Saving Grace on Feathered Wings: Homing Pigeons in the First World War

Authors

Brandon R. Katzung Hokanson, Gettysburg CollegeFollow

Class Year

2020

Document Type

Student Research Paper

Date of Creation

Spring 2017

Department 1

History

Abstract

Soldiers of the First World War came in all shapes and sizes. The humble homing pigeon is one of the more unique and critical examples of such. They served in the armed forces of both the Allies and the Central Powers. Used as a last-ditch form of communication, the homing pigeons were exceptional in the work of sending messages back and forth between the battle lines. Little has been written about their vital role and even less in the rigorous training the birds and their handlers both endured. Understanding their training is critical to understanding how the homing pigeons performed so well under the extreme conditions of combat.

Comments

Written for HIST 219: The Great War. Received the Edwin T. Greninger '41 Award in History in Fall 2017.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Katzung Hokanson, Brandon R., "Saving Grace on Feathered Wings: Homing Pigeons in the First World War" (2017). Student Publications. 567.
https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship/567