When the first and second World Wars broke out, many men had to leave their jobs and enlist in the army. This caused a labour shortage at the various factories, so employers hired thousands of women to meet the population's needs. Those who produced military equipment were called the bomb girls. These women worked relentlessly to contribute to the war effort and also to provide for their own families. In Verdun, in 1942, the munitions factory employed 6805 workers, and mostly women.