Final Post .

All armies in the Great War used kid soldiers. In the beginning of the war the enthusiasm to join the battle was so great that young boys (and even girls) could hardly be stopped to enlist.  Recruiting Officers in all countries closed their eyes when eager children clearly under the required age - 18 years old - showed up to join their armies.  At the end of the war children were even more welcome in the ranks, as the Great Mincing Machine continued to require human bodies with an astonishing need. Hardly trained, the kids were sent to the trenches in Belgium, France, Russia and Turkey, where they mingled and died with the rest of the older soldiers. Kids in Germany were forced to join things like Hitler Youth and worked because so many men were in the Military. They got as much schooling as they could then many joined the Military. In Japan it was very similar.

This picture is probably made in 1917. Because of a higher birth rate Germany had more boys at her disposal than other countries. That's why the Germans were able to increase their armies until the spring of 1918.

Bibliography: http://www.greatwar.nl/frames/default-children.html