Woman seving in the Royal Military

2nd Lieutenant, Bucharest 1943. She wears a standard Infantry uniform but I doubt that she was in the Infantry.

Sergeant or NCO wearing a standard Infantry uniform with bayonet. Circa 1930.

Photo #5. Major in the Roshiori Cavalry is wearing a WW1 Cross with 7 bars on it. Last bar is the 1919 bar for service in Russia.

Photo on Ebay. Woman officer in the Vanatori de Munte.

Hallo Gentlemen

Just a quick question with regards this fascinating thread, is it possible to state that all the photos are of women, who served in the Romanian military in WW1 and post WW1 or are some just "dress-up".

The reason I ask is that I have seen pictures of women dressed in uniforms of the French, Belgian, British, Austrian and German Army etc.. which are obviously posed, i.e wearing their husbands, or boyfriends uniforms.

Has any study been carried out on the role women played in the military in WW1 and WW2? I also imagine the heroines who fell in combat were the exception rather than normal?

I also imagine that a woman wearing a Cross of War with 7 bars would be famous? and was there a RUSSIA bar or a SIBERIA bar??

Kevn in Deva.

The kepi for that woman is too large , even with the long hair inside.The male officer is without kepi...

As many other contemporary armies (except maybe Russia) there were not women in the Romanian army.

Ecaterina Teodoroiu, who acceded to the rank of Second-Lieutenant commanding a platoon in summer 1917, was an exception, emphasized by the WW1 official propaganda as a symbol of the entire people struggle against the invaders.

The main women role during the 20th century conflicts was an auxiliary one, especially for medical service (nurses).

Even in the Russian army the famous “Women Battalions” , which defended Kerensky regime, were mainly a propaganda subject and were ineffective against the revolutionary storm troops. During WW2 the Soviets again used women for second line duties, such as: pilots, AA gunners, snipers, signals, drivers, traffic agents and not as first line combatants. The Germans also used female personnel for their AA and fire home defence units, transport pilots and signals.

As it was said here a female air transport squadron (“Escadrila Alba”) also existed in Romania during WW2.

I think that the very interesting photos presented on this thread represent young ladies who borrowed their boyfriends (or relatives) military uniforms only for fun. Married women (officers’ wives) were more reluctant to pose in such a dress in order to not affect their honorable housekeeper status.

During WW2 the Soviets again used women for second line duties, such as: pilots, AA gunners, snipers, signals, drivers, traffic agents and not as first line combatants.

Hallo Kepi

With regards Russian women snipers,

this is a hard job to do, even for men UNLESS ythey are in the front line or even forward of the front line.

And Russian women did fill a combatant role in WW2, see:

http://www.pullins.com/Books/01605WomeninWarandResis.htm

For more information on Women at War see:

http://www.lothene.demon.co.uk/others/women20.html

Kevin in Deva.

This post has been edited by New Connaught Ranger on July 18, 2006 08:16 pm