During the First World War, wind and water mills were requisitioned by the military as they were crucial for the supply of flour to the army and the inhabitants. With the men away fighting, it was often the women, assisted by soldiers, who continued to operate them. Because of their cross-shaped wings, they were also used as temporary churches for open-air masses for the military. Many windmills were destroyed by bombing because they were situated on the heights and were therefore prime targets for artillery.