ABSTRACT
The women’s suffrage movement was a part of the background for a significant number of women who became active leaders in medical units, in the organization of factory work, and in the Women’s Land Army. Determined and forceful women who had been active leaders in various suffrage organizations possessed the managerial skills and the experience in dealing with bureaucracies, governmental and otherwise, that many less politically engaged women lacked. One of the more interesting and poignant subgenres of Great War narratives are books published in memoriam. Very often these consist of the letters or diary of a dead officer prefaced by a eulogistic essay by a friend and fellow officer. For many women the Great War was a great liberator. Even though most women continue to be subordinate to men in their jobs and lives, many found new opportunities because the war loosened traditional economic and social structures.
