing how good Rags was at finding his way around, Donovan taught him to run messages between the front line and the command when phone lines were down. Rags learned his new job quickly and performed it well. Dogs are smaller and quicker than humans, and have a better chance at dodging gunfire and getting through obstacles such as shell holes and barbed wire while delivering messages. Rags also had a unique ability at spotting breaks in the telephone lines while working alongside Donovan whose job was to repair damaged wires by shellfire. Rags would mark the spot and Donovan would fix it.

Rags was a smart dog. When he first came to the trenches he noticed the soldiers would hit the ground when they heard the sound of an incoming mortar attack so he started to do the same. In fact, with his keen sense of hearing, Rags soon became the first to hit the ground and the men quickly learned if Rags went down so did they. Many lives were saved because of Rags early warnings.

On October 9, 1918, the Germans launched a gas attack. Rags suffered leg injuries, was blinded in one eye, lost hearing in one ear and was mildly gassed. Donovan was more seriously wounded and badly gassed. Rags healed rather quickly but Donovan had to eventually be sent to a hospital in Fort Sheridan, Chicago which specialized in gas cases. Knowing how important Rags was to Donovan, people made certain that Rags was smuggled on to the ship that took Donovan back to the US.

Rags lived in the base firehouse (was even given a collar with a tag that identified him as 1st Division Rags) and visited Donovan daily in his hospital room. In early 1919, Donovan died and Rags remained living at the firehouse. In 1920, Rags found a forever home with Major Raymond Hardenbergh, his wife and his two daughters. The family moved frequently and Rags became popular at each base Hardenbergh was posted. When stationed in New York, the Army press released a story about the dog's heroic acts during the war and soon Rags became a well-loved celebrity. He was awarded ribbons and medals, and even participated in parades. In 1928, he marched down Broadway with the 1st Division troops as part of the 10th anniversary of the end of the Great War.

In March 1936, Hardenbergh informed the 1st Division that Rags had died - he was believed to have been 20 years old. Rags was a true military dog who knew how to salute the American flag. He was buried with military honors at the Aspen Hill Pet Cemetery in Silver Spring, Maryland.

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Cigarette Dogs: Delivering Free Smokes

These World War I dogs became famous in history for delivering cigarettes to troops in the trenches.

YMCA cigarette dog

Life in the trenches during the Great War was hard, dangerous and very stressful, and cigarette smoking helped provide some relief for many soldiers. Cigarettes were found to be a more convenient form of tobacco under wartime conditions - the pack was easy to carry, and the cigarette didn't get soggy like a cigar or constantly go out like a pipe and it could be snuffed on a moment's notice and saved for later.

In the US, cigarette smoking was generally looked upon with disdain. However, with the advent of the war, attitudes towards cigarettes changed as many people came to view them as a means of offering a respite from the horrors of battle. Doctors even considered a steady supply of cigarettes as essential to maintain calm during heavy raids and times of no action. It was even written in the Journal of the American Medical Association that cigarettes help soldiers at the front deal with the strain and help prevent nervous irritation.

Groups that once opposed the cigarette became active in distributing free smokes to soldiers. The Salvation Army, the American Red Cross and the YMCA helped support the demand for the once immoral cigarette to camps and hospitals both at home and overseas. Getting cigarettes to the men in the trenches was risky so small dogs were trained to deliver them - they were faster than man and smaller targets when crossing enemy fire.

Just like all war dogs, cigarette dogs were heroes. They performed their job well and many were injured and killed while doing so. The tobacco and the friendship the dogs provided helped thousands of soldiers during a brutal and difficult time.

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Red Cross Dogs: Saving Lives on the Battlefield

Red Cross dogs became famous in history for helping wounded soldiers in hostile territory during the First World War.

Red Cross dogs were vital in helping wounded soldiers during World War I when trench warfare was used. They were normally sent out at night into no man's land (the ground between the two opposing trenches) when the battles were not raging to locate the injured men. Their keen sense of smell and good night vision gave them the advantage of finding soldiers in the dark without bringing much attention to the enemy.

Many breeds were used as Red Cross dogs, also called Mercy dogs, including German shepherds, sheepdogs, Airedale terriers, bloodhounds, retrievers and collies. According to the Red Cross, it was about the character of the dog, not the breed. Before being sent to the battlefields, the dogs were trained under realistic battle conditions. After a few weeks of training, they were ready to serve their country. They knew which soldiers to help by the type of uniform they wore, and they knew to help only those who were still alive.

Saddlebags carrying water and first aid equipment were often strapped to the dogs when they went searching for the men. If the dog found a soldier who was not too badly wounded, the soldier could often stabilize his injuries using the medical supplies and then follow the dog back to the trench. If the soldier was unable to walk or was unconscious, the dog would return to his handler bringing back the wounded man's helmet or a piece of his uniform to indicate to their keeper that they had located someone. The dog would then lead a stretcher party to the victim. If the soldier was near death, the dog would stay and comfort him while he died.

It's estimated that there were upwards of 10,000 Red Cross dogs used during the Great War, and they were credited for saving thousands of lives over the course of the war. They were able to locate wounded soldiers in hard to find places such as in thickets and bushes and at the bottom of deep ravines. The dogs would also lead the men to bodies that were thought to be dead but when brought back to the medics they discovered they still had life in them. One surgeon recalled "It is purely a matter of their instinct, which is far more effective than man’s reasoning powers.”

One notable dog belonging to the French army, Prusco, was credited with saving over a hundred men after one battle. Sometimes Prusco would drag a soldier to a safe place from enemy fire before running back to his handler.

Red Cross dogs were true heroes during WWI and will always be remembered for their bravery, intelligence and kind hearts.

How Mercy Dogs Saved WWI Soldiers on Battlefields Card
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Ratters: War Dogs in the Trenches

Terriers became famous dogs in history as ratters during the Great War. They helped keep the rat population down in trenches, and they helped comfort the soldiers during a difficult time.

Trench warfare has been employed since ancient times, but reached its highest development on the Western Front during World War I. Both sides built deep trenches as a defense against the enemy. The territory between the two sides, ranging from 50 yards to a mile, was no man's land where soldiers crossed to attack the other side. The long narrow ditches, which were dug by hand, were usually about 12 feet deep and stretched for miles in a zig zag pattern. In total, the trenches built during WWI (laid end-to-end) would stretch some 25,000 miles. Life in the trenches was extremely hard so soldiers would take turns staying there - from as little as one day to as much as two weeks, sometimes even longer.

Sanitary conditions in the trenches were very poor. The filth and foul odor of decaying corpses and human waste from overflowed latrines not only contributed to the spread of disease, it also attracted rats and other vermin like lice that spread infection. Millions of rats infested trenches, some as big as cats. They would scamper across the soldiers in the dark and bite them while they slept, evoking fear from even battle-hardened soldiers. They would get into the soldiers food and even feed on human remains. The men used various methods to kill the rats - gunfire, with the bayonet and clubbing them to death - but their best method was using ratters.

A ratter's catch after a 15 minute hunt in the French trenches

Terriers were used as ratters during the war to help control the rat population in the trenches. They were bred for this type of work, and could kill many rats in a short period of time. The word terrier comes from the Latin word terra meaning earth. They were given this name because of their ability to catch rats and other small animals both over and under the ground with great skill.

These dogs were heroes during the Great War, risking their lives just like the brave men who fought against the enemy. Not only were they excellent hunters of rats, they were also a psychological comfort - a reminder of friendship - to the soldiers who were going through the horrors of battle and life in the trenches.

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Sergeant Stubby: World War I Dog Hero

A stray puppy became famous for saving lives and lifting spirits during World War I. He made history by becoming the first US dog to be given a rank - Sergeant Stubby.

In 1917, a stray puppy wandered around the fields of Yale University where soldiers prepared to fight in World War I. Private John Robert Conroy, who developed a fondness for the dog, brought him to his camp and named him Stubby because of his stumpy tail. Animals were forbidden but Stubby was allowed to stay due to his positive effect on morale. Stubby soon became the mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment, 26th Yankee Division. He learned the bugle calls, the drills and even how to salute. When ordered to "Present Arms" (military talk to salute), Stubby would sit down, raise his right paw to his eye and hold it there until ordered to "Order Arms" (lower a salute).

When it came time for the division to ship out to France aboard the SS Minnesota, Conroy and his fellow soldiers did not want to leave Stubby behind. They smuggled him aboard and hid him in a coal bin until the ship was far at sea. Stubby was then brought out on deck where the sailors were soon won over by him. When the ship arrived in France, the dog was once again smuggled on land and kept out of sight until discovered by the commanding officer. The CO was not about to allow the dog to stay but changed his mind after Stubby impressed him with a salute - he was officially allowed to follow the men to the front lines as their mascot.

Stubby was more than a mascot. He was a hero. He entered combat in February 1918 and served 18 months with the 102nd Infantry. He participated in 17 battles and four major offensives. In his first year of battle Stubby was exposed to mustard gas and almost died. He was taken to a nearby field hospital where he soon recovered. Back at the trenches, Stubby - now sensitive to the smallest trace of gas - was able to warn the soldiers of gas attacks, allowing them to mask up before the gas became lethal. Stubby also alerted the men of incoming artillery shells due to his keen sense of hearing, located injured soldiers for the medics to tend to, and even captured a German spy. He bit the German, knocked him down and kept him down until the soldiers arrived. Stubby was promoted to the rank of Sergeant by the commanding officer for his brave act, the first dog to be given rank in the US. Stubby was wounded a second time in combat when hit during a grenade attack, receiving a large amount of shrapnel in his leg and chest. He needed surgery, and during his convalescence time in a Red Cross Recovery Hospital he visited wounded men, lifting their spirits.

Now-Corporal Conroy & Sergeant Stubby

At the end of the war, Conroy smuggled Stubby back to the States. Stubby was greeted with a hero's welcome and became an instant celebrity. He led several military parades, visited the White House, met Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Harding and Coolidge, and was given a membership in the American Legion and the YMCA. He was also awarded numerous medals for his heroism, including the purple heart.

Sergeant Stubby passed away in his sleep in 1926. His obituary appeared in the New York Times, half a page long. His body was preserved and put on display in the Smithsonian Institute, along with his medals.

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Rin Tin Tin: From War Dog to Film Star

A puppy rescued in France during WWI made history by becoming a famous film star in the US. The puppy was Rin Tin Tin, who captured thousands of hearts and made the small studio Warner Bros. into a major studio.

On September 15, 1918, a young American corporal named Leland Duncan was sent to a small farm town in France, a former German encampment flattened by bombing, to see if it would be suitable as an airfield. While strolling around, he came upon what appeared to be a kennel. Inside were at least a dozen war dogs killed by artillery shells and one frantic German shepherd with five very young puppies. Fond of animals, Duncan took the mom and puppies back to his barracks. Not able to care for all of them, he gave away the mom and three puppies to fellow soldiers, and kept the other two puppies. He named the male Rin Tin Tin and the female Nanette, after the good-luck charms that were popular with soldiers in France.

Corporal Duncan and Rin Tin Tin

When the war ended, almost two months after finding the dogs, Duncan was determined to bring the puppies home with him. After much hassle, he was able to get the paperwork needed to bring them on the ship back to America. Shortly after making it to the US, Nanette died of pneumonia - she was later replaced with another German shepherd named Nanette II. Duncan returned to his home in Los Angeles and resumed working at his former job in a sports shop. Knowing Rin Tin Tin (nicknamed Rinty) was a smart dog, Duncan began training him to do tricks, and later entered him in a dog show when he was nearly full grown. Competing with a female shepherd, Rin Tin Tin was caught on film jumping over an 11 1/2 foot wall, clearing it at almost 12 feet, winning the competition.

After watching Rinty on film, Duncan was determined to get him to Hollywood. Both would go to Poverty Row (a strip in Hollywood where small B-movie studies were located) and knock on doors, trying to interest someone in using Rin Tin Tin in a film. His efforts eventually paid off, after knocking on the door of Harry Warner. Rinty got a small part in a melodrama called The Man from Hell's River (1922), replacing a wolf that was not performing properly. This was the beginning of an eight-year relationship with Warner Bros. His first starring role was in Where the North Begins (1923), a screenplay written by Duncan. The film was a huge success and Rin Tin Tin became a celebrity.

Thousands of fan letters were arriving at Warner Bros. requesting pictures of Rin Tin Tin. Each picture was autographed with a paw print and signed by Duncan on his behalf. Rinty's films were so profitable that Warner Bros. paid him almost eight times as much as they paid human actors. He was known as the mortgage lifter because every time the studio was hurting financially, it would release a Rin Tin Tin film and the income from that would set things right again. According to Hollywood legend, Rin Tin Tin received the most votes for Best Actor at the first Academy Award competition in 1929. The Academy was determined to have a human actor win, so the dog was removed as a choice.

Rinty's career with Warner Bros. ended in 1929 when the silent film era ended. The studio knew people were fascinated by the new capacity to hear sound, and felt dogs seemed less interesting in a movie since they could not talk. Rin Tin Tin continued his career with another studio, making a few more films, and even had his own radio show.

Rin Tin Tin died on August 10, 1932 at Duncan's home. In the US, his death set off a national response. Newspapers ran long obituaries, regular programming was interrupted to pay homage, and an hour-long tribute was broadcast on radio networks across the country the day after his death. Rinty was buried with his favorite squeaky toy in Duncan's backyard. Shortly afterwards, he was reburied in the world's oldest pet cemetery in Paris. Rinty's son, Rin Tin Tin Junior, went on to act and appeared in several films in the 1930s. He lacked the abilities of his father, but audiences seemed happy to accept him as Rin Tin Tin. Today's descendants are trained as service dogs for special needs children, and the current Rin Tin Tin XII attends events across the country promoting the Rin Tin Tin legacy.

Rinty made 23 silent films, with only six of them known to exist today. He also appeared in four sound features. In 1960, Rin Tin Tin was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Satan: World War I Messenger Dog Hero

Satan was one of many courageous dogs who became famous in history for delivering messages through dangerous terrain during the Great War.

French soldier and messenger dog wearing gas masks

During World War I, dogs were often used to deliver vital messages when phone lines weren't working. Dogs were ideal for the job because they could run faster than man, and were smaller targets than humans. The job was not easy. Messenger dogs had to travel long distances, often under fire, and had to overcome obstacles in their path like barbed wire, shell holes, trenches, rivers and chemical gases. Tens of thousands of dogs served as messengers throughout the war. One notable dog was Satan.

At the 1916 Battle of Verdun, French troops in the small town were surrounded by the German army, and were ordered to hold their position until reinforcements could be sent. They held on for days, but no one came to relieve them. There was no more means of communication. Radios were down, the last dog and homing pigeon were killed, and seven men were killed trying to deliver messages. Just as the men's hopes were diminishing, and the Germans were attacking them with artillery and gunfire, the French soldiers spotted a black animal running toward them in a zigzag pattern (the way the dogs were taught to run to avoid being a target). The animal was Satan, wearing a gas mask and something across his shoulders. He was running at a high speed and leaping over shell holes - some men declared that he was flying, that they even saw his wings. The French headquarters sent Satan, knowing his handler was in Verdun.

Messenger dog leaping over a trench

Duval, Satan's handler, recognized his dog and called out to him, urging him on. As Satan neared, he was clipped by a bullet and stumbled. Another bullet hit his leg, causing him to fall to the ground. Duval climbed out of the trench to keep urging the injured dog on, and was killed by enemy fire while calling out his words of encouragement. Having heard Duval's voice, Satan staggered to his feet and started toward the men, this time on three legs with the lame leg hanging useless at the hip. Satan was able to get close enough to the troops for the soldiers to pick him up and carry him to safety. They found a message in a tube from around his neck, which read "For God's sake, hold on. We will send troops to relieve you tomorrow." The winglike contraption across his shoulders was a harness balancing two small baskets, each one containing a carrier pigeon.

The commandant wrote two identical notes describing the locations of the German troops. Both pigeons were given a note then released into the air to deliver. One pigeon was shot down, and the other made it through the gunfire. The message was received, and Verdun was saved.

According to American war reporter Albert Peyson Terhune, "The garrison was able to hold out until reinforcements came all because one hairy mongrel refused to die while his errand was still uncompleted and because he was too loyal to quit."

It is not clear what became of Satan. Some accounts say he died moments after completing his mission. Others say he recovered from his injuries and retired from the military.

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Do you think WWI could have been prevented?

Although almost a century passed since the First World War, some historians are still wondering if the conflict could have been prevented. When the war erupted in 1914 nothing could have prevented the world conflagration. If there was ever a moment prevention was possible it would have been in the 19^th century. The dawn of the 20^th century dragged with it unresolved problems from the previous century. Although at that time Europe still dominated the world, captive nations still exited, subdued by the multinational empires. Most of the European nations did not solve yet their national problems at that time, being assimilated and forced to denationalization. This situation extended until the war started in 1914 and was temporarily resolved at the end of it in 1918. The conflict between the big European powers however was of course a consequence of concrete issues, such as the domination of the continent, the control of some vital regions of the world, the expansion and preservation of the colonial empires, the control and access to resources of various kinds, aggravation of the national ego in regard to the enemy’s etc. But beyond the many causes and conditions, the catastrophe became inevitable because of the exacerbated, outward oriented nationalism that caused hate and phobia between nations.

Manole, Gica. The First World War: A Long-Waited Conflict, 2010. (February 1, 2011). Electronic resource retrieved from http://gicamanole.blogspot.com/2010/05/primul-razboi-mondial-un-conflict.html

What were the causes of World War I? What made it a “world” war?

The causes that lead to the First World War were complex, and to follow their development, we need to look at the second half 19th century and early 20th century: the European nationalist spirit during the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, the political and economic rivalry between the states, the excessive arming after 1871 and the two hostile military alliances. Leading to the World War I - imperialism, nationalism, militarism, and defense alliances - was an accumulation of facts and event; however, the immediate cause was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife The Duchess of Hohenberg, in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914 by Bosnian Slaves recruited by Serbian terrorists. Austro-Hungary blamed Serbia and declared war. The assassination in Sarajevo was only the pretense or the alleged reason of the war; the causes of this first global conflict were much deeper: economic competition, imperialism and nationalism.

At the end of the 19th century the problem of nationalism in many parts of Europe was unresolved, leading to strained relations between the regions involved and various European countries. The nationalist spirit was also manifested in the economic conflict. At the dawn of the 20th century, Europe was the most powerful region in the world. European colonial empires ruled over most of the world, and due to the Industrial Revolution, Europe was the richest, generating the need of a larger market for goods. The main field of economic development was Africa, and colonial interests in this area have clashed several times since 1898; the economic rivalry in Africa between Germany on one side, and England and France, on the other side, was slowly bringing Europe on the break of war.

As a result of these tensions, between 1871 and 1914 European countries have adopted measures that have increased the domestic and external threat of war. Convinced that their interests were threatened, European powers maintained a huge army.

As tension was mounting in Europe, the contradictions between the great powers increased, and the armed conflict for dividing the world power became inevitable. The major powers pursued a foreign policy of expansionism and conquest in search of new sources of raw materials and markets for goods. England occupied colonies in Africa and Asia, while France took possession of some countries in the same area. Russia occupied territories in Iran and China, generating the armed conflict between the two Asian countries. Germany and Italy were after the redistribution of their colonies in the developing countries and desired to strengthen their positions by all means possible, in regard to Russia, France, Great Britain and the Austria-Hungary Empire. Germany’s tendency to become the largest military power and to break Britain's naval supremacy caused great tension between the two countries. This lead to the division of the world powers into two blocs: the Central Powers’ Triple Alliance (Germany, Austro-Hungary and Italy), and the Triple Entente (France, England and Russia). The Triple Alliance had as purpose was mutual aid in case of a Russian attack. The Triple Entente was a deterrent to the Triple Alliance and was part of France’s plan to surround Germany. Militant nationalism and the national issue turned into the Balkan area into a real powder keg ready to ignite at the slightest spark. With the Moroccan Crisis and Balkan wars, where Austria-Hungary and Russia were competing for power, peace was threatened and Europe was on the verge of war: this was the spark to ignite the conflict. The outbreak of war in July 1914 between the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente marked the unequal political and economic development in the late 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. England and France, old industrial countries with large colonial empires were overcome by countries like Germany and the United States, experiencing a strong industrial development.

On 8 May 1915, a German U-boat sank the British luxury liner ‘Lusitania’, killing 128 Americans, prompting President Wilson to reconsider the United States position towards the war. In April 1917 Wilson declared war on Germany, entering the world conflagration on the Entente side.

The World War I was a “world” war because major nations of the world are involved, affecting many countries on various continents.

Allan, Tony. The Causes of World War I. Chicago, IL: Heinemann Library, 2003.

Cojan, Vincent. World War I: A Military Timeline. Bucharest, Romania: The Didactic and Pedagogic Publishers, 1997.

Henretta, James A. and David Brody. America: A Concise History, Volume II: Since 1877. 4th ed., Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2010, 640-644