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History books give us the grand overview of World War I, with maps of front lines and formal portraits of generals. But what about the regular folks? Life didn't just stop for four years while the world was at war. These remarkable photographs also capture the parts of the story that often get left out. They show us the real people, the everyday routines, and the surprising bits of humanity that managed to shine through even in the most difficult of times. It’s a different way of looking at the Great War, one filled with faces you won't soon forget. Children, mothers, soldiers, factory workers, all just trying to get through their day with a little hope intact.
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Man Buying The Evening Star From Newsboy, Washington, D.C., USA - Headline Reads "U.S. At War With Germany", 1917
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#4
Constantinople Children, Circa 1914-1918
It’s often the small, quiet details in these old pictures that really stop you in your tracks. You might notice a worn-out pair of shoes, a mischievous smile on a child’s face, or the way someone is holding a simple tool. Those little human touches tell a story all on their own, one much bigger than any caption ever could.
#6
Apparatus For Measuring Extension-Flexion Of The Wrist, Part Of Physical Rehabilitation, Circa 1914-1918
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Nun Bringing Women Whose Husbands And Sons Are At War To The American Red Cross Dispensary For Treatment, Circa 1914-1918
#9
Patients Learning Engraving As Part Of Undergoing Occupational Therapy. Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D.c., USA, Circa 1914-1918
Even with the whole world seemingly turned upside down, you can clearly see people striving to maintain some sense of normalcy. Whether it was sharing a laugh with a friend or looking after an animal mascot, these simple acts were their own form of quiet defiance. It’s a powerful reminder that the human spirit is wired to seek out comfort and connection, no matter the circumstances.
#15
Close Up Of The Hollerith Machine In Operation - It Was A Punch Card System Used To Tabulate The Statistics Of Sick And Wounded, Tours, France, Circa 1914-1918
These images all capture history in the most profound way. You can almost imagine the sounds of the street or the quiet chatter in the room. Each image is a frozen piece of a day that happened over a century ago, a window into a world that is gone but not entirely lost to us.
#18
American Soldiers Doing Laundry With French Washerwomen. 305th Sanitation, Fronville, Meuse, France, 1918
It’s remarkable how much the world has changed since these pictures were taken, and yet, how much has stayed the same. The clothing and the technology are from another era entirely, but the expressions on the faces feel so modern and relatable. You see worry, you see joy, and you see the same fundamental human emotions we all experience today.
#21
Soldiers Learning Projection Of Motion Pictures As Part Of Occupational Therapy At Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA, Circa 1914-1918
#23
Soldier At Walter Reed Hospital Working At His Old Trade As Draughtsman, Washington, D.C., USA, Circa 1914-1918
#24
Effects Of Shell Shock On Private Sheehan (Left) At The First Aid Station In Courboin, France, Circa 1914-1918
We often think of the war as something that happened "over there" on the battlefields of Europe, but its impact was truly global. The conflict touched every corner of society, pulling in people from all walks of life and from all over the world. You can see the vast reach of the war in the variety of places and faces shown in these images.
#29
French Soldier With Double Arm Amputations Learning To Write Using Prostheses, Circa 1914-1918
#30
Girls Sacking 416 Loaves Of Bread At Bakery Camp Number 322, Near Dijon, France, Circa 1914-1918
The sheer scale of the war effort required everyone to pitch in, completely upending traditional roles in society. Suddenly, women were taking on jobs in fields that had been almost unthinkable for them just a few years prior. These photographs document a monumental shift in how the world worked, a change that would have lasting effects for generations to come.
#33
Men On Troops Train, With Red Cross Workers In Front, Probably In Washington, D.c., USA, 1918
#35
Patients Weaving Baskets As A Form Of Physical And Occupational Therapy, Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D.C., Circa 1914-1918
Away from the noise and chaos of the front lines, a different kind of struggle was taking place every single day. This was the quiet, determined battle of recovery, rehabilitation, and simply trying to put life back together again. The resilience shown in these hospitals and therapy rooms is just as heroic as anything seen on the battlefield.
#36
Medical Research Falling Test (Barany Chair Test), Pilot Candidate Is Recovering From Spin Administered By William Hollard Wilmer, Issoudun, France, Circa 1914-1918
#37
Recovering Soldiers Gardening For Rehabilitation And Occupational Therapy, Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA, Circa 1914-1918
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