During the First World War, military justice systems in many countries were stretched to their limits, resulting in severe and often arbitrary punishments. One of the most controversial practices was the execution of soldiers for offenses that would not normally warrant the death penalty. In the British Army alone, over 300 men were shot at dawn for offenses such as desertion, cowardice, and disobedience. These men, known as the "shot at dawn" soldiers, were often young and poorly trained, and their deaths remain a source of debate and controversy to this day.
