Total War

Total War

The First World War introduced new technologies to warfare that changed the battleground significantly. It is through these changes that a soldier’s life became horrifying on the battlefield. With new technologies changing the battleground the home front became different as well. Civilians had to support war efforts through rationing and manufacturing goods required by the soldiers on the front lines. It is through the modern technology of the time that a soldier’s life on the battlefield and a civilian’s life on the home front change significantly to the less.

World War I can be described as the first total war. To completely understand the effects of total war, including the effects on soldiers and civilians, one must fully understand the definition of total war. Total war is full involvement of both soldiers on the battlefield and civilians at home. The Making of the West, 3rd edition, defines total war as the involvement of civilians in essential war industries manufacturing the shells and machine guns, poisonous gases, bombs and airplanes, and eventually tanks. In addition, it included increased production of coffins, canes, wheelchairs, and artificial limbs. This total war concept was introduced due to the technological improvements of the time. To facilitate such a technological war took full support of factory workers on the home front to support such endeavors. This concept changed the home front and civilian life.

On the home front aspects of daily live changed significantly. Governments had to quickly react to warfare requirements. This difficult task required governments to put controls in place to keep social and economic order. Prior to wartime many civilians could enjoy luxury items, but with government controls put into place these luxury items closed for the cause as well as many other nonessential civilian jobs. This forced many women to support front line efforts through medical and non combative support roles on...