TOP-8 Rare professions of the Second World War

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

The military today has some professions that might surprise you - for example, did you know that there are tool repair specialists in the army and marines? These troops are repairing musical instruments for military bands.

But during World War II, there were many professions that would seem strange in today's technological age. During the course of the war, technological progress reduced or eliminated the need for many types of manual labor.

1) Blacksmith

During World War II, blacksmiths still made many of the items needed to repair equipment and machinery. They made metal tools and parts by hand in coal or coke forges. They also made horseshoes for horses and mules that served during the war.

2) Meat grinder

Does what the name suggests - cuts the meat. These troops were responsible for preparing whole carcasses, such as beef and lamb, for distribution to various units around the world.

3) Horse owner

Horse drivers will train horses and mules so that they can be issued to equestrian units. They also trained them to carry bales and be tied to carts and carts.

Although they were not used in World War II to the extent that they were used in World War I, troops still relied on horses and mules to traverse terrain impassable for mechanized units.

For example, the 5332rd Brigade, a long-range patrolling group set up to serve in the Burma mountains, was largely self-sufficient due to the 3,000 mules assigned to it - all sent from the United States.

4) Artist and animator

During World War II, martial artists and animators created paintings, illustrations, films, diagrams and maps by hand. Many successful artists served in World War II, including Bill Modlin, who painted Willie and Joe, archetypes for frontline infantrymen; and Bill Keane, who continued to paint the family circus after his military service ended.

During World War II, military animation artists were very busy. the army even housed soldiers at Walt Disney studios during the war to make patriotic films for the public and educational or training films for military personnel.

5) Crystal Grinder

During World War II, many radios still required crystals to work. Crystal grinders will grind and calibrate these crystals to pick up specific frequencies.

Personal radios were banned on the front lines, but crystal radios had no external power supply, so they could not be detected by the enemy. For this reason, the troops often created crystal radios from a variety of materials - including pencils and razor blades - to listen to music and news. These smuggled radios have been called "trench radios."

6) Model manufacturer

The creators of military models were instructed to create large-scale models of military equipment, terrain and other objects that will be used in films, as teaching aids and for operational planning. The models built by these troops were used in what is arguably one of the greatest examples of military deception, Operation Fortitude.

Inflatable tank model M4 Sherman

The goal of Operation Fortitude was to convince the Germans that Allied forces heading for France for the D-Day invasion would land at Pas-de-Calais in July, not Normandy in June.

The dummy buildings, aircraft and landing craft were built by the model makers and housed near Dover, England, in a camp built for the first dummy group of the US Army. The deception was so successful that Hitler kept his troops in reserve for two weeks after D-Day because he believed another invasion would take place across the Strait of Dover.

7) Pigeon breeder

Pigeon breeders were responsible for all aspects of their birds' lives. They will breed, train and care for the pigeons that were used to deliver messages. Some birds were specially trained to fly at night, while others sought out food and water. More than 90% of messages sent by pigeons have been successfully delivered, according to the US Army Museum of Electronics and Communications.

8) Sonic scout

Before the development of radar, sound range was one of the most effective ways to detect enemy artillery, mortars and missiles. This process was first developed in World War I, and continued to be used in combat until the Korean War.

From the forward operational post, the field artillery sound recorder monitors an oscilloscope and recorder connected to several microphones. When the sound of an enemy weapon reached the microphone, the information was recorded on sound tape and the data from multiple microphones could be analyzed to find the enemy weapon.

This technology is still used today in many countries, which often use sonic range in conjunction with radar.