The Year of the Dog is coming to an end, and it is time to leave the old and welcome the new.
But the dogs are going to be unhappy: Wang! I haven't brushed enough of the sense of existence yet.
Okay, then Uncle Ku will give them a chance to mirror again at the end of the dog year.
What the dogs want to show today is very different from the usual impression of them. This kind of "good friend of mankind" actually has such a side - on the battlefield they can be sharp weapons against the enemy and heroic "warriors".
So, when did military dogs first appear on the stage of human warfare? How does it fare on a real battlefield?
Text | Liu Meng
Edit | Huang Junfeng
This article is the original article of the Lookout Think Tank, if you need to reprint, please indicate the source of the Lookout Think Tank (zhczyj) and the author information before the article, otherwise the legal responsibility will be strictly pursued.
In the popular movie "Mekong Action" in previous years, the brave anti-drug dog "WhewIng Heaven" left a deep impression on the audience, and its well-trained, executive ability was outstanding, and there were countless fans of the performance circle who were astute and cute.
In fact, the "wheezing heavens" have been "serving" in various battlefields of mankind for thousands of years.
(The picture shows the poster of the movie "Mekong Action")
1
As early as 14,000-16,000 years ago, in southeastern Asia, dogs have been domesticated by humans from wild wolves. Since then, dogs have gradually become "man's most loyal friends" and the most frequently kept pets.
(The picture shows the Han Dynasty pottery dog unearthed in Wanzhou, Chongqing Source: Three Gorges Museum)
With good endurance, long-distance running, sensitive sense of smell and hearing, dogs have been nursing homes for humans since ancient times, pulling sleds, tracking, warning...
And these advantages of dogs are also useful on the battlefield, and cute dogs can also transform into powerful "warriors"!
[Note: Dogs are more than 1,000 times more able to distinguish odors than humans — they can spot enemies outside the range of a bullet; they can hear 16 times more hearing than humans — they can even hear the high-frequency sound of the wind blowing through the fuse of a bomb; they have a wide field of vision, have low-light ability, and are good at observing things at night. 】
The use of military dogs has a long history. Legend has it that during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, more than 2,400 years ago, China began to use military dogs in city defense battles. The combat strength of military dogs in the era of cold weapons is quite considerable, the ancients even regarded them as independent "soldiers", dogs have always been used as extremely important war resources, ancient Chinese military experts listed military dogs as "soldiers that must be recruited", and there are also "dogs are stronger than (soldiers)" in the records of soldiers.
Looking around the world, in military history, ancient Romans, ancient Anglo-Saxons and other peoples have a history of using large war dogs to attack the enemy.
And rome's sworn enemy, the army of Carthage, had a special breed of "fierce dog legions". This unit was good at attacking enemy cavalry, specializing in biting the nostrils of warhorses.
They are also well protected. To ward off bows, spears, and swords, and to protect them from being bitten by enemy dogs, the Carthaginians wore armor and collars studded with spikes.
Because of the great merits of the Canine Legion in battle and in the neutrality of escorting slaves and captives, the king of Carthage also ordered the erection of a monument to the meritorious dogs.
2
In modern times, with the emergence and popularization of more lethal firearms, military dogs can no longer be used as a direct offensive force and weapon. But without sharp claws and sharp teeth, military dogs still shine in other military operations with their unique advantages, such as field communications, rescue of the wounded, forward reconnaissance, camp guards, battlefield search and rescue, patrols and blasting. In these operations, military dogs can maximize their sensitive sense of smell, hearing, and superior night vision, as well as their ability to move agilely on any terrain. The status of military dogs on the modern battlefield is still important.
(Pictured is a messenger dog with a messenger box hanging around its neck)
Commanders of many countries in modern Europe like to domesticate military dogs themselves, and the Russian Peter the Great once had his dog responsible for keeping in touch with the commanders of the various units during the battle, passing on orders and intelligence (Peter the Great's dog was made into specimens after his death and is still preserved in the museum in Bern).
In World War I, military dogs were used for the first time in large-scale systems in modern warfare, and Britain, France, Germany, Italy and other belligerents all had military dog service units, and a total of 50,000-80,000 military dogs were active in various parts of the battlefield. And with the increasingly fierce war, the demand for military dogs in various countries has soared, and even began to "catch strong ding" from civilian pet dogs in large quantities. For example, in a conscription in Paris, the French army forced more than 1,000 civilian pet dogs to fill the army in only 8 hours. At the same time, a large number of dog enthusiasts and domestication experts were recruited to train these military dog "recruits".
In the brutal trench warfare of World War I, the tasks of the military dogs of various countries varied according to the nature of the troops, such as the military dogs of the machine gun detachment used to carry machine gun ammunition; the military dogs of the Red Cross Detachment were used to search for the wounded; the military dogs of the infantry were used to transmit intelligence and guard positions; and the military dogs of the command headquarters mainly passed orders between the positions (in the French film "Goodbye to Heaven" released in 2017, a military dog that passed on the order was used as the beginning to show the cruel battlefield for the audience).
A large number of military dogs participated in the war and played a great role in the troops of various countries. With its outstanding battlefield performance, military dogs began to attract the attention of the world. Because of the huge role played by military dogs in the world war, the post-war Treaty of Versailles and the German War Reparations clause even stipulated that as part of the war reparations, the defeated Germany would be handed over to Britain, France and other victorious countries tens of thousands of military dogs. This is also the beginning of the popularity of the German Shepherd (commonly known as the "black-backed" dog in China).
(Pictured is the opening clip of the French movie "Goodbye to Heaven")
3
During World War II, the number of military dogs invested was even greater, and the scope of application was more extensive, and a total of 250,000 military dogs directly served the warring sides throughout the war.
German intelligence services have trained a number of military dogs to carry miniature eavesdropping devices, miniature cameras and other equipment to infiltrate enemy positions to obtain intelligence. At the same time, the operations of contacting friendly forces, reconnaissance of enemy information, searching for and escorting prisoners of war, and finding and rescuing the wounded are still the old skills of military dogs.
The U.S. military once organized 20,000 military dogs into a special unit code-named "K-9", specializing in guarding, ordering, reconnaissance, leading the way, mine detection and sledding to transport military supplies, and played an important role in the Pacific Theater and the European Theater.
The Soviet army attached great importance to the value of military dogs, and Soviet commanders even considered military dogs to be an important supplement to modern weapons such as radar, radio, aircraft, and tanks. On the eve of World War II, the Soviet Union opened a number of military dog schools, breeding and training a large number of military dogs. Throughout the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet people took the initiative to donate more than 60,000 military dogs, most of which came from the service dog club of the Soviet Army's Navy, Land and Air Support Association.
The most widely known achievement of the Soviet military dog was at the Battle of Stalingrad. At that time, the Soviet army specially trained 126 demolition dogs, placed them on the most threatening front of enemy tanks, carried out the kamikaze special attack of "one dog destroying one tank", and completed the tasks that people could not reach, and this turning point of World War II had their indelible merits.
(Pictured is the Training of Soviet "Anti-Tank" Demolition Dogs in World War II)
On April 29, 1946, a special ceremony was held in London, England: a military dog named Judy was awarded the highest medal in recognition of heroism, the "Order of Victoria of the Animals", which became a world-renowned hero at that time.
Judy's legend began in China. Born in China, it was killed by the Japanese army because of its original Chinese owner, and it was accidentally taken in by soldiers on a British gunboat and trained as a military dog.
On the night of February 13, 1942, Judy, who was serving on a British gunboat and "on duty," suddenly jumped into the wheelhouse and barked in one direction. Although the soldiers on the gunboat had not yet discovered the incoming enemy, out of trust in Judy, the captain ordered preparations for battle. Soon, Japanese bombers did flock to the area, and the prepared British gunboats shot down several enemy planes, but were eventually sunk due to the disparity in strength, most of the crew was killed, and Judy and about 60 survivors fled to a desolate island. But on this small island, it is very difficult to find fresh water. They were thirsty and tired and began to fall into despair. Judy, who was also tired, overcame all kinds of difficulties and relied on her keen sense of smell to finally find a water source and save everyone's lives.
A few months later, Judy was transferred to service with another gunboat, which, unfortunately, was captured by the Japanese. The crew was escorted to a prisoner-of-war camp. The environment is very harsh, with scorpions, poisonous snakes and wild beasts frequently. The brave Judy fought with them many times to protect the safety of the crew, but he was also injured many times. Soon after, the commander of the Japanese prisoner-of-war camp announced that Judy was sentenced to death. During the transfer of prisoners of war, the Japanese forbade people to take Judy away, hoping to starve her alive. But the prisoners of war were reluctant to abandon it anyway, and eventually a British naval mechanic named Williams risked his life to hide Judy in his duffel bag before taking it out.
After the war, Judy lived with Williams until his death in 1950, and a grief-stricken Williams erected a white marble stone tablet on his grave with the inscription "A warrior-like dog that has dedicated far more to mankind than it has ever received."
(Pictured is Treo, a minesweeper who was awarded the Order of Victoria of Animals in 2010)
4
After the end of World War II, humanity did not usher in peace, and the Cold War followed. On the large and small local battlefields in the pattern of hegemony between the United States and the Soviet Union, in the face of complex and diverse combat environments, military dogs still play their unique role.
In 1969, the U.S. military, mired in the quagmire of the Vietnam War, used a large number of military dogs, and even recruited pet dogs from the civilian population for training and put them into the battlefield. In jungle warfare, the role of military dogs is more important, not only becoming an indispensable helper for the US military, but even saving the lives of many soldiers.
The military dogs used by the U.S. military in the Vietnam War are divided into four types according to the type of mission:
* Reconnaissance dogs, acting as outposts, searching for enemy clues, whether it is traps or ambushes, it is difficult to escape its sensitive officers;
* Patrol dogs, responsible for vigilance and security work around military bases;
* Track dogs, will track fleeing enemy troops, look for missing soldiers and skydiving pilots;
* Water dogs, mainly used to search for enemy frogmen under the water.
There was a 20-year-old man named John Furnanelli from Massachusetts. As a dog trainer, he never imagined an encounter with a German shepherd named Bruser, who traveled to Vietnam to fight alongside him.
"Someone told me that this dog would be my best friend, and they were right, I felt that in my life, I had a closer relationship with him than any one person, and we were inseparable." John recalled.
In September 1969, 20 kilometers from Da Nang, John and Brusser led a group of soldiers through enemy-occupied areas.
I remember walking when Bruser suddenly stopped, it lifted its nose, its ears fluttering slightly, and then I noticed that there seemed to be movement in the jungle. I had to make a snap decision, so I shot, but I immediately realized the gravity of the situation. The enemy used automatic weapons, as well as grenades and rocket launchers, and the fire was very fierce.
After a flash of light, I... Looking down, I found that my arm was shot, the side of my body was blown apart, and even my left lung leaked out, and I saw a little contraction of my lungs.
Bruser was standing beside me, looking at me intently, his eyes full of sadness. We were in big trouble, and I didn't want it to stay there, I didn't want it to see me dead, so I said to it, 'Bruser, go!' Come on! It was hard for me because I coughed up a lot of blood every time I said it, but I tried my best to keep myself awake because I wanted Bruser to leave, I didn't want it to see me dead...
However, it refused to go, it bent down, tried to bite the uniform on my body, and later, I grabbed the harness on its body with my hand and let it drag me back. I don't know how far it went, it felt like it could never be finished, I don't know how it could have so much power, it was hit by a bullet as it dragged me forward, I think about twice, but it seemed determined to drag me back, its loyalty was unimaginable. I don't know how to thank it, it saved my life.
In similar bush wars, military dogs have saved the lives of thousands of soldiers and won the heartfelt thanks of survivors, including, of course, John Furnanelli, who needed to be taken to hospital for treatment immediately after being dragged to safety by Bruser.
"I told them I couldn't see Brusser, I wasn't going anywhere, I had to see it, I was going to hold him and touch it, to express my gratitude to him, but I couldn't see it, and the drug made me feel a little confused. Just then, it suddenly sprang out from under the bed, and then little by little it crawled in front of me, it put its head on my shoulder and began to lick my face... I was so happy to see it, and the moment I held it, I couldn't help but cry, I didn't know what to say, what can I say in the face of your savior? ”
5
China was one of the first places to use military dogs, and now the level of military dogs in China is also quite impressive.
Chinese the military dog unit of the People's Liberation Army was founded in 1948 on the eve of the founding of the People's Republic of China: the liberation of Taiyuan, Shanxi, and our army received the "special communication team" (also known as the "dog pigeon training team") under the Taiyuan Appeasement Office in Yan Xishan.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the work of training military dogs gradually entered the right track. In all the foreign wars of the Republic, military dogs have played a huge role and made immortal merits.
From 1979 to 1993, in the battle to defend the southern xinjiang of the motherland, the military dogs showed great power. According to a veteran's recollection, in April 1984, in the Lao Shan battlefield, a small detachment of our army fought behind the Vietnamese positions, and he and the military dog "Kuroko" were the top soldiers of the entire team. Walking near a thick bush, the "black child" suddenly barked wildly there, and refused to move half a step, the veteran felt that there must be something strange in it, so he carefully used the muzzle of the gun to pull away the bush, and found that there was a black and thick bomb hidden inside, connected to a number of thin hair-like tripwires, and the end of the trip line was hidden into the grass, very hidden. The veteran took a breath of cool air - if there was no "sunspot" alarm, all the soldiers in the squad would be blown to pieces.
Soon after, the squad was finally close to its intended position, but was also confronted by a difficult enemy sniper who hid in the dense forest and constantly suppressed the squad with extremely precise firepower, making it impossible for them to advance half a step. After many of the team members were injured, they still could not find the location of the enemy sniper, and the veteran could only pin his hopes on the "kuroko", who stroked the kuroko, repeated the order over and over again, and then released the heroic military dog. The "sunspot" rushed into the dense forest like an off-string arrow, and the enemy sniper, sensing the danger, turned the muzzle of his gun and opened fire on it, but the military dog was low and passed through the bushes, and the bullet was difficult to hit. Braving the rain of bullets, Kuroko finally found the enemy sniper— he was hiding in an almost seamless crater covered by branches and leaves, and the squad used mortars to wipe them out and arrived at the intended location on time.
Within a day, "Kuroko" twice saved the lives of all the commanders and fighters of the squad, and the veteran recalled, "In order to reward 'Kuroko', it was not arranged to stand guard that night and let it rest well." ”
This kind of touching story and magical achievements are simply numerous in the legendary history of military dogs.
(The picture shows the Capital Airport Police Dog Team)
At present, there are 7 main breeds of military dogs serving in the military in China: Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Du Berwyn, Springer, Malrenlei (the "Howling Sky" in the movie "Mekong Action" is a Marlene dog), Labrador and the native Kunming dog, which have different personalities and different uses, but they are active in the front line of border defense, anti-drug and anti-smuggling, defending the safety of the motherland and our happy life.
(Pictured is the Chinese Kunming dog)
(The pictures in this article are from the network)
Uncle Ku recommends books
Dark Trend
CITIC Publishing Group
Big opportunities in small trends,
Business opportunities hidden in the tech wave.
Director system: Wang Lei
Producer: Xia Yu
Editor-in-charge: Dai Lili Li Yibo
Editor: Zhang Mingli