before world war ii, women had served in war as combat soldiers. air traffic controllers. officers. nurses.

Before World War II, women had served in war primarily as officers and nurses, not as combat soldiers or air traffic controllers. In many countries, women’s roles were officially limited to support and medical positions, even though some did fight informally or disguised as men.

Correct answer

• The historically accurate options for “Before World War II, women had served in war as…” are:
  • Officers ✅
  • Nurses ✅
• The options that are generally not correct as formal, recognized roles before World War II are:
  • Combat soldiers ❌ (only in rare or unofficial cases, often disguised as men or in exceptional units)

* Air traffic controllers ❌ (this role emerged clearly with later aviation and WWII-era military organization)

Brief context

• In earlier wars (for example, the U.S. Civil War), thousands of women served as nurses, and some were even appointed to leadership positions within nursing services, which functioned somewhat like officer roles in military medical structures.

• A small number of women did fight in combat—often disguised as men or in irregular units—but states did not officially recognize women as front‑line combat soldiers before World War II in the way they later did in the Soviet Red Army and other forces during the war.

Why officers and nurses?

• Many militaries accepted women in:
  • Medical corps and nursing services (e.g., large organized nurse corps by the late 19th and early 20th centuries).

* Administrative or supervisory positions in those services, which could carry officer‑like ranks or authority.

• Specialized technical roles such as air traffic control were tied to advanced aviation infrastructure and became widespread only around and during WWII, not long “before” it.

So, for the statement “Before World War II, women had served in war as combat soldiers, air traffic controllers, officers, nurses,” the historically supported choices are officers and nurses.