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Battle of Britain
Women joined Women's Auxiliary Air Force in 1939 for secretarial, cooking and driving tasks. They were barred from piloting military aircraft, but played a number of important roles. Personnel served in France and Germany before the military was abolished in 1920. -
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Battle of Atlantic
Women were finally being recognized. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Thousands of women were deployed in a variety of combat duties until the 1st Separate Women's Volunteer Rifle Brigade was disbanded in 1944. The majority of the anti-aircraft guns at Stalingrad were manned by women. Some batteries, such as the 1077th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, fought on the ground as well. -
Dieppe Raid
In case they were needed as house guards, women in Canada received paramilitary training in small guns, drill, first aid, and vehicle maintenance. In 1941, the Canadian government began recruiting over 45,000 women for full-time military duty during World War II. Mechanics, parachute riggers, and heavy mobile equipment drivers were all jobs for women. -
D-Day
Women flew almost half of all combat aircraft. Women may have flown the planes that dropped paratroopers on D-Day, attacked German fortifications, and strafed Panzer forces on their approach to the front, while men were at the controls.