Since the Napolean Wars, women in Poland have played a critical role in fighting against the invaders. During World War II, females took an active part in Nazi resistance movements through the People’s Army and also the Home Army. In the year 1939, the Woman’s Military Training Organization was created to encourage women as volunteers.
Today, women having nursing or veterinary degrees are required to conscript. 2,500 female soldiers are working in the defense forces and are receiving equal rights as males.
18. Portugal
Portuguese women were not allowed to be a part of the army until 1980’s but later on, they were allowed to volunteer and serve in the army but that too required them to be an engineer, lawyer, or a doctor. Because of these shortcomings, Portugal always had less than 100 females serving the army around 1990 and that was much less than as compared to the other NATO countries. Later changes were made to make the environment much inclusive for women and now 12% of the total strength is women in Portugal army.