Minors’ participation in war was first mentioned in antiquity. During 1800s, it had become a common scene for youths to serve as aides and charioteers bearers to adult warriors in the Mediterranean basin.
In the West, the youths were caught up in the overwhelming tide of patriotism through 1900s. During the cause of World War I, a huge number of boys around the age of 12 were cheerfully enrolled for active service, to serve in the bloodiest battles of the war.
In World War II, children frequently participated in the rebellions in both the Allied and Axis forces. The youngest children fought in the United States Navy was only 12 years old. In fact, the US Military was not the only recruiter of underage children. Many countries, unintentionally or intentionally, employed child soldiers during World War II. …show more content…
In early 1945, large numbers of youths were forced to drop out of school, and sent to this organization to receive military training after which they had to perform, mostly, suicide missions. Essentially, those young Germans were created by Hitler to serve as an army of fit. They were left only the choice of either following Nazi party orders, or facing trial with the possibility of execution. At the beginning of war, the members in Hitler Youth even amounted to 8.8 million. Once the war began, the numbers declined to just over one million, since many of them were involved in the national army as local and district leaders for which the previous average age was 24. However, after the onset of war, numerous local and district leaders changed to those who were 16 and 17 years of age, added up to 500 boys in
In the West, the youths were caught up in the overwhelming tide of patriotism through 1900s. During the cause of World War I, a huge number of boys around the age of 12 were cheerfully enrolled for active service, to serve in the bloodiest battles of the war.
In World War II, children frequently participated in the rebellions in both the Allied and Axis forces. The youngest children fought in the United States Navy was only 12 years old. In fact, the US Military was not the only recruiter of underage children. Many countries, unintentionally or intentionally, employed child soldiers during World War II. …show more content…
In early 1945, large numbers of youths were forced to drop out of school, and sent to this organization to receive military training after which they had to perform, mostly, suicide missions. Essentially, those young Germans were created by Hitler to serve as an army of fit. They were left only the choice of either following Nazi party orders, or facing trial with the possibility of execution. At the beginning of war, the members in Hitler Youth even amounted to 8.8 million. Once the war began, the numbers declined to just over one million, since many of them were involved in the national army as local and district leaders for which the previous average age was 24. However, after the onset of war, numerous local and district leaders changed to those who were 16 and 17 years of age, added up to 500 boys in