Surprising Facts About Military Life in the 20th Century

The 20th century marked a major turning point in the nature of warfare. The murmurs of industrialized warfare were being felt as early as the 1840s, but the First World War was a shock to the system. We often look back through the conflicts of the 20th century in terms of dramatic battles or iconic victories. The daily reality for the average soldier was very different, often having to deal with unmatched technological progress and rapid social changes. Military life in the 20th century was far from a cakewalk, with experiments in maintaining hygiene despite awful conditions, maintaining morale, and keeping supplied against all odds. We’re looking at some of the lesser-known aspects of military life across both World Wars and the backdrop of the Cold War, and what they can show us about how troops lived their day-to-day lives.

Rations and Battlefield Nutrition

Staying fed regularly is just part of military life, but it wasn’t all down to caloric content for the first half o of the 20th century. During the World Wars, militaries around the world invested heavily in designing portable, long-lasting meals that could survive even in the harshest of conditions. This leveraged new technological developments like vitamin-enrichment, canning, and dehydration, among others, to help maintain performance even in the midst of active combat.

During the Second World War, this led to standardized field rations. Portions had carefully measured nutritional content, aiming to maintain energy while preventing more common diseases that arose from vitamin and mineral deficiencies. We often cite that chocolate bars were a common food for American troops during the Second World War, but these weren’t engineered for the purpose of being a sweet treat. Instead, they were designed for slow energy release and durability, even in the humid conditions of the Pacific Theater.

Some standard-issue rations were designed to be intentionally unappealing, being reserved for emergency use. This had a ripple effect in the food industry as a whole, as something that was started for logistical necessity has helped shape modern food technology today.

Hygiene and Sanitation

Disease, historically speaking, is the biggest killer of soldiers. Yes, even above the likes of artillery, bombardment, and so forth. The 20th century marked a notable change in military life, with mandatory hygiene routines, vaccination programs, and waste disposal programs becoming the norm. While seemingly banal, these measures dramatically reduced deaths from disease and infection.

Trench foot was a common affliction during the First World War, and led to daily inspection of their feet, frequent sock changes, and the use of protective grease. By the time the Second World War broke out, portable shower units, delousing stations, and medical screens were just a part of military life. They might seem mundane through a modern lens, but they represented a revolution in public health practices, something that would have a profound impact on civilian medicine.

Letters and Communiques

It is difficult to imagine a period of time when loved ones weren’t just a phone call or text message away. In the early 20th century, these technologies were a pipe dream, and letters were still the primary means of communication. Letters from loved ones weren’t just a reminder of what soldiers left behind for military life, but were also essential for morale. Military leadership was quick to recognize the emotional connection troops had with their loved ones and how that could affect combat effectiveness.

The United States developed entire logistical systems to transport letters across oceans and even into active combat zones. Soldiers would carry letters in their uniforms, a reminder of home and a source of comfort. You can even see a noted decline in morale when the mail is delayed. Commanders treated communication as a strategic must, with a servicemember receiving a letter being enough to keep going in the face of insurmountable odds.

Accelerated Social Change

Military life could also be a catalyst for social change. We saw revolutions erupt across Europe during the First World War, as troops balked against the orders and conditions of the modern battlefield. Social division was a hot-button topic of the 20th century, and a central focus throughout military life. As total war became the norm during the Second World War, those social divisions eroded. Women and minority groups took on more prominent roles, especially in the United States. Women served as mechanics, drivers, factory workers, and codebreakers, directly supporting the war effort.

Military service was a major vehicle for desegregation. In both the European and Pacific Theaters, troops commiserated on their shared hardships, ignoring the likes of racial barriers. The United States Military would be desegregated in the wake of World War 2, and it also helped to fuel the fire that would give the Civil Rights Movement its legs.

The immediate aftermath of the Second World War and the Korean War also led to expanded access to higher education and affordable housing, which greatly influenced social mobility. Military service wasn’t just something done out of a sense of duty, but a means of economically advancing. Few were ready to return to the status quo, and it showed.

Technology as an Agent of Change

We often look at military technological advances centered around the likes of vehicles and weaponry. While this was certainly a focus throughout the 20th century, quite a few advances were things that affected daily routines. Portable radios gave a little bit of enjoyment and a source of information during the downtime experienced in military life. Advances in logistics, like refrigeration and transport improvements, changed how supplies were transported and distributed. Standardized uniforms enabled greater comfort and environmental protection.

Mechanization is perhaps the biggest advance seen in military life. Service members were trained on increasingly complex machines, rather than relying solely on manual labor. The introduction of aircraft to the military introduced entirely new categories of service. There was a vast expansion and fundamental change of military roles, with mechanics, technicians, and operators needed for all these machines.

Psychological Warfare

Warfare isn’t just about physical prowess. It’s also a mental game. Military leadership was quick to notice this, with training programs developed to increase psychological resilience. Troops were prepared for stress, uncertainty, and sheer chaos, preparing for the worst that the battlefield had to offer. Structured routines, rituals, and team-building exercises served to emphasize unit cohesion.

Combat fatigue became a pressing issue as well, and something that received renewed attention during the Second World War. Troops were put on regular rotation, something already seen during the First World War at the likes of the Battle of Verdun and the Battle of the Somme. Psychological strain, something that used to be seen as a weakness, was recognized as a valid response to extreme conditions. This laid the groundwork for developing modern understandings of trauma and stress, especially in the context of military life.

Music and Entertainment

Entertainment is something that was surprisingly lacking in military units throughout most of history. By the time the Second World War was in full swing, commanders and planners recognized just how important the likes of music and film could be for morale. Above all else, it was a welcome departure from the usual conditions of military life, providing a sense of relief in the midst of extreme danger and a return of sorts to normalcy.

American troops were regularly entertained, with performers often visiting thanks to organizations like the USO. Performances by stars of the era weren’t seen as a luxury, but a necessity, especially when considering psychological endurance. Songs that were hits during the war became cultural touchstones, contextualizing pop culture in the conflicts of the era.

Conclusion

By the time the 20th century came to a close, military life had evolved into something quite different than the rigid conscripted forces of the First World War. In a century marked by profound technological advances, social changes, and a greater focus on psychology, these were areas pioneered by militaries around the world. Understanding some of the more surprising aspects of military life in the 20th century doesn’t just show how things were during the era’s conflicts, but rather paints a picture of just why it was a time of great change and transition.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©David McLellan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons – License / Original