The first major technological invention that affected the battlefield was airplanes. At first, airplanes were used only as spies to observe the enemy but, soon became furnished with machine guns to rapidly fire at the enemy without hitting the plane’s propellor. Another technological invention that affected the battlefield was tanks. Tanks were not as effective as they are today and often failed in battle but, “the tank played an increasingly large role and was instrumental in breaching the German lines” (Shmoop University, “Science and Technology in World War I”). Another technological invention that affected the battlefield was the use of poisonous gas. Poisonous gas was dangerous on the battlefield because of you came in contact with it
