An introduction to the plight of children during WWI




A group of refugee children in Greece during World War One.

 

The First World War affected the health and wellbeing of millions of children, in school, in the trenches and at home.

The war disrupted children’s educations and curriculums were changed to accommodate new programs that encouraged patriotism and nationalistic pride. Outside of school, children raised money for the soldiers with youth groups. Children had to leave school and start working earlier and often worked in factories producing arms and ammunition for the soldiers.

In the excitement of the war, numerous adolescent boys lied about their ages and joined the army, expecting adventure and friendship. In reality, many of these children came home injured and traumatised or died on the battlefield. Back home, the health of children steadily declined as the war continued and food had to be rationed. Children all over the world suffered malnutrition and in some areas around 50% of children died before their 1st birthday.

Fathers, brothers, uncles and cousins leaving their families to fight for their country changed the family dynamic. With their husbands in the army, mothers had to either remarry or start working and working more to provide food for the family. Children, especially daughters, often had to become adults and take over the running of the house: cooking, cleaning and babysitting their younger siblings. Young children grew up without parental role models and kids had to spend less time playing or with their family members. As thousand of fathers died in war, children were left with one or no parents and were brought up in orphanages or by a single mother. Those fathers who did come home were often mentally and physically scarred from the events of the war and some children even abused by their disturbed returning fathers.

Sources Used:

Youtube Video: The Home Front in World War One: Impact on Children by russeltarr
Websites: Children of the Great War: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7082625.stm
Effect of World War I on children in the United States: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_of_World_War_I_on_children_in_the_United_States
How did children contribute to WWI: http://www.enotes.com/history/q-and-a/how-did-children-contribute-wwi-124213