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World War 1 was a terrible tragedy, but one aspect that is often overlooked is the impact it had on children.  Children were affected both in the war zone and indirectly in other countries involved in the conflict. No mercy was shown to children in the war zone – they were killed along with their parents and were in many cases were also forced to fight. Many of these children never recovered from the emotional and physical trauma.

Children who didn’t live directly in the war zone were also greatly impacted. Child and infant mortality rates were high as a result of poverty, malnutrition and inadequate medical services. Families were torn apart as fathers, brothers and uncles were sent to war and often never came back. Children were forced to ‘grow up’ earlier and take over adult duties such as working, babysitting and housework.

Financial pressures made many adolescents leave school earlier in order to work and supplement the family’s income, while much of the time children did spend in school was spent learning biased information as countries tried to promote nationwide hatred of the ‘enemy’ and pride in their own country.