The industry during the war
The mobilization of women is very important during this first war. They become an indispensable support for the war effort and for the arms industry. Thanks to their actions, they are known as “Munitionettes”. On August 7, 1914, the president of the board René Viviani called on women to go to work. First of all, they have to work in the fields and continue the crops that their husbands started, and we have to make sure that the harvest runs smoothly before the soldiers return.
In 1915, women were used to work in factories to make ammunition, or even guns. They also worked at André Citroen’s Paris plant, which made it possible to manufacture about 10,000 shells a day. Finally, women are also present alongside men as nurses.
The French Republic is asking to get involved in the war effort. The government is also using the people in the back to finance the war by giving their gold through what is called “loans”. Women make up 6 to 7% of the labour force in France’s arms factories. Nearly 420,000 workers handle shells every day, or a quarter of the total workforce. Women are well paid at that time, but they are still less well paid than men. There are also risks for women working in factories: weapons are dangerous and every step of the way can blow up the plant.