At the dawn of the 20th Century, civilization entered a period of extended and widespread warfare not seen before in living memory. World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945) forever altered the scope of the planet, changing country borders and claiming millions of innocent lives.

This time of war also saw the advent of a number of treatments and procedures in medicine. From plastic surgery to blood banks, these medical innovations helped to save countless lives and many of them continue to affect our lives today.

raising of the flag
Many medical discoveries and treatments can be traced back to the World Wars. Public Domain, Wikimedia