Women in the war during WWII?

Question

What did women do in the war during WWII, mostly nurses or secretarial? What was the enlistment age back then? How about the Korean War?

Answer 1

It depends upon the country you are talking about and whether you mean as an enlisted person or non-enlisted.

Enlistment age was 18 in most countries and women worked in many roles in the military. Some were translators, others secretaries, others were radio operators, others (in Britain) were "air group controllers" in bunkers controlling aircraft during the Battle of Britain. Others were nurses or worked in other roles.

Some, who were not in the military were in the "Womens Land Army" in countries like Australia. These girls and women worked on farms to replace the men on the farms to keep the food supplies going.

Other women worked in factories, both military and civilian, rep[lacing the men that would usually occupy those jobs.

In countries like France, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Yugoslavia and others many women were in the "resistance" and took an active role in combat against the Germans or were couriers of information.

Russian women were also in the army and some, a small percentage, even occupied combat roles.

Korea ---
Women during the Korean conflict were usually Nurses, radio operators, secretaries and other rear echolon roles.

Answer 2

Some years ago I worked with a women who's first job was in engineering in an Aircraft factory, building Lancaster Bombers. The factory was effectively underground to protect against bombing. It was on the outskirts of the City of Leeds so she caught the train and bus there. After the war most women went back to the more traditional jobs. But the die had been cast, and as those women who had done war work and had children who had left home, they started to demand the right to work back in 'Mens' jobs. Women didn't work down the coal mines in Britain that was reserved for men. Called 'Bevan Boys' after the minister in charge. But otherwise women did most of the jobs done by men. The BBC has some good archive footage somewhere of women Welders who got their old jobs back in the 70s.

Answer 3

There were drivers, and pilots. (they would ferry planes back and forth), their were women in all kinds of rolls in Korea too. The enlistment age was 18. Back in WWII many were lying about their age to get in.

Answer 4

Russia in WWII used female pilots in combat roles.
The most famous was Lilya Litvyak who flew 168 missions and had 12 confirmed air to air kills before she was shot down and killed in August 1943.

Answer 5

My grandma was in the Womans Army Corps in WW2. She was a physical therapist.